Rocket Blast: Employers Support NH Guard

This story was originally published on July 25, 2013.

The saying at Enterasys Secure Networks goes like this: "There is nothing more important than our customers." Too, the Salem-based company looks out for its employees, some of whom are serving in the National Guard looking out for their neighbors, both at home and overseas.

Martin Thornton, a manager at Enterasys, was one of the New Hampshire business leaders invited to observe the New Hampshire Army National Guard's training July 22 at Fort Drum, N.Y.. He was also there to support one of his employees who was part of the 3rd Battalion, 197th Fires Brigade's live-fire training exercise involving firing of an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS.

"He's a very important employee to us – very valuable to us," Thornton said in an interview. "And we're glad to share him with the National Guard."

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve worked with the New Hampshire Guard to invite New Hampshire businesses like Enterasys on the training mission, which included a refueling mission of F-16s by the Pease Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing. 

Dave Quinn, state chairman of the ESGR, praised businesses for their Guard-related employees.

Major Gen. William Reddel, adjutant general of the NH National Guard, said two-thirds of Air Guard members have a regular job outside of uniform, while about four-fifths of Army Guard members have a regular job outside of uniform.