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.”
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.