As North Carolina’s employers seek ways to fill their in-demand positions and address the skills gap, many of our members have expressed interest in learning more about hiring servicemembers and veterans. With that in mind, I’m pleased to share information about another pool of talent in North Carolina: our Guardsmen and Reservists. If you’re interested in hiring National Guardsmen and Reservists, there’s an organization in our state that can help you navigate resources for these employees.

The North Carolina Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense program, staffed primarily by 3,750 volunteers who provide support to businesses as their employed servicemembers are deployed.

The ESGR also recognizes managers and organizations that create and sustain a cooperative environment for these servicemembers. Their services are free of charge, and there are ESGR volunteers assigned to every town, city and county in North Carolina.

More than 3,500 members of the NC Army National Guard are scheduled to deploy this summer for a year or longer. If you employ members of our Reserve Component or are interested in hiring them in the future, ESGR is here to help.

For the name of an ESGR volunteer in your area, please contact:

Mr. Darrell Johnston
Volunteer Support Technician, NC ESGR
Office 984-664-6902
Cell 704-223-1871
Luther.d.johnson.mil@mail.mil

For a complete listing of their mission, services, awards programs, and the Top Ten Reasons to Hire Members of the Guard and Reserve, you can visit their website.

Sincerely,

Gary J. Salamido
Chief Operating Officer and Acting President
NC Chamber