Why be an ESGR Volunteer? 

 Military service has been an attraction for me since childhood.  In medical school, I got my first opportunity to execute my interest, by entering the U.S. Air Force Early Commissioning program, and then served 1964-70 on active duty as a medical officer.

 Even after a 15 year break in service, the military attraction remained, and I joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1985.  I retired at my MRD in 1999.

 During my Reserve time I was exposed to the ESGR on several occasions at the Reserve Center , and in the field.  ESGR appeared to be a fine example of continuing service.  About 2003, I was invited to an ESGR Training Day, and decided that it made sense to continue to support the soldiers after my retirement.  At first, it was difficult to fully participate with the ESGR, until I recently retired from my full time medical career, and have since been pleased to be able to increase my participation.

The ESGR leadership and staff is the force that stimulates my continuing service.  The leaders are very sincere, highly competent, and very amiable.  The current high level of Guard and Reserve deployments is a second factor in my continuing ESGR service.  The soldiers need all the support that we can muster, and the ESGR is a very tangible vehicle to execute that support.

 A prospective volunteer need only see the ESGR leadership in action, or view one of the excellent briefings and websites to grasp the great value of ESGR participation as a volunteer.

 In my relatively brief committee membership, the greatest satisfaction came at an SRP (Soldier Readiness Processing), where I met wonderful, enthusiastic soldiers, dedicated to their mission, and to their fellows-in-arms.

 Thomas J. Mulvaney, MD