Did you know... Published Dec. 30, 2013 By 1st Lt. Andre Bowser 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- -a continuing series exploring Westover- Did you know that the Patriot Wing, along with other federal organizations, has many initiatives to help reservists gain and retain rewarding professions outside of their military commitments. Annually, Westover hosts an Employer Day, as well as incentive flights and trips for industry leaders and hiring officials across the Pioneer Valley and in neighboring regions and states. The goal: "Keeping the Air Force Reserve triad strong for the families, Reservists and places of employment that our members rely on to support their families," said Col. Steven Vautrain, 439th Airlift Wing commander. "We partner with employers to ensure that they know what our reservists are doing is extremely important and of great benefit to our country, but that they are also receiving world-class training that translates well into their civilian careers." The Department of Defense mandates such things as Employer Days, but the goal of supporting service members and encouraging employers is also fostered by federally sanctioned organizations such as Employer Support of Guard and Reserve, or ESGR, which exists to help build better relationships between civilian companies and the service members they employ. Additionally, other government organizations exist with a mission of supporting service members, such as the U.S. Department of Labor, which is responsible for upholding the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, or USERRA. The act "protects service members' reemployment rights when returning from a period of service in the uniformed services, including those called up from the Reserves or National Guard," according to a labor department statement. The law "prohibits employer discrimination based on military service or obligation." The labor department's Veterans' Employment and Training Service administers USERRA, and the department also uses other tactics to appeal to employers to not only retain their veteran workers, but to also hire more. The labor department recently announced that beginning in November, in conjunction with Veterans Day, the country will begin to see an ongoing, national television and radio campaign of four public service announcements aimed at, among other things, encouraging businesses to hire veterans. Toward that end, the labor department is pulling out all the stops and teaming up with a Hollywood personality known for "inspiring" new recruits, all in the hope that his message will resonate with employers. Former Marine drill instructor and actor R. Lee Ermey volunteered to record a series of PSAs on behalf of VETS. The video and audio spots will be distributed to broadcast outlets for Veterans Day, but the message is one that applies year round, according to Ermey, who spent 11 years in the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam, and who is best known for his role as the booming Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in the 1987 film Full Metal Jacket. In one script, Ermey tells employers that veterans can "be a great asset to your company" because they have "leadership and teamwork skills." He urges employers to contact the department for more information. In another PSA, Ermey tells veterans and transitioning service members to visit an American Job Center for help "with career counseling, writing a résumé and job placement." In all, "two of the PSAs are directed at all veterans urging them to contact the U.S. Department of Labor for help finding employment and education opportunities," according to a labor department statement. One of the PSAs is directed at women veterans with the same message of reaching out to the department, and the last PSA urges employers to hire veterans. For more information, visit www.dol.gov/vets/ EDITOR'S NOTE: A public affairs officer at Westover, 1st Lt. Bowser is also the regional deputy director for public affairs in Boston for the U.S. Department of Labor.