Keller, of Bismarck, recently spoke to members of the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce EDC’s Military Affairs Committee meeting at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Minot.

He told the group that ESGR is “employer outreach.”

“We will reach out to you. If you have a question, we will reach out to you and help you interpret some of the laws that might preclude a person who is getting ready to be deployed,” Keller said. He said ESGR ombudsmen are able to answer many questions as well as explain what it means when the military member comes back from a deployment.

ESGR is a Department of Defense, now Department of War, program established in 1972 that develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members in the Reserve Components through outreach, recognition and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. It also provides assistance in resolving conflicts between the service members and their employers, according to ESGR information.

Submitted Photo A display about North Dakota’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is set up in the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Minot. In the background, Rob Keller of ESGR speaks to members of the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce EDC’s Military Affairs Committee.

Keller said when a Fargo unit with several police officers received orders in early 2000, within one week they were deployed to their mobilization station.

“We’ve gotten better at that, where we’re able to give six months to a year to get that unit ready and also the employers ready to be able to move through that process, so that’s why I say you serve as well. We could not do this without our employers. That’s why we’re called the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve,” Keller said.

He explained, “When I was active duty in the Air Force, I didn’t even know ESGR existed, much less what it stood for, because we didn’t have employers. My employer was the U.S. Air Force and they told me when I got paid and all that stuff, and I never had to work with an employer. But those of you who are in the Guard and Reserve know that we are priceless because we work for someone – an agency, a department. Or we own a business and all of a sudden, if you’re a truck driver and you’re deployed, you’re the only one making an end income. That’s how we train people to realize the service – the military – that there is a price to pay when the Guard and Reserve are deployed.” Keller said he served full time in the National Guard as well for 26 years.

He said there are about 40 or 50 ESGR volunteers in North Dakota. One full-time person, Janette Fetch, works in Bismarck and the rest are Department of War volunteers.

“We have members all over the states, going from Grand Forks to Fargo to Bismarck to Valley City, et cetera,” Keller said. He said Brandon Ressler, chair of the Finance ESGR, who retired from the North Dakota Air National Guard’s 219th Security Forces Squadron, is the chief person for the Minot area. Anyone who is interested in volunteering can contact ESGR.

Keller began volunteering with ESGR several years ago.

“About 10 years ago I knew I wanted to volunteer for something and it was called the ESGR because I’ve been around deployments. I’ve been around the military. I know what it stands for. I know in any deployment what goes through with the family and the employers and the children in schools and all that as well,” he said. He said he’s also familiar with TDY (temporary duty) to another location.

Keller said North Dakotans are very patriotic and ESGR embraces that tradition. He invited employers to fill out a statement of support. Employers then will be presented a certificate showing their support that they can display in their business.

Speaking specifically to employers, Keller said, “You play a vital role because we cannot do what we do without your support. We play a role when it comes to the national security and our ability to serve. For example, the North Dakota National Guard and the Air National Guard. We actually have two bosses. We have the president who can call us up for our national duty and we have the governor who calls us up for many cases — snow, flooding, et cetera. You’ve seen the Guard in this community over the last 10 years or so being out for those types of emergencies. We could not sustain that without your support.”