Chamber Applauds Commission on the National Guard and Reserves for Employer Focus

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Chamber praised recommendations by the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves today that articulate the vital role that employers play in the war on terror.

"The Commission recognizes that employers must have a seat at the table and be part of the solution to sustaining an all-volunteer force, a force that has seen hundreds of thousands of members of the National Guard and Reserves called to active duty since September 11, 2001," said Lt. General Daniel W. Christman, Chamber senior vice president for International Affairs.

"The business community has dug deep and extended its resources to support our active and reserve units to maximize this partnership, but more needs to be done."

The Commission's report states that in order to maintain a long-term fully operational reserve force, the Department of Defense (DOD) must support the service members as well their families and employers. The recommendations within the report also point to the need for significant improvements in current programs to sustain an operational reserve force for the future.

"By putting their employees before the bottom-line, employers are going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that their National Guard and Reserve employees can effectively serve our nation," continued Christman. "The Chamber is continuing to build the needed partnerships with the United States Army Reserve and others that will lay the groundwork for the continued success of the Guard and Reserves."

For more information on the Commission's recommendations please go to: www.cngr.gov/.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation, representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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