Our National Guard Needs You

Something to think about as we enjoy the freedom and safety that we all enjoy as Americans. Our brave fighting forces dodge bullets and bombs every day and we mostly think of them as soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen; but we tend to forget about the brave men and women that do the same every day as members of our National Guard force. They sign-up as needed and are deployed as necessary. Most leave their everyday jobs with a guarantee that when they return, their jobs will be there.

Now here’s the dirty little secret, many come home and those jobs are gone!! Problem here is that is simply against the law and shame on those employers who do not live up to their duty and responsibility.

There’s a little thing called the “Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act” (USERRA), which was enacted to protect Veterans when they return from their military service. The numbers of those affected are staggering. In 2010, for example, the number went from 34,000 to more than 48,000 and then to as high as 91,000 before dropping a bit last year. This, my friends is tragic! Although the number is abating somewhat today it is sure to grow as more of our National Guard personnel return home.

We simply cannot allow this to happen. AWY suggests you contact your Congressional representatives and demand that employers comply with USERRA.

It’s a dirty little secret but it’s a huge problem for those who have and are fighting to keep our great Nation free and safe.

AWY salutes the men and women of the National Guard who provide service and AWY says “shame on those employers who do not comply with the law for their selfishness, insensitivity, and lack of appreciation”!

John S. Pike