Cummins Inc. has signed a statement of support for a U.S. Department of Defense program that seeks to increase civilian employer support for National Guard members and reservists and their unique workplace needs.
Cummins President and Chief Operating Officer Tony Satterthwaite signed a statement of support Friday for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves, or ESGR, program during a ceremony at the Irwin Conference Center, 500 Washington St. About 55 people attended, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense and several veterans.
Rob Bogle, ESGR national chair, signed the statement of support on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense.
“Opportunities and experiences that members of the armed services get serving for our country cannot be replicated in any other form of employment or any other form of experience,” Satterthwaite said during the ceremony. “…I, as one of the leaders of Cummins, recognize how unique and important those skills and capabilities are and how much they add to our company.”
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In the statement of support, the Fortune 200 company committed to, among other things, equipping supervisors with “tools” to supervise employees in the National Guard or Reserves and continuing to comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act.
Signed into law in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, the act allows active and reserve military personnel, under certain conditions, to regain their civilian jobs after returning from active duty, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Cummins officials said the company wanted to sign the statement to show the company’s commitment to supporting military and veteran employees and their families.
More than 6% of Cummins employees self-identify as veterans, including 10% of employees in the distribution and turbo technologies business units and 17% of employees in technical roles, Cummins officials said.
Established in 1978, the ESGR program is managed by a network for more than 3,680 volunteers across all 50 states and several U.S. territories.
At least 10 companies in Bartholomew County — including Bartholomew County REMC, Dorel Juvenile Group, Faurecia and Toyota Industries North America — have signed a statement of support for the program since 2013, the program’s website states.
“Great companies, their reputations for what they do and the support that they provide is really critical, not only to a highly successful workforce, but also to the defense of the nation,” Bogle said during the ceremony.
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Visit www.esgr.mil for more information about the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program.
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