Civilian employers from across the United States received a unique opportunity to witness the capabilities of the Navy Reserve firsthand during the 2016 Navy Employer Recognition Event (NERE) in Norfolk, June 24.

NERE recognizes employers who provide exceptional support for their reserve Sailor employees. Each employer was selected based on nominations by the Sailors they employ, and this year's event featured invited guests from 37 companies and 13 different states.

"It's important that we recognize these employers from across our nation who have given their Navy Reserve Sailors the time they need to fulfill their military duties," said Vice Adm. Robin R. Braun, chief of Navy Reserve. "These employers have gone above and beyond to support their Sailors. In many cases, they're also helping out families while their Sailor is deployed. We appreciate the outstanding support that's being provided -- not only to individual Sailors and families, but to the Navy and the nation."

The day's first stop was Joint Amphibious Base Little Creek-Fort Story where, following a welcome brief with Braun and Rear Adm. Eric Young, commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command, the tour kicked into high gear with a visit to Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) for an up-close look at some of the weaponry, vehicles and hardware of NECC units.

"I have been completely amazed," said Kristin Ranek, site director at Convergys in St. Louis, Missouri. "I had no idea of the diversity of what the reserves did hand-in-hand with the active-duty military. It's been very educational and very impressive."

Convergys currently has a Navy Reserve employee deployed in Djibouti.

The next stop was a rare glimpse at a demonstration by Navy SEAL Team 18. After emerging from their camouflaged positions, the team performed a hard extraction complete with a Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) boat unit firing blanks to simulate the rescue. The SEAL Team members who participated in the event are all reserve Sailors.

"I bet every boy in America grows up idolizing the Navy SEALs," said Bryan Badzin, president and owner of SuperClean Brands in Eagan, Minnesota. "The thing that hit me is we had seen a video about the demonstration before we came, but you can't get the full effect of just what it is by watching a video. When you see it live -- the boats roaring in, the machine guns -- it was super cool, and getting to talk to these guys to see the fire in their eyes; it's very cool."

"We are a small company," said Badzin. "We have 12 people, so if we lose one person you feel it, but we told our employee to go do what he had to do and we would be here waiting for him when he got back."

Cmdr. Jim Spagnoli, commanding officer, SEAL Team 18, was especially excited to demonstrate the unit's capabilities and help show their appreciation to the employers.

"The reserve Sailors are my command," said Spagnoli. "My command exists because of reserve Sailors, including myself. I have more than 400 reserve Sailors, and I have never heard of an employer that did not support their activity."

"My employer offers me military time off that does not interfere with my vacation or my sick time," said Navy Reserve Builder 2nd Class Kathleen Foley, a member of SEAL Team 18 who works as a teacher with the Pasco County, Florida School District. "They recognize all the military employees on Veteran's Day. Anything I want to do to advance my career with the SEAL team, they are on board with it."

Foley has completed two deployments to Afghanistan that kept her away from her teaching job for one year each time.

"Employer support is absolutely critical to the Navy Reserve's mission," said Braun. "We currently have 2,100 reserve Sailors deployed around the world. Making sure those reserve Sailors have a job when they come back from that yearlong mobilization is critical, and that's why this event is wonderful. We're recognizing employers who have given outstanding support to their Navy Reserve Sailor. In fact, many of the employers here have Sailors who are deployed right now overseas. So this is a great opportunity for us to recognize them for the outstanding support they give."

Following lunch, the honorees had the opportunity to witness life aboard a Navy ship during a tour of the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) at Naval Station Norfolk.

The event wrapped up with a trip to Chambers Field at Naval Station Norfolk, where employers had the opportunity to see E-2 Hawkeye, C-130 Hercules, C-40 Clipper, F/A-18 Hornet, MH-60 Seahawk and MH-53 Sea Dragon aircraft and meet with aviators from regional squadrons before ending their day at a reception at the historic Pennsylvania House.

"Our hope is that the employers gain a better understanding of what their Navy Reserve Sailors are doing when they leave to support Navy missions around the world," said Braun. "In many cases, their Sailors are deploying and leaving their company for a year at a time to mobilize, so today gives them a better picture of the capabilities the Navy brings to our nation, and also the type of support our reserve Sailors provide to the Navy."

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil/, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy/, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy/.

For more news from Commander, Navy Reserve Force, visit http://www.navy.mil/.