Why be an ESGR Volunteer?

I enlisted in the Air Force when I was nineteen and received Basic Training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. Following Basic, I attended the Inventory Management Specialist School at Amarillo AFB, Amarillo , Texas. My primary assignments during four years of active duty were at Dow AFB in Bangor, Maine and Kadena AB Okinawa, Japan. Eleven years after being separated from the Air Force, I enlisted in the Army Reserve for one year and ended up staying twenty-five!

I became involved with ESGR in 1999 after being named the 94th Regional Support Command's liaison to the Massachusetts Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and served in that capacity until my retirement in September of 2002. I knew early on that once my days in uniform ended, I would continue to stay actively involved with ESGR.

When I first became associated with ESGR the focus had more to do with military outreach and direct contact with units of the seven Reserve Components in Massachusetts. Over the years the focus shifted to employer outreach but that too has changed recently as we strive to balance our employer and military outreach efforts.

I continue to serve as a volunteer because of the wonderful friendships I've been fortunate to develop and because our efforts, to gain employer advocacy and support for their Guard and Reserve employees, ultimately contribute to our national security.

I would tell any prospective volunteer that ESGR service is interesting, challenging, and satisfying and whatever time and effort is devoted to the program, will be personally rewarding and contribute to the accomplishment of ESGR’s mission!

Ken Forchielli