January 10, 2025
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Village of Oswego signs statement of support for National Guard, Reserve military members

Village promised to protect National Guard and Reserve members' positions while they serve

By Eric Schelkopf
Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman, right, signed a statement of support for the National Guard and Reserve following a presentation by Doug Wallace, left, the Northern Illinois chairman of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, at the Jan. 7 Committee Of The Whole meeting.

Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman, right, signed a statement of support for the National Guard and Reserve following a presentation by Doug Wallace, left, the Northern Illinois chairman of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, at the Jan. 7 Committee Of The Whole meeting. (Eric Schelkopf)

The Village of Oswego has come out in support of a federal law that protects the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve.

Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman signed a statement of support for the National Guard and Reserve following a presentation by Doug Wallace, the Northern Illinois chairman of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, at the Jan. 7 Committee Of The Whole meeting.

“We recognize the Guard and Reserve are essential to the strength of our nation and the well being of our communities,” Wallace said, in reading the statement of support. “In the highest American tradition, the patriotic men and women of the Guard and Reserve serve voluntarily in an honorable and vital profession. They train to respond to their community and their country in time of need. They deserve the support of every segment of our society. If these volunteer forces are to continue to serve our nation, increased public understanding is required of the essential role of the Guard and Reserve in preserving our national security.”

With the statement, the village pledged to abide by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, a federal law that protects military service members and veterans from employment discrimination on the basis of their service and allows them to regain their civilian jobs following a period of uniformed service.

During the meeting, Wallace also extended an invitation for someone to join him in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, next month to train aboard a Coast Guard cutter.

“If there’s anybody from your town who would like to represent you and go to Sturgeon Bay, they’ll get a half-day of training on a Coast Guard cutter, which is a ice breaker. You get to go out and ride to the ice and smash it up,” he said.

Kauffman said Oswego is proud of its employees who are service members.

“The Village of Oswego is proud to protect the rights of those who protect us and stands with those who put their lives on the line in service to our country,” he said.

ESGR, a Department of Defense office, was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment.