ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - The Pentagon is trying to better understand how the service of military members in the Guard and Reserves affects employers.

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The Department of Defense is in the midst of surveying roughly 80,000 employers of all sizes across the nation to better understand how Guard and Reserve service affects them.

Guard and Reserve members currently comprise about 50 percent of the military's total strength, according to the Pentagon.

Defense officials say they generally receive strong support from companies who employ Guard and Reserve members, who sometimes must be away from their civilian jobs for extended periods. They hope the survey will show them ways to sustain that support.