Naval Operational Support Center (NOSC) Baltimore hosted Navy Reservists and their employers June 12 for an employer appreciation day sponsored by Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

The event coincided with a weeklong series of activities in Baltimore commemorating the centennial anniversary of the United States Navy Reserve.

Eighteen employers from Maryland and the District of Columbia area were given the opportunity to see reservists from NOSC Baltimore train U.S. Navy Sea Cadets in damage control techniques.

According to NOSC Commanding Officer Cmdr. Jack Downes, the training is typical of the work performed at the center. Damage control training is provided to new reservists, U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen and sea cadets alike using dedicated equipment that simulates structural and mechanical casualties aboard ships.

Guests were also given the opportunity to ride in Navy maritime prepositioning force utility boats around Baltimore Harbor. NOSC staff took the visitors past Fort McHenry National Monument for a photo opportunity, then out toward the Francis Scott Key Bridge for evasive maneuver demonstrations, and finally to Baltimore's Inner Harbor to see several of the city's landmarks from the water.

Afterward, ESGR recognized several of the employers with awards for their support of their reserve employees.

Butch Hensel, an employer support specialist for Maryland ESGR, said the day's events are part of a semi-annual program to not only recognize this type of support, but also to show businesses exactly how their flexibility pays off.

"Guard and reserve members are physically fit, drug-free and know how to lead," he explained. "All the training that happens when a member is a reservist -- starting with your NCO (non-commissioned officer) academy and up through your senior NCO and officer schools -- teaches leadership and experience. They teach how to lead groups. Those skills are translated to the civilian world where civilian employers need to get their jobs done on time and within budget."

Peggy Naleppa, president of Peninsula Regional Health System and Medical Center, reflected on her experience throughout the day and highlighted her own views on what she called a "partnership" between reservists and their civilian employers.

"It's an awesome learning opportunity," said Naleppa. "It demonstrates parallels, particularly when we look for employees. You see discipline, you see the professionalism and you see values and behaviors that are very positive. I think it reinforces that it's a very important partnership in terms of maintaining the employment stature and support for our reservists.

"We have at least 30 reservists on [Maryland's] Eastern Shore and two physicians who have deployed; so we're supportive of the entire family," she added.

Timothy Ward, who works for Peninsula Regional Health System, is a Navy Reserve senior chief. Ward said his company's flexibility has been critical in meeting his reserve obligations as an expeditionary warfare specialist.

"There's a lot of demands related to how often we're deployed," said Ward. "For the most part, we're home for two years, but end up deploying again for about a year; so, there's a lot of stress on the employer."

He continued, "This is a new job for me; I've only been there about a year and a half at this point, but they've been very receptive to my military duty with absolutely no issues, whatsoever. They've allowed me to get done whatever I've needed to get done."

Downes noted an additional payoff for his staff, who are primarily active-duty service members.

"By doing something like this, we get to see the connectivity between the SELRES (selected reserve) members that we train and the communities that they serve in, because this is their full time job -- working with these employers," he said. "In that sense, it is rewarding when a reserve Sailor nominates their employer to participate and receive an award. They want to bring them to this NOSC. This is their Navy home, so we can take a little bit of pride in knowing they want to show that off."