The Department of Defense released a nationwide survey recently to gain insight into the benefits and challenges of employing members of the guard and reserve.The Department of Defense National Survey of Employers is the department’s largest study of its kind since the United States entered sustained military operations nearly 10 years ago in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001."For the past nine years, our nation has been at war and we have asked a tremendous sacrifice of the civilian employers of our National Guard and reserve members. Your response has been inspiring. We could not do it without you," Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.Adding, "From providing differential pay for activated reservists to caring for families of our deployed guardsmen, employers across the nation have proven themselves to be critical partners in our national defense."As we look to the future, I ask for your input to help us shape policies concerning the relationship between our service members and their civilian employers. I encourage employers across the nation to take part in The Department of Defense National Survey of Employers."Your feedback will allow us to build on the success of the past and chart a mutually beneficial course for the future. Thank you for your patriotism and continued support of our citizen warriors in the National Guard and reserve. When it comes to the defense of our nation, we all serve."The promise of a secure job provides service members and their families with stability and peace of mind, particularly as returning citizen warriors face unemployment.Employers often adapt supportive initiatives that exceed the expectations of federal law, but the difficult economy and long war have had a definite impact on employers."Guard and reserve members often return from military service as more valuable employees, but their extended absences can sometimes burden their civilian employers," Dennis McCarthy, assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, said.Adding, "Our goal for this survey is to identify best practices in supporting employers of guard and reserve members and evaluate the effectiveness of Department of Defense programs."Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, is sending the survey to 80,000 employers, who will have eight weeks to complete the questions.The sample includes employers of every size and industry, from all across America. The randomly selected participants will receive a letter in the mail this week with instructions for completing the survey online.Survey participants should visit ESGR.mil and click on the survey link to provide their feedback on employing members of the guard and reserve.