No Result
View All Results
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Results
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

New ESGR chair wants to increase volunteer force

Crystal Kupper
by Crystal Kupper
August 30, 2024

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. John F. Sampa got the call he was hoping for in late May 2024: he had been chosen to be the next national chair of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

“I was very surprised and elated when I received the call,” said Sampa, who served as the 12th Command Sergeant of the Army National Guard. “The thought was that I was once again selected for a position that was never in my vision throughout my lifetime. I’m truly humbled with my selection.”

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. John F. Sampa.

After interviewing for it in January, Sampa officially took over the three-year volunteer position on July 9. He had already been active with the reserve component since 2022 as part of the Reserve Forces Policy Board, as well as an independent advisor to the secretary of defense on reserve and National Guard matters. He spent almost 28 years as a Texas state trooper in his civilian career and will now oversee more than 2,300 volunteers nationwide.

“As the national chair, I will ensure our volunteers’ time and talents are not wasted, but valued for however long they provide us with their volunteerism,” said Sampa, who aims to increase their number. “The success of the ESGR mission for over 51 years is directly tied to the committed ESGR volunteers.”

The DOD created ESGR to support guardsmen and reservists in their civilian positions. Sampa certainly knows something about that. Of his last 23 years in the Guard, he spent almost 13 on full-time active duty as a traditional Army National Guardsman.

“Today’s reserve component has become more operational in the last 20 years, which means the possibility of those serving in the reserves and National Guard being absent on military duty from their employer,” Sampa said. “I served in that operational environment for many years, so I personally know firsthand the stresses of serving in an operational National Guard and reserve force.”

Sampa, who joined the Guard in 1987 as a Combat Tank Armored Crewman, said there are, on average, 50,000 guardsmen and reservists deployed across all continents — meaning that there is plenty of education and advocacy opportunities for an office like ESGR.

“I was able to serve 35 years with three overseas combat deployments because I had many people, including my employer, Texas Department of Public Safety-Highway Patrol Division, who faithfully supported me,” he said. “By serving as the ESGR National Chair, I will give that same level of support to the reserve component service members and their families, in addition to providing employment advocacy on behalf of the service members not only in Texas, but throughout the 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.”

It’s merely the next stop on what has been a wonderful journey, Sampa emphasized.

“Joining the Texas Army National Guard is definitely one of the best decisions I made in my lifetime,” he said.

Visit ESGR’s website to learn more about volunteer opportunities and resources for reservists and guardsmen.

Read comments
Tags: 12th Command Sergeant of the Army National GuardEmployer Support of the Guard and ReserveESGRESGR volunteersNational GuardReserve Forces Policy BoardReservesRetired Command Sgt. Maj. John F. SampaTexas Army National Guard
Crystal Kupper

Crystal Kupper

Crystal Kupper is a writer, photographer, runner, mom of (at least) four and Air Force wife currently stationed in Arizona. There's nowhere she'd rather be other than with her family or chatting about orphan justice.

Related Posts

Affordable, light, autonomous: Modern Day Marine 2025 positions the Corps for the next fight

by Jenna Biter
12 hours ago
0
modern day marine

WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps’ highest-ranking officer closed Modern Day Marine 2025 by asking industry for technologies that keep Marines...

Read more

Redesigned Ram’s Head Device now authorized service-wide

by Joshua Skovlund
1 week ago
0
ram's head device, vermont national guard, army mountain warfare school

The Army’s Mountaineer badge, better known as the Ram’s Head Device, has been around for decades. However, only those assigned...

Read more

How the National Guard is evolving the mission at US southern border 

by Lucretia Cunningham
2 weeks ago
0
southern border

In direct response to recent executive orders, the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), or the combatant command and operational lead for...

Read more

Modern Day Marine military expo returns to Washington

by Jenna Biter
3 weeks ago
0
modern day marine

The annual Modern Day Marine expo will once again take over the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, Tues., April...

Read more

Wyoming National Guard aviation ranks among top in national readiness

by U.S. Military Publishing, LLC
4 weeks ago
0
Wyoming National Guard aviation

CHEYENNE, WYOMING -- The Wyoming Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility achieved the second-highest operational readiness ranking for the...

Read more

Service members dismissed for vaccine refusal offered reinstatement

by Lucretia Cunningham
1 month ago
0
Vaccine prep at Naval Hospital Bremerton in Bremerton, WA, October 2024. Photo courtesy of Douglas Stutz.

More than 1,900 soldiers have a chance to continue their service after they were voluntarily or involuntarily separated for refusing...

Read more

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • CFC/NONPROFITS

SUBMISSIONS

  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
  • PITCH US

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2023 Reserve & National Guard by U.S. Military Publishing. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Results
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2024 Reserve & National Guard by U.S. Military Publishing. Site by SCBW

No Result
View All Results
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2024 Reserve & National Guard by U.S. Military Publishing. Site by SCBW