(Host) Vermont is facing the largest National Guard deployment since World War II. Some 1,600 part-time soldiers could leave for Afghanistan by the end of this year.
Among other hardships, the year-long tours of duty will take their toll on the civilian employers and the jobs the soldiers will leave behind.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Dave Wheel directs the Vermont Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
He’s been meeting with Guard families and urging soldiers to discuss deployments early with their employers.
(Wheel) The first thing really is to share with them that they are expecting this long-term deployment, there are a number of trainings prior to that that they’re going to be committed to. So their employer and respective HR folks need to be making plans right now – what is this person doing right now.. are they going to replace that person, are they going to slide those duties over to someone else….
(Host) A 1994 law protects the jobs of activated service men and women.
But the leader of the brigade that’s headed for Afghanistan says some soldiers still worry about job security.
Colonel Will Roy commands the 86th Mountain Infantry Brigade. He’s been working with Wheel to brief soldiers on their employment rights and responsibilities.
(Roy) As we went around to the town hall meetings, there was concern raised by our soldiers who are on their second or in some cases third deployments about the potential for loss of job based upon this deployment, but that certainly has been the exception and not the norm.
(Host) Roy says Vermont employers have been extremely supportive of National Guard troops. Some have even gone beyond the law to offer supplemental salaries or family support.
But Roy says Guard members tend to be hard workers, and therefore especially valued employees.