September 2011

Welcome to Colorado ESGR. Our purpose is to have an informative newsletter that will educate, inform, and promote service by and to ESGR while fulfilling our mission of supporting Employers, Guard/Reserve members, and COESGR Volunteers.
Inside this Issue

USAFA Visit..................... 1 Patriot Award....................... 3 Colorado ESGR & ANG Day.4 Become an ESGR Volunteer..5 In Memory Of..6 Events/Contacts...7 Fort Carson Career Fair ...8

Senior Staff Members of Colorados ESGR Field Committee Visit the United States Air Force Academy
Twelve senior staff members of Colorado ESGR traveled to the U. S Air Force Academy on August 17th to initiate a new program for key Colorado employers to have a VIP special day at the USAFA. This first group was a test run to see what can be established and made viable. The group was met at the Visitors Center by Brigadier General Catherine Chilton, USAFA Superintendent, Mobilization Assistant and 1st Lieutenant Meredith Kirchoff (also the tour escort). They were provided with a mission brief that covered all aspects of the cadet training and academic curriculum. Following the briefing, the group was given a tour of the academic facilities, then split into two separate groups in which each attended a classroom session. To close out the initial program, the group attended a lunch that included senior cadets who answered questions and talked about their goals and aspirations.

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USAFA Visit (cont)

September 2011

United States Air Force Academy Mission Brief conducted by Mr. Ken Helgerson, USAFA Assistant Fire Chief (left) and 1st Lt Meredith Kirchoff, Deputy Director, Public Affairs.

The mission of the United States Air Force Academy is to develop the whole person that starts with character, the sum of those qualities of moral excellence which compel a person to do the right thing despite pressures of temptations to the contrary. - Lt Gen Mike Gould, USAF, USAFA Superintendent One of the focus points that the ESGR group received was that there are approximately 779 Reserve personnel supporting the USAFA mission with at least 155 (Part time and Full time) reservists supporting the Dean of Faculty, the cadet wing and athletics and flight training (powered flight, soaring and parachuting courses) to name just a few. They are valuable members of the Air Force Academy in providing seamless support to its mission. Level 130 German Language Class, Instructor - Major Brian Sundermeyer.

During the tour, discussion centered around the typical day of a cadet, one that is very demanding. In addition to academic requirements of 18 to 21 credit hours each semester, they also engage in military training and intramural or intercollegiate athletics. The training and education is intensive and time management is a necessity. The ESGR senior members were split into two groups to attend a cadet classroom. These particular classes were being taught by Reserve Air Force officers. Major Sundemeyer is a valuable asset as he is teaching his primary language (German) thereby taking the load off another instructor who was having to teach more than one language. The second group attended a class on Military/Strategic Studies, this session focused on The Art of War by the ancient Chinese philosopher, Sun Tzu, whereby Lt Col Charles Tuck dressed in Chinese garb and spoke with a Chinese accent as he lectured the class on Sun Tzu's principles of military tactics. He then divided the class into teams to play a game demonstrating the use of these principles in practice.
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Patriot Award Snapshots

September 2011

The Patriot Award honors individual supervisors for their support of Guard and Reserve employees. Award nominations must be made by Guard and Reserve service members or their spouses. Nominated employers receive a Patriot Award certificate and accompanying lapel pin. Below are just some of the highlights of Colorado Patriot Award recipients

The Mesa County Board of Commissioners were recognized for their support of military service members and their families. Tom Fisher, nominated the commissioners and the County for their bending over backwards to support him as an employee on several deployments and being able to accomplish his military missions while serving in the National Guard. Chair Janet Rowland accepted the Award. Lou Brackett, Colorado ESGR
L-r; Steve Aquafresca, Janet Rowland, Craig Meis, Lou Brackett, and Tom Fisher

LTC Fisher, Army National Guard, stated; During my nine years of employment with Mesa County, the Board of County Commissioners have been fully supportive of all Guard members and Reservists that have had to deploy or attend training because of their military status. There have been at least 15 Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines that have had to perform their military duties while leaving Mesa County employment for significant periods of time. The Board of County Commissioners has always preserved the employment status of these military members while they have attended to their duties. The department directors of these service members have also been highly supportive of the service and of the families of the service members. As a service member, I have always felt supported by this organization. The Board of County Commissioners recognizes the sacrifices of veterans and those deployed in service to the nation on a weekly basis and always honors the requests of veterans groups with proclamations during veterans and military related holidays. The Grand Junction Veterans Administration Medical Center was recognized for it support of military service members and their families. Captain Patricia Brown, Army National Guard, nominated Dr. John Ryan, MD and Head of Surgery for his unselfish support of his staff who have and currently serve this community, state, and nation in the National Guard. Dr. Ryan was also instrumental in working with other hospital departments to provide above and beyond services to our local veterans.
L-r; Cpt Patricia Brown, Dr. John Ryan, MD, Lou Brackett, ESGR

Colorado ESGR and Air National Guard Day

September 2011

140th Tactical Fighter Wing - ESGR, Colorado Air National Guard, Saturday, July 9, 2011.
Members of the 140th Wing, Colorado National Guard showcased their war-time capabilities and readiness to their Colorado civilian employers July 10,2011. Brig Gen Trulan A. Eyre, 140th Wing
Commander, speaks to employers of Colorado Air National Guardsmen.

About 30 employers arrived at Buckley AFB along with the Colorado ESGR Military Outreach team and were greeted by their hosts Maj Gen Michael Edwards, Maj Gen William H. Hudson, and Brig Gen Trulan Eyre. Generals Edwards and Eyre provided a history of the Guard and acknowledged ESGR and its mission. The ESGR team briefed and visited with the employers before they began their rotations for the day.

Employers broke out into three groups and participated in the following rotated activities: Helicopter flight over Denver Hush House Tour - (Hush house is a generic term for an enclosed, noise suppressed, aircraft jet engine testing facility for the testing of installed or uninstalled jet engines under actual load conditions.) F-16 Static Tour Flew to Ft Carson to Air Burst Range and viewed F-16s in attack scenarios. Colorado ESGR Military Outreach team members briefed about 20 to 25 airmen and answered questions.
Master Sgt. John McCallick, 140th Maintenance Squadron, talks with civilian employers about the F-16.

The day at Buckley was part of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program designed to develop and promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees.
Civilian employer, Dan Miller, observes Adam Smith, the testing of an F-16 jet engine in the Colorado ESGR Hush House.. SSgt Hudson Civilian employers get an up close view of COANG F-16 Fighting Falcon taking off.

"It was impressive to say the least, said Gary Armstrong with West Metro Fire Rescue. "Seeing the F-16's take off was probably a once in a life time experience for a lot of us. Going over and viewing the F-16's in the hangar and then into the Hush House, the amount of power was overwhelming. The Black Hawk ride down to the range was incredible and watching the F-16's do training runs and dropping inert bombs was also amazing." "Everything was great, I just want to thank everyone for their service and for the extraordinary way they support this country," said Thomas Corbin, manager at Ball Aerospace.
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Employers - We Want You to Become Part of Our Team!

Why is employer support important?

Almost half of our military force resides in the Reserve Component which is comprised of the National Guard and Reserve. The men and women who serve in the Reserve Component are unique in that they also have civilian employers. Support of Americas employers and the employees they share with the nation ensures the viability of the all-volunteer force, and thus our national security.

Employers Become an ESGR volunteer!

Our dedicated volunteers come from all walks of life. We are business executives, civic leaders, retired military and patriotic citizens.
Your involvement, with as little as a few hours a month, can improve the employer relations of the brave men and women that place themselves in harms way, leave their families and put their careers on hold as they preserve our way of life.

Are you a Human Resources Professional? A supervisor with many years of experience in the private or public sector? Are you a professional mediator? A lawyer? Have an interest in helping to resolve issues in the workplace between our military and their civilian employers? Are you someone who wants to help our Guard and Reserve? Are you someone who wants to help our businesses recruit Guard & Reserve members?
Some of our volunteer activities include the following: Employer Outreach: Develop relationships with employers to promote advocacy for service in the National Guard and Reserve. Ombudsman: Assist in preventing, reducing or resolving employer or service member misunderstandings regarding employment rights and responsibilities. Public Affairs: ESGR Public Affairs volunteers work with military and civilian media organizations to promote public understanding of the ESGR mission. Military Outreach: Inform and educate members of the National Guard and Reserve regarding their employment rights and responsibilities under USERRA.
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In Memory Of

September 2011

On August 6th and 10th, the Colorado Army National Guard lost a service member who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country and his community and the Colorado Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) lost a dear friend who volunteered her time and more importantly her passion to the mission of ESGR. 30 service members died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom on Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. Among them was Colorado Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 David R. Carter, an instructor pilot and member of Detachment 1, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 135th General Support Aviation (2-135th GSAB), 89th Troop Command, Colorado Army National Guard. This is a tragedy that affects the entire Colorado National Guard family, said the Adjutant General of Colorado Maj. Gen. H. Michael Edwards. We mourn not only for Dave Carter, but for all these brave men and their families, whose grief is unimaginable. Well do everything we can to support the Carter family through their heartbreak.

To All, With sadness I report the death of one of our ESGR Volunteers, Gina Salazar. She became one of our Volunteers after going on a BOSSLIFT to Alabama three years ago. You could not find a person more excited about ESGR than Gina, and she became heavily involved with much within ESGR. After the 2008 elections she took a position with one of our Congressmen, and her time became very limited. But no one could beat her enthusiasm and desire. She will be missed. - Dick Young, COESGR Chair

September 2011

STAFF AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Pat OFlaherty Staff Director patrick.oflaherty2@us.army.mil 720.250.1176 Kathleen Dorram Program Support Manager Kathleen.dorram@us.army.mil 720.250.1195 FAX: 720.250.1199 Chandra Hance Program Support Specialist chandra.hance@us.army.mil 720.250.1189 FAX: 720.250.1199

EVENTS CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER 28 SHRM Colorado State Conference, Keystone.

COESGR Business Office 12200 East Briarwood Avenue, Suite 160 Centennial, Co 80112 ESGR National Office 1555 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200 Arlington, VA 22209 1-800-336-4590 www.ESGR.com
State ESGR Chair Richard E. Young, RADM, USN (Ret) dickyoung123@gmail.com State ESGR Vice Chair Tom Mills, Brigadier General, CONG (Ret). meels52@msn.com

Guardsmen and Reservists, Say Thanks to Your Employer!

Would you like to recognize your employer for supporting your military service? Colorado ESGR can help! We offer a variety of recognition for your employer. The first step in having your employer considered for recognition as an outstanding employer is to submit a Patriot Award nomination. Tell us why your employer is great! When completing the employer recognition form, take a few moments to explain why your employer deserves to be recognized. Colorado ESGR volunteers will review your nomination when they select nominees for higher-level employer support awards. For more information, visit ESGR Patriot Award Nomination. Another way for you to recognize your employer is through the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. The award was created to publicly recognize employers who provide exceptional support to their National Guard and Reserve employees. It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the Department of Defense. Freedom Award winners from Colorado include First Data Corporation, Newmont Mining and Qwest/ CenturyLink. Nominations will be accepted starting November 1, 2011.

COLORADO ESGR DIRECTORS

Military Outreach Mary Rathje mkrathje@aol.com Joe Ely elytj@aol.com Employer Outreach Bev Skinner jtsbbs@gmail.com Dave Pruett - Dep. Dir PruettDE@comcast.net Ombudsmen Bill Belz ewbii@msn.com Training Lynn Albi lynnalbi@aol.com Special Programs Kip Cheroutes kcheroutes@ Emgacommunications.com Speakers Bureau Martin Cobb emarcobb@msn.com Public Affairs Iris Fontera IFontera@aol.com

EMPLOYER OUTREACH AREA CHAIRS

Boulder/Longmont Brad Gallup Brad@Cable-Safe.com Colorado Springs Willie Jones willie.jones@usaa.com Douglas County Area Lorin Ricker Lorin@RickerNet.us Bob Rotruck ole.gunner.bob@gmail.com Fort Collins Robert Fryer robert.fryer@ocio.usda.gov Grand Junction Lou Brackett patriot08@bresnan.net Pueblo Harry Vogel hotspot58@cs.com

MILITARY OUTREACH AREA CHAIR

Colorado Springs -Vacant

For more information, visit www.FreedomAward.mil.

NEWSLETTER EDITOR
James Garrett esgrcolorado@yahoo.com

Colorados ESGR Electronic Newsletter is published not only for the information and benefit of the members of the orado ESGR but most importantly to our Guard and Reserve members and their employers. The contents of this newsletter highlight activities and events conducted by Colorado ESGR. Send comments regarding this publication to the Newsletter Editor: James Garrett at esgrcolorado@yahoo.com 7

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ACAP-ACS

Fort Carson, CO

Open to the Public Thursday October 13, 2011 10 A.M. 2 P.M. Elkhorn Conference Center
1725 Woodfill Road, Bldg. 7300 Fort Carson, CO 80913 (Directions on Google Maps) Elkhorn Conference Center (719) 576-6646
Recruiters from major companies will attend!

Local, State, National and International Employers and Educational Institutions seeking to hire Veterans, Transitioning Military Service Members, Family Members and Civilians.

Meet Hiring Managers and Human Resources Professionals Face-to Face! Bring multiple copies of your Resume and dress for success. LinkedIn and Facebook.

List of employers on http://www.acap.army.mil, Fort Carson ACAP Group on For more information call (719) 526-1001/1002