EDITOR: Amidst all that we will remember on the second
anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, we must not
forget our National Guard members and Reservists, heroes who have
been working on active duty to protect America since that tragic
day. These Reservists perform an invaluable service for our
country.
EDITOR:
Amidst all that we will remember on the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, we must not forget our National Guard members and Reservists, heroes who have been working on active duty to protect America since that tragic day. These Reservists perform an invaluable service for our country.
In today’s military, Reservists and Guard members are an integral part of our armed forces and are engaged in missions around the world, serving in harm’s way with their full-time counterparts. Some have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan for extended tours on the front lines.
Others, at home, keep watch over our bridges and airports, protect our water supply and perform countless other tasks that keep the rest of us safe so that we can go about our lives with minimal worry and disruption.
In addition to putting their lives on the line, many Reservists who go on active military duty pay a heavy economic price for their patriotism and selfless service. These citizen soldiers leave their families and their day jobs behind to answer the call to duty. Unfortunately, military salaries are often far less then comparable private sector pay. In some cases, employees take a pay cut of 50% or more when they are called up.
For example, a sergeant with over 10 years experience earns $26,841 a year. In some parts of the country that might be enough to get by on, but here in California many Reservist families are struggling to make ends meet. This is not a small issue. Over 20,000 Californians have been activated in the Guard and Reserves since Sept. 11. Some who were called up two years ago remain on active duty today. Many have months yet to serve.
To address this serious problem for our reservists, some businesses, including PG&E, have created a Citizen Soldier Supplement to make up the difference in pay and benefits for their workers on active duty in the Guard and Reserves.
Employers interested in stepping forward to help their Reservist employees do not have to go it alone. The Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) agency is an excellent resource for employers interested in creating a Citizen Soldier Supplement. The agency provides guidance as well as advice on how companies can best support their active duty employees while minimizing the impact of their absence on the business. The ESGR’s web site is www.esgr.org
Robert D. Glynn Jr.,
Chairman, CEO and president,
PG&E Corp., San Francisco
