Mobilizing the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) was a major task for the brigade, the Arkansas Army National Guard, the State of Arkansas, family members of the mobilizing Soldiers, and affected employers.Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense (DOD) organization that promotes a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees. DOD established ESGR in 1972 to gain and maintain employer support for guard and reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflict through mediation. ESGR is the lead DOD organization for this mission under DOD Directive 1250.1, National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Today, ESGR operates through a network of more than 4,500 volunteers throughout the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.Since its establishment, the Arkansas ESGR Office has served the Soldiers of the Arkansas Army National Guard. ESGR's first involvement with the 39th IBCT began with the Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) sessions and continued to the actual deployment of the brigade. The ESGR team saw every Soldier as he processed through the predeployment sessions. These weekly programs began at 7:30 a.m. and lasted until after 6:00 p.m. Team members would visit with 150 to 200 Soldiers during each session.

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