A resolution usually involves the ESGR's "informal" mediation to explain the law to guardsmen, reservists and their employers.

Palmer said the number of calls, or cases, assigned to an ombudsman over the past three years has actually decreased. Those cases could represent scenarios in which someone lost their job status, seniority or benefits.

"Not every call or inquiry we get is about not getting your job back," Palmer said.

As for wounded veterans, USA Today reporter Eileen Blass last year reported how businesses like Cisco Systems and Northrop Grumman were actively recruiting injured military members. It's a group of returning veterans that also gets the help of government-backed initiatives and laws like the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability.

Blass also singled out the government's Recovery and Employment Assistance Lifelines program, which helps wounded veterans and their spouses connect with government resources at the federal, state and local levels during their job search.

Palmer said he didn't know whether a veteran who was wounded while deployed actually got a leg up over other vets in the job market.

"That really hasn't risen as a big issue for us," he said.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com

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