Employers commended for supporting soldiers

BUILDING SUPPORT: Jack Johnson, local liaison for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, passes out ESGR hats during a luncheon held to honor employers.

Jack Johnson, chair of Oregon Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve's Region 6, and Bob Elliott, executive director of the Oregon ESGR Committee, praised employers for the sacrifices they make to help keep citizen-soldiers in uniform.

"Without your support the reserve system would fold," Johnson said. "The system depends on family, the employer and the unit. It's a three-legged stool that can't stand with any one leg broken."

The ESGR provides education, consultation and, when necessary, mediation for employers of National Guard and Reserve members. Good relations are highly important, Johnson said.

"Our mission is to gain and maintain support from public and private employers," he said.

Elliott is a retired Oregon National Guard lieutenant colonel who re-activated recently for a tour with the Guard in Afghanistan. He related some of his experiences to the employers.

He said positive things are being done in Afghanistan. The building of schools, hospitals and infrastructure aren't getting as much publicity as the violent struggle with terrorists.

"The mission is different. In Iraq we're fighting a war, in Afghanistan we're building a nation," he said.

Elliott introduced Ahmed Mohebi, a young Afghan interpreter he worked with during the tour. Mohebi said he agrees with Elliott that many positive developments are being ignored.

"The media isn't covering the good things. I can say 80 percent of Afghans are happy with what the military is doing," he said.

Mohebi said that millions of children now have an opportunity to go to school, and that women are enjoying a higher standard of living.

"Now you see many women in the streets. We have lots of young girls getting their education. That's what the United States is doing for our nation," he said.

Lt. Col. Brian Cole, commander of the Third Battalion, 116th Armored Cavalry, also spoke briefly to the employers.

He said the unit, with headquarters in La Grande, has reorganized since returning from a tour in Iraq two years ago. That reorganization has placed new training demands on many Guard members.

"We've got two tank companies, two infantry companies. We have a little bit of everything now," he said. "It takes a higher level of training to be a citizen soldier in the Guard. As commander, I appreciate the impact that has on employers."

About 25 companies were represented at the luncheon. They included Boise Cascade, which employs 11 National Guard members locally.

Bob Salstrand of Boise said the Guard members and the company work well together.

"They're good employees," Salstrand said. "They always give us notice and we always know what they're doing."