(Columbia) March 13, 2003 - Thursday morning Governor Mark Sanford signed a proclamation asking South Carolina businesses to support their employees who, as South Carolina Air and Army National Guardsmen or Reservists, have deployed in the current buildup for a possible war on Iraq and for the war on terror.

Sanford, an employer himself signed the proclamation at 10:00am at the governor's office flanked by members Air Force, Marines and Army personnel

SC Deployments (3-12-2003):

3000 SC Army National Guard 477 SC Air National Guard 1763 SC Reservists

Captain Catherine Ferris of the US Air Force Reserve says most employers understand workers' military commitment is serious and promising them job security when they come home translates to better morale on the frontlines, "Civilian employers are compensated for lending out their employees in time of crisis like this."

Adjutant General Stan Spears, in charge of the South Carolina National Guard, says, "The message is that the state of South Carolina fully supports its military and is asking that its citizens and employers stand behind them when they're called up."

The proclamation was largely ceremonial as federal law already protects Reservists' and Guardsmen's job. The proclamation is designed to serve as a reminder.

Nearly 300,000 US servicemen and women have deployed to the Middle East.

by Scott Hawkins

updated 12:16pm by Chris Rees