Reserve Service Law Center
UNDERSTANDING YOUR RIGHTS AS A CITIZEN-WARRIOR
In today’s national security environment, the nation relies heavily on the Reserve and Guard. Increased reliance on our Citizen-Warriors drives a greater need for service members in the Reserve Components and their employers to better understand the basic laws that apply to both of them. Each has duties and responsibilities.
The Reserve Service Law Center provides resources, links, and information on the laws governing the service member/employer relationship, including almost 2,000 law reviews on areas of law affecting Citizen-Warriors. The Law Center does not accept clients nor engage in the practice of law.
WHAT IS USERRA?
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) is a federal law that protects the civilian employment rights of service members, including members of the Reserves and National Guard. USERRA helps ensure that Reserve Component members are not disadvantaged in their civilian careers because of military service, protects them from employment discrimination and retaliation based on their military obligations, and provides eligible service members the right to return to their civilian jobs following military duty with the seniority, status, pay, and benefits they would have attained had they remained continuously employed.
Learn more from Capt. Samuel F. Wright, JAGC, USN (Ret.), ROA’s longtime Law Center guru, as he shares his overview of USERRA law and answers some of the most common USERRA questions we receive at ROA.
MORE LEGAL EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)
ESGR is a U.S. Department of War program whose mission is to inform and educate service members and their civilian employers regarding their rights and responsibilities under USERRA. ESGR does not enforce USERRA, but serves as a neutral, free resource for employers and service members.
U.S. Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS)
VETS provides assistance to those persons experiencing service connected problems with their civilian employment and provides information about USERRA to employers. VETS also assists veterans who have questions regarding Veterans’ Preference. For more information and to determine whether your USERRA rights have been violated, please visit the USERRA Advisor.
U.S. Department of Justice Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative
The U.S. Department of Justice Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative is a guidance resource for current and former members of the military, military family members, legal practitioners who serve the military community, and the general public that includes information about the federal laws that protect their rights.
American Bar Association (ABA) Home Front
ABA Home Front includes online legal information and a national directory of contact information for state and local pro bono and lawyer referral programs.
NC State Bar Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP)
LAMP includes articles and info-letters by Col. Mark Sullivan, USA (Ret.), a life member of ROA and the nation’s leading expert on military family law.