Colorado, Tennessee employers honored for supporting Air Force Reservists

7/28/2014 - WASHINGTON -- J.G. Management Systems, Inc., of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Shofner Vision Center of Nashville, Tennessee, are among 15 recipients of the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

The Freedom Award is the Department's highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of Guard and Reserve employees. This year's recipients were selected from 2,864 nominations received from Guardsmen and Reservists for going far beyond what the federal law requires to support their military employees.

"I'm honored to announce the recipients of the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award," said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. "Guardsmen and Reservists across the nation rely on strong bonds with their civilian employers. By recognizing these 15 exceptional employers, the Department of Defense celebrates the contributions made by American employers to our Citizen Warriors. I commend these extraordinary employers for their unwavering commitment to service members and their families."

JGMS was nominated by Air Force Reserve Col. Gene Odom from the 822nd Civil Engineering Flight. Odom highlighted how the company paid for an activated employee's wife and children to visit him in Italy during his mid-deployment leave. JGMS has stepped in to provide supplemental health care to an employee transitioning from the military, coordinated donations for a severely injured service member, and supported a veteran who lost his home in a wildfire. The company also offers compensated time for employees to volunteer with ESGR and other military support organizations.

Shofner Vision Center was nominated by Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Kevin Johnson from the 10th Aeromedical Squadron at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He highlighted the company's ongoing communication during his deployment and publicly recognizing his military achievements. Shofner Vision Center created the United Military Support program to challenge local businesses to jointly fund community non-profit organizations that aid military members. The company also offers free eye surgeries to injured service members and significant discounts to all military customers.

The 2014 Freedom Award recipients below will be honored at a ceremony in the Pentagon Sept. 26:

1. Arizona Public Service Phoenix, Arizona Army Reserve,
2. AT&T Dallas, Texas Coast Guard Reserve,
3. Capital One McLean, Virginia Army National Guard,
4. CH2M-WG Idaho Falls, Idaho Navy Reserve,
5. General Mills, Inc. Golden Valley, Minnesota Army National Guard,
6. J.G. Management Systems, Inc. Grand Junction, Colorado Air Force Reserve,
7. Los Angeles Fire Department Los Angeles, California Navy Reserve,
8. N.H. Department of Environmental Services Concord, New Hampshire Army National Guard,
9. PNC Bank Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Army National Guard,
10. Shofner Vision Center Nashville, Tennessee Air Force Reserve,
11. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, Tennessee Army Reserve,
12. Triumph Pharmaceuticals Inc. St. Louis, Missouri Army National Guard,
13. UNC Health Care Chapel Hill, North Carolina Navy Reserve,
14. Washoe County School District Reno, Nevada Air National Guard,
15. Zions Bank Salt Lake City, Utah Army National Guard.

The 2014 recipients were selected from 2,864 nominations received from Guardsmen and Reservists for going far beyond what the federal law requires to support their military employees. Last year, recipients met with President Barack Obama and senior Defense Department leaders as part of the award recognition.