Marine reservist, U.S. postal service employee deployed to OEF gives of his time

Courtesy Photo | Master Sgt. Larry E. Moody is deployed here from Tampa's Marine Central Command, Moody, a Marine Corps reservist, is attached to the Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan as the Combined Joint Staff sergeant major in charge of managing personnel operations.  

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

05.24.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Photos by Sgt. 1st Class David McCrary
Story by Spc. Jennifer Sardam
USCENTCOM PAO/ESGR Forward Team

KABUL, Afghanistan - The pokerfaced Marine noncommissioned officer (NCO) suddenly broke into an unanticipated grin as he described how he recently saw a tiny Afghan girl proudly hold up her two small dolls, gifts from U.S. servicemembers. "Just to see the joy on her face was basically a gift from heaven," remarked Master Sgt. Larry E. Moody.

While he is deployed here from Tampa's Marine Central Command, Moody, a Marine Corps reservist, is attached to the Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan as the Combined Joint Staff sergeant major in charge of managing personnel operations.

When he's not working, he spends his time making a difference in the Volunteer Community Relations program.

"We [volunteers] go into the Afghan community and distribute donations," said Moody. "It always feels good just to know no matter what, that little bit helps a whole lot."

Moody commented he is "glad to see the Afghan people are on the path to one day being able to run and control their country," and that "I'm happy I'm here doing what I do to help."

When Moody is not overseas doling out donations to local nationals, he helps speed the mail along to his fellow Americans from the post office at 5201 Spruce Street in Tampa.

Moody, who has worked at the post office for over a decade, is a U.S. Postal Service automation flat sorter clerk. He is thankful his hometown employer offers paid military leave to its citizen servicemember employees. "They are all supportive," he expressed about the management at the post office. "Many of them said, "Be safe, take care of yourself and stay in contact.""

Today, more than 1.2 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions that require extraordinary actions on the part of everyday citizens. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is the primary resource for information about the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, commonly known as USERRA. This federal law allows Moody and other mobilized reserve component members to retain their rights, when the deployment concludes.

Established in 1972, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a DoD agency, provides free USERRA education, consultation, and if necessary, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain active support from all public and private employers for the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil, or by calling the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve at [phone]

To a career Marine who has been in the military for over 24 years, having an understanding employer is critical.

"There's a mission with which the U.S. is tasked," Moody said with an air of deep reverence for his country. "It's what I signed up to do."

He first signed up for the same reasons as many new recruits. "I knew it was a way to travel, a job where I could learn different skills, guaranteed pay every two weeks and benefits," said Moody.

But this NCO credits his service with providing him those benefits and more. Since he came into the military, he has been to Korea, Okinawa, Japan, Kuwait, and parts of Europe.

Moody also gained an expertise in military communications, which he uses to pursue additional part-time work in the areas of telephone, television and cable installation.

Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is a mission managed by U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM).

USCENTCOM, located at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla., is the unified command responsible for U.S. security interests in 27 nations that stretch from the Horn of Africa (HOA) through the Arabian Gulf region, and into Central Asia. USCENTCOM is one of nine unified commands in the Department of Defense (DOD).

Central Command's mission includes enhancing regional stability and demonstrating a steadfast commitment to regional security. CENTCOM is also responsible for executing the Global War on Terror in its assigned area of responsibility (AOR), which includes Iraq, Afghanistan and HOA. Other important USCENTCOM activities include humanitarian and security assistance programs, as well as combined training and education opportunities for military members in AOR nations.

In the CENTCOM AOR, OEF encompasses two major missions led by Combined Forces Command Afghanistan (CFC-A) and Combined Joint Task Force HOA.

CFC-A conducts full-spectrum operations throughout the combined joint operations area to defeat Al Qaeda and associated movements, establish an enduring Afghan security structure, and reshape its posture for the Long War in order to set the conditions for long-term stability in Afghanistan.

ESGR

• Date Taken: 05.24.2006
• Date Posted: 05.24.2006 16:23
• Story ID: 6515
• Location: KABUL, AF