Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Hokanson: ESGR ‘empowers everything we do’ By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely,
                National Guard Bureau
 ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Throughout the past 50 years, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program has provided a conduit between reserve component service members and their employers. The National Guard’s senior-most general spoke with ESGR members and volunteers during a national leader meeting in Alexandria Friday. “Thank you for everything you do that makes it possible for us to maintain that balance between our families, our civilian careers, and our military service,” said Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau. “ESGR is a very important part of that. That balance empowers everything we do.” The National Guard makes up nearly 20% of the Joint Force. Together with the Reserves, that number goes up to 38% of the nation’s military strength at 16% of the total defense budget. Most Guardsmen and Reservists serve part-time, but Hokanson outlined the historically high operational tempo the Guard has sustained over the past three years. Thousands of Guardsmen were called on to serve in COVID response operations across the 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia. Guardsmen are on continuous standby, ready to help their communities during disasters like fires, floods and hurricanes. Hokanson cited the nearly 30,000 Guardsmen currently mobilized overseas. He noted the Guard’s recent cyber support to ensure election security. He named the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program, which pairs National Guard elements with nearly half the world’s nations. He discussed the support the California Guard and other Guard units continue to provide to Ukraine. “They embody what the reserve component is all about,” the CNGB said. “When the mission calls, we kiss our families goodbye and tell our civilian employers, ‘I know our work is important — but right now, our nation needs me.’ Then we get to work — vital, lifesaving, world-changing work. “When the mission is complete, we pick up where we left off — returning to our communities, our families and our civilian jobs, and rebalance our responsibilities.” He said ESGR is a huge part of making that transition a success. ESGR, a Department of Defense office, was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between reserve component service members and their civilian employers and to help resolve conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment. Powered by nearly 3,000 volunteers, ESGR is in communities across the nation to serve employers, service members and their families. “Over the past 50 years, you’ve changed the culture and the conversation around our service members,” Hokanson said. “This is especially true for the volunteers who take on so many different roles to make this work possible.” Hokanson charted some of his initiatives for the Guard, including health insurance for all Guard members, educational benefits and incentive pay. He said 60,000 Guardsmen don’t have any health care at all. Those who have coverage through their civilian employer transition to TRICARE when they are mobilized for service. This transition in status and health insurance may cause a strain on service members, their families, and their employers. Hokanson is trying to fix that. Frank Huff, the ESGR regional coordinator, who retired after more than 20 years of service in the Louisiana Guard, said this is crucial. “Having one consistent medical provider takes a lot of stress off the families,” Huff said. “I also see it as a huge benefit to employers to help offset some of the costs when service members are mobilized away from their civilian jobs.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  national guard
 CNGB
 ESGR
 Gen. Daniel Hokanson
 
 National Guard Professional Education Center Celebrates 50 Years
 By Sgt. 1st Class Christie Smith,
  Exercise Gobi Wolf 2024 Begins in Heart of Mongolian Steppe
 By Capt. Balinda O’Neal,
  Hokanson: Nation’s Investment in National Guard Comes at Pivotal Moment
 By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely,
  More
 Alaska Air Guard Rescue Triad Conducts Water Rescue Training Guard News • 15 hours ago
 Wisconsin National Guard Brigade Begins Major Training Exercise Guard News • 16 hours ago
 Idaho National Guard, German JTACs Train Together Guard News • yesterday
 Tennessee National Guard Rescues 2 Injured Hikers Guard News • 2 days ago
 Kentucky Air Guard to Fly at D-Day Observance in France Guard News • 2 days ago
 2024 (176)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil