The impact of National Guard activation for homeland defense: employers' perspective

Data gathered from a study of reserve component (RC) soldiers who were activated during the spring of 2002, following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, suggested that they were concerned about how the effects of their activation affected their civilian employment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to obtain this information from the civilian employers of these RC soldiers. Most civilian employers who participated in this study (N = 28) were male (89%) and working in law enforcement (39%). Fifty-six percent of employers gave consent to be interviewed by telephone. Although supervisors reported difficulties in several areas of operation and aspects of the RC activation, they still supported the activation of their RC employees and their military mission. This study is a significant start to illuminating the important roles that both RC employees and their civilian employers play in homeland defense.