Harrisburg School District facilities supervisor dons Marine cap for military service

Courtesy Photo | KABUL, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Master Sgt. Timothy L. Curtis, facilities supervisor for the Harrisburg School District and native of Harrisburg, Pa., is currently deployed here as a training noncommissioned officer (NCO) for the Marine Central Command.  

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

06.06.2006

Courtesy Story

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

by Sgt. 1st Class David L. McCrary

KABUL, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Master Sgt. Timothy L. Curtis from Harrisburg, Pa., is currently deployed here as a training noncommissioned officer (NCO) for the Marine Central Command.

Curtis, who has worked as a facilities supervisor for the Harrisburg School District for the past seven years, is in charge of all of the district's facilities and a crew of 98 personnel.

He expressed gratitude to the school district and his supervisor, William Gretton, who he said looks out for him during his deployment by resolving any pay, leave or insurance issues.

Curtis further conveyed his appreciation for the efforts of his coworkers, who stay in contact and keep him aware of anything related to his job, to ensure a smooth transition upon his return from deployment.

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 Curtis 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].

With more than 20 years of service in the military, this deployment, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), is Curtis's first. OEF is managed by the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM).

USCENTCOM, which is located at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla., is one of nine unified commands in the Department of Defense (DOD). It is a unified command responsible for U.S. interests in 27 nations, USCENTCOM stretches from the Horn of Africa (HOA) throughout the Arabian Gulf region, and into central Asia.

The CENTCOM mission includes enhancing regional stability and demonstrating a steadfast commitment to regional security. CENTCOM is also responsible for executing the Global War on Terror (GWOT) 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.

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.

As a training NCO in this arena, he oversees and reports on the various aspects of the training given to the Afghan National Army, a mission he finds "interesting."

Curtis, who is "proud to serve his country" during the GWOT, stated that he looks forward to returning home and back to his job with the Harrisburg School District.

esgr

• Date Taken: 06.06.2006
• Date Posted: 06.06.2006 15:30
• Story ID: 6705
• Location: KABUL, AF