US Post Office mail carrier "delivers" electricity and air conditioning to troops overseas

IRAQ

07.25.2006

Courtesy Story

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

by Senior Master Sgt. Darenda Rogers
ESGR Forward Team

IRAQ – Navy Reserve Petty Officer 1st Class Salvador Castro, a mail carrier for the U.S. Post Office in Marble Falls, Texas, is currently deployed to Bahrain in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the official name given to military operations assisting in rebuilding Iraq's economic and governmental infrastructure, training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq's sovereignty and independence as a democracy.

"Leaving my family has been the hardest part of this deployment," Castro said, but "being deployed with other Austin, Texas reservists has made it easier." Castro said that being part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and "knowing that I have helped my country has made it worthwhile to him."

Active duty and reserve component members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces are deployed under the U.S. Central Command to support the war against global terrorism outside the borders of the United States.

U.S. Central Command is the unified command responsible for U.S. security interests and assets in 27 nations stretching from the Horn of Africa, through the Arabian Gulf region, and into Central Asia.

In Bahrain, Castro serves as an engineman. He takes care of air conditioning and generators, setting them up and making the electricity work so computers and other equipment are operational. The petty officer first class has served in the military for 28 years; this is his ninth deployment overseas.

Castro, employed for 21 years by the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier works out of Marble Falls, Texas. According to Castro, "My employer is very supportive. They stay in touch via emails and letters. They're very grateful for the service I give even though I have to leave my family and job for a while." Castro loves his job; even his customers stay in touch with him. "The assisted-living folks I deliver to have sent me care packages," Castro said. He pointed out that "two of the nine city postal carriers are deployed – the other one is in Bosnia for one year - but the post office supports all our reserves."

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 Castro 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].

Castro believes the disciplines practiced while on active duty will make him a better employee when he returns home. "I can't wait to see my family, co-workers, and customers, from whom I get e-mails as well, when I get back home," Castro affirmed.

"They support me 100 percent," Castro said of his wife of 13 years, Gina, and their two children: Kamen and Chloe. "They know that it's parents like me that help support the war on terror," Castro stated. He and his family call Spicewood, Texas home.

• Date Taken: 07.25.2006
• Date Posted: 07.25.2006 13:09
• Story ID: 7301
• Location: IQ