Welcome to ESGR Delaware

Many thanks to our veterans for your service today, yesterday and tomorrow. We enjoy our freedoms, and are grateful each day for the service and sacrifice made by the men and women who serve in our armed forces.

Delaware ESGR continues to promote that members of the National Guard and Reserve bring a strong work ethic, leadership and specialized skills to the civilian workplace. We stand ready to link service members with employers and career opportunities.

EMPLOYERS: Any Delaware employer interested in tapping into the talented pool of men and women in the Guard and Reserve may be referred to call our offices at (302) 326-7582 or email christine.kubik@us.army.mil.

Delaware ESGR awards Local Employers for Extraordinary Support of Employees who Serve in the National Guard and Reserve

8 SEP 2011 (Smyrna, DE) – Delaware Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (DE-ESGR) held its 2011 Employer Recognition Banquet on Thursday, September 8, 2011, in Dover, Delaware to recognize employers who provide extraordinary support to employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. The state’s top honor, the Pro Patria Award, was presented to Kent County Levy Court. County Commissioner President P. Brooks Banta, and County Administrator Michael Petit de Mange, attended and accepted the award on the organization’s behalf.

The Pro Patria award is presented annually and is the highest state-level award given to a civilian employer. Each year, one employer is honored at the highest state level for its support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

Kent County was recognized for providing the most exceptional support of our national defense through leadership practices and personnel policies that support their employees who serve in our armed forces. The organization was recognized for their personal support offered to service members and their families, as well as their strong initiatives to recruit military employees. Kent County employee benefits program includes paid military leave, as well as military employees retain full benefits, and continue to accrue vacation, while mobilized. The employer commits to ensure all managers are given information on USERRA, and frequently provided with email reminders. The employer utilizes ESGR as a resource, while they outreach to frontline supervisors of Guard and Reserve employees on guidelines regarding the handling of military members, as outlined under USERRA law. The agency has erected a military monument on their property and hosted an annual ceremony on Veterans Day. Frequently, department co-workers come together to send care packages to deployed members. The employer contributes to the USO to send care packages to all armed forces. The employer actively maintains contact with the families of deployed Guard and Reserve employees. The military-friendly relationship to its employees is consistently recognized by ESGR Patriot Award nominations of its supervisors. The employer was also named a Finalist in the 2011 Secretary of Defense Freedom Award. This notable and prestigious honor was bestowed on only thirty (30) employers nationwide, out of 4,049 nominations received.

At this time in our history, civilian employers play a critical role in the defense of the nation by complying with existing employment laws protecting the rights of workers who serve in the National Guard or Reserve.

ESGR Delaware works to develop and promote a culture in which all Delaware employers support and value the military service of their employees. As the 1.3 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, ESGR will continue to be the informational agency for the employers of citizen warriors.

More information about ESGR Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available by calling the Delaware ESGR office at 302.326.7582.