MCVCS nominated by one of its employees

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission has received the Above and Beyond Award for “extraordinary support of employees serving in the Ohio Guard and Reserve.”

The award was presented to the county Veteran Service Commission at the Ohio Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve banquet April 18 at the Embassy Suites in Dublin, a Columbus suburb.

The MCVSC was nominated by Nate Walker, one of its employees and a member of the Ohio Army National Guard, because the veterans service commission supports him by accommodating his weekend training schedule and keeping his job for him when he returns from deployments or extended military training, said Susan Skrzynski, executive director of and veterans service officer with MCVSC.

“We hire veterans who are serving in the military. We are very proud to receive the award,” she said.

“The ESGR Above and Beyond Award was created by ESGR, a department of the U.S. Department of Defense, to publicly recognize American employers who provide extraordinary patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who, like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve,” said Steve Koper, Ohio ESGR chairman.

The county’s veteran service commission joins with thousands of American employers who have reviewed and amended their current human-resources policies to ensure compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

Many employers provide above and beyond support with pay differential to offset the loss of wages, and extension of health care benefits which complement coverage provided by the military when their employees are mobilized.

The ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members, and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within DoD.

For information about ESGR Outreach Programs or ESGR volunteer opportunities, call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.