DOD Selects Finalists for Freedom Award

From an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve News Release

ARLINGTON, Va., May 22, 2012 – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense agency, announced 30 employers as finalists for the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award today.

The Freedom Award is the DOD’s highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of Guard and Reserve employees. A review board comprised of military and civilian leaders selected the 30 employers from the 3,236 nominations received earlier this year from Guard and Reserve service members, or family members acting on their behalf.

“The 2012 Freedom Award finalists demonstrate that outstanding support of Guard and Reserve members is not limited by an employer’s size, industry or region of the nation.” ESGR National Chair James G. Rebholz said. “These 30 finalists span the diversity of America’s workforce and prove every employer can go above and beyond for our Citizen Warriors.”

The finalists for the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award are:

-- Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Bismarck, N.D.;

-- Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill.;

-- Centerline Mechanical LLC, Cave Creek, Ariz.;

-- Citi, New York, N.Y.;

-- City of Edina Police Department, Edina, Minn.;

-- Cranston Public Schools, Cranston, R.I.;

-- Crystal Springs United Methodist Church, Crystal Springs, Miss.;

-- Delta Air Lines, Atlanta;

-- Don Gorman Electric LLC, Santa Fe, N.M.;

-- Gary Jet Center, Gary, Ind.;

-- Humana Inc., Louisville, Ky.;

-- Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif.;

-- iostudio, Nashville, Tenn.;

-- Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson, Bismarck, N.D.;

-- Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, Kalamazoo, Mich.;

-- Kent County Levy Court, Dover, Del.;

-- L-3 Communications, New York, N.Y.;

-- Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles;

-- LPI Printing and Graphics Inc., Stoneham, Mass.;

-- Nationwide Insurance, Columbus, Ohio;

-- Newberry County Sheriff's Office, Newberry, S.C.;

-- Nyemaster Goode, Des Moines, Iowa;

-- Port of Seattle, Seattle, Wash.;

-- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M.;

-- Siemens Corporation, Washington, D.C.;

-- Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan LLC, Raleigh, N.C.;

-- Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, Tenn.;

-- Town of Camden Police Department, Camden, Maine;

-- Uniform Color Company, Holland, Mich.; and

-- Verizon Wireless, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Only 160 employers have received the Freedom Award since it was established in 1996. Employers named as finalists for the award distinguish themselves not only for adhering to the employment and reemployment rights of Guard and Reserve members, but for actively creating opportunities to assist and support the service of both Guard and Reserve employees and their families.

The 2012 finalists’ support initiatives include establishing a military relations council to internally advocate for Guard and Reserve employees, adjusting work schedules to accommodate military training days, and even driving the pregnant spouse of a deployed service member to the hospital when she went into labor and setting up a computer connection so the service member could see his newborn child.

DOD will announce the 15 recipients of the 2012 Freedom Award early this summer following completion of a national selection board comprised of senior DOD officials, business leaders and prior awardees. The 2012 recipients will be honored with the 17th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in Washington, D.C., in September. Past recipients of the Freedom Award have met privately with the President and Vice President of the United States, and the Secretary of Defense.

The Freedom Award was instituted under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. Established as a DOD agency 40 years ago, ESGR develops and maintains employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers.

Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

Officials Announce Semifinalists for Freedom Award

From an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve News Release

ARLINGTON, Va., April 20, 2012 – More than 3,000 reserve component service members have nominated 133 of their civilian-life employers as semifinalists for an award that recognizes outstanding support for the citizen soldiers and citizen airmen who work for them.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, received 3,236 nominations for the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the department’s highest recognition for employers supporting members of the Guard and Reserve.

Officials will announce up to 15 Freedom Award recipients this summer to be honored Sept. 20 at a ceremony in the nation’s capital. Guard and Reserve members, or family members acting on their behalf, nominated their civilian employers for the Freedom Award during the 12-week nomination season.

Guard and Reserve members often put their civilian lives on hold when they answer the call to duty, ESGR officials noted. Supportive employers provide a tremendous amount of stability and peace of mind to citizen warriors and their families, they added, enabling them to continue their service.

“The employers selected as Freedom Award semifinalists have distinguished themselves for their support of their National Guard and Reserve employees, and are truly serving our nation with their extraordinary commitment to these special employees,” said ESGR National Chair James G. Rebholz. “Their efforts are to be applauded, and ESGR salutes these patriotic employers for their special care of their Guard and Reserve employees and their families while they serve our nation in times of war and peace.”

ESGR will announce the 2012 Freedom Award finalists next month after a review board comprised of military and civilian leaders selects the 30 most supportive employers from among the 133 semifinalists. The 15 award recipients will be honored at the 17th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony.

ESGR Seeks Freedom Award Nominees

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 15, 2007 - The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is seeking employers with records of stellar support for military employees. The group is accepting nominations for the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Awards through Jan. 21.

"Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the National Guard and Reserve," said Beth Sherman, an ESGR spokeswoman. "The Department of Defense shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to (these) employees."

Past recipients of the award have provided full salary, a continuation of benefits, care packages and other forms of help such as home and lawn care for families of employees fulfilling military obligations.

"While all employer support is exemplary, small employers that go above and beyond the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act to assist their employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve, really set the bar high (last year)," Sherman said.

USERRA prohibits discrimination against people because of military service.

Augustine and Sons, a family-owned farm in Iowa, is one example of a small business that goes out of its way for its employees, Sherman said.

When one of its employees, 1st Sgt. Matthew Strasser, an Iowa Army National Guardsman, was deployed, the farm lost half its staff. Yet the Augustine family offered its continuing support to the family Strasser left behind.

"They allowed Strasser's wife and ... two sons to live on the farm rent-free," Sherman said. "The Augustines took the boys fishing, attended their sports games and fixed their dirt bikes."

Large businesses previously recognized for their exemplary support include Sears and Starbucks. The commonwealth of Massachusetts and the state of Tennessee both are past recipients of the public-sector award.

ESGR is encouraging National Guardsmen, reservists and their family members to nominate employers who offer their employees similar support. Nomination forms are available on the committee's Web site, www.esgr.org.

Last year, 1,119 nominations were received. To date, ESGR has received 268 already this year.

"Given that employer support is so strong, we hope reserve-component members will see fit to nominate their deserving employers," Sherman said. "This kind of recognition establishes a benchmark for all employers, and we hope this recognition is a small thank you from the Department of Defense."

Winners selected in three categories will be announced in early spring and will receive their awards during a Sept. 18 award ceremony.

Founded in 1972, the National Committee for Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve is a Defense Department agency established to promote cooperation and understanding between reserve-component members and their civilian employers. The organization also is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

Then-Defense Secretary William Perry instituted the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in 1996.

NOMINATION SEASON OPEN FOR 2008 SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD

National Guard and Reserve members and families encouraged to nominate supportive employers

The Department of Defense has opened the nomination season for the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. National Guard and Reserve members and their families are eligible and encouraged to nominate employers who have gone above and beyond in their support of military employees. Nominations will be accepted at www.esgr.mil from November 1, 2007 to January 21, 2008. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the U.S. Government’s highest recognition given to outstanding employers.

The 2008 recipients will be announced in the spring and honored in Washington, D.C. at the 13th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony on September 18, 2008. Recipients of the 2007 Freedom Award met with President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates; Vice Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright presented the awards at a ceremony attended by members of Congress and senior government and military officials.

Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the National Guard and Reserve. The Department of Defense shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. Past recipients of the Freedom Award have provided full salary, continuation of benefits, care packages and even home and lawn care to families of employees fulfilling their military obligation.

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) to recognize exceptional support from the employer community.

ESGR is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. Its mission is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts through informal mediation.

Previous Freedom Award recipients have included such large businesses as General Motors, Starbucks, Home Depot, American Express, Sears, General Electric, DuPont, and United Parcel Service; state and local governments, including the State of Tennessee and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and small businesses including the family owned Augustine & Sons farm in Rose Hill, IA and Turbocam International.

For questions regarding the nomination process, please contact Commander Craig Kujawa at 703.696.1386 x514.

Gates Hails Employers for Support of Guardsmen, Reservists

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 12, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised a select group of civilian employers today for their exemplary support of employees in the National Guard and reserves. During a meeting in his Pentagon office today, Gates thanked the employers for "the leadership that you all show and the sympathy and help that you provide to our men and women in the Guard and Reserve."

"The fact that you have won this award really is a measure of your service," he added.

Fifteen businesses and organizations were selected to receive the 2007 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, which recognizes exemplary support for employees in the reserve components.

This year's Freedom Award recipients are: Augustine and Sons Inc., Rose Hill, Iowa; Con-way Inc., San Mateo, Calif.; Creative Healthcare Solutions, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Custom Hardware Engineering Inc., Fenton, Mo.; Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Tulsa, Okla.; Gantt Excavating and Contracting Inc., Martinsburg, W.Va.; General Motors Corp., Detroit; New Hampshire State Police, Concord, N.H.; Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C.; Sierra Pacific Resources, Las Vegas; Sodexho USA, Gaithersburg, Md.; the state of Tennessee; Turbocam International, Dover, N.H.; Ultra Machining Co., Monticello, Minn; and Wilmington VA Medical Center, Wilmington, Del.

The honorees will receive their Freedom Awards tonight during the annual banquet held in Washington, D.C.

Officials from the award-winning firms and organizations met with Vice President Richard B. Cheney earlier today.

President Bush, who declared Sept. 9-15 as National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week for 2007, will greet the group at the White House tomorrow.

"During National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, we recognize the vital contributions of the brave men and women who serve our great nation, and we pay tribute to the employers who support them," Bush said in a proclamation. Employer support, Bush stated, is critical to reserve-component servicemembers' ability to serve.

Frederick D. Gantt, president of Gantt's Excavating and Contracting Inc., said his firm supplied four all-terrain vehicles used by company employees deployed for military duty in Iraq. Gantt's business performs commercial and residential earth work for septic systems, utilities and roads.

"We feel that we need to do it to help the country out," Gantt said of his company's contributions on behalf of its employees in the Guard and reserves. "If you don't stick together, you'll fall one at a time."

The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recognizes U.S. employers that rise above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, manages the award process.

ESGR assists Guard and reserve members and their employers understand employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the act.

This year's Freedom Award recipients are "a fantastic group," said L. Gordon Sumner Jr., a retired Army lieutenant colonel appointed as the committee's new executive director March 29.

The firms being honored "are going above and beyond in their support for our Guard (members) and reservists," Sumner said. The fifteen honorees were selected from a list of nearly 1,200 nominations, he noted.

Dan Augustine, co-owner of Augustine and Sons Inc., a 150-year-old family-owned farm in Rose Hill, Iowa, saluted company employee Iowa National Guard 1st Sgt. Matthew T. Strasser, who nominated his firm for the award and is now deployed to Afghanistan. The company has assisted Strasser's wife, Jessica, by performing needed household chores and by taking the family's two young sons out on weekend farm outings.

"It makes us feel good that he appreciates what we have done," Augustine said of Strasser. "It's a small thing that we can do to help his family while he is deployed."

"The award, from our viewpoint, is really more about the men and women who are giving of themselves for the country," said Norman Stalsberg, president of Creative Healthcare Solutions Inc., a marketing provider to the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

West Virginia Company Lightens Load for Aviation Unit

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 12, 2007 - The contributions of a West Virginia excavating company helped lighten the load -- literally -- for a deploying Army National Guard aviation unit. When Army National Guardsman Chief Warrant Officer 3 Timothy Smith found out he was deploying, he was concerned about the distance from the command post to the flight line at Forward Operating Base Speicher, Iraq. It was nearly a mile, and with each of the four-person crew carrying 150 pounds in gear, plus weapons and ammunition, all in 135-degree-plus heat, Smith saw a problem.

"We'd be worn out before we ever left on a mission, just getting our gear out there," said the UH-60 Black Hawk pilot with Company C, 150th Aviation, Air Assault, in Wheeling, W.Va.

After Smith talked with his wife about the problem, she went to her father, Frederick Gantt, a local businessman and former member of the West Virginia Air National Guard.

As it happens, her father is also Smith's boss, and owner of Gantt's Excavating and Contracting in Martinsburg, W.Va.

Gantt put heads together with a couple of fellow businessmen, and they raised more than $20,000 to purchase four Polaris Rangers, or small all-terrain vehicle-style trucks, to move equipment to and from the flight line.

During its deployment to Iraq from July 2006 to July 2007, the unit flew 200 missions and more than 600 hours, Smith said. The vehicles earned their money for unit, Smith said.

"They were invaluable. Many times I had members of my unit start trying to express what it was like to have those and they literally couldn't find the words," Smith said. "They were used 24/7. If they weren't supporting crews, they were supporting maintenance."

Smith, who is general manager of the business, said Gantt routinely gives back to the community in generous ways.

"They always go above and beyond to do something for the local area," Smith said.

During Smith's deployment, Gantt kept him on the payroll until he was sure his military pay had started coming in, and then began paying Smith at the end of the deployment, before he came off duty, just to ensure there was no break in pay. The company also kept his health insurance current, so his family didn't have to switch providers during the deployment.

Smith's wife, Janesa, who is also a veteran, nominated the company to receive the prestigious Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Gantt's Excavating and Contracting is among 15 businesses and organizations selected to receive the annual award, which recognizes exemplary support for employees in the Guard or reserve.

Smith called his boss and family true patriots.

"I think it's extremely patriotic. It's heartwarming. It's just another example of this family's commitment not only to the country, but the community," he said.

Even though Smith is his son-in-law, Gantt said, he would have done the same for any Guard member who worked for him.

"We feel that we need to do it to help the country," Gantt said. "If you don't stick together, you fall one at a time. We believe strongly in that."

Smith agreed.

"I know I'm family, but the way they have always given back to the community -- it's beyond family," he said. "They are always trying to give back. I'm proud of that. I'm proud of them for that."

The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recognizes U.S. employers that rise above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, manages the award process. ESGR assists Guard and reserve members and their employers understand employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the act.

Gantt is slated to accept the Freedom Award during a formal ceremony here tonight.

Employer Helps with Life on the Farm, Military Wife Says

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 11, 2007 - Although Jessica Strasser's husband is now deployed to Afghanistan with his Iowa Army National Guard unit, she says life on the farm is immeasurably easier thanks to his employer. Jessica's husband, 1st Sgt. Matthew T. Strasser, is employed by Augustine and Sons, Inc., a 150-year-old family farm in Rose Hill, Iowa. The Strassers and their two sons, Reece, 9, and Tyler, 7, live rent-free and farm on Augustine and Sons-owned acreage.

Matthew is a professional farmer who has grown corn, soybeans and hay and tended cattle and hogs for Augustine and Sons for five years now, Jessica said.

Strasser, who deployed to Afghanistan in May, nominated his civilian employer to receive the prestigious Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Augustine and Sons is among 15 businesses and organizations selected to receive this year's Freedom Award, which recognizes exemplary support for employees in the Guard or reserve.

"They do so much for us, I mean, stuff that they don't have to do," said 35-year-old Jessica, who has a full-time job away from the farm. "They take the time to help us out."

Augustine and Sons has helped her sons care for their three Black Angus and three Charolais cattle, Jessica said, as well as performing various household chores, such as cutting grass and making repairs. Augustine and Sons also provides Matthew's yearly bonus while he's deployed.

Jessica said her husband's civilian employer also takes her sons to observe company farming operations on weekends.

"That's really good, because it helps to fill their time while their father is gone," she said.

Jessica said her 32-year-old husband helps train Afghan National Army soldiers.

"We're very supportive of his time in the National Guard," she said. "He tells me that they're making progress with his mission."

Matthew "is making a difference" in Afghanistan, Jessica pointed out. "And, that's important," she said.

The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recognizes U.S. employers that rise above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, manages the award process.

ESGR assists Guard and Reserve members and their employers understand employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the act.

An Augustine and Sons' senior representative will accept the Freedom Award on behalf of his company during a formal ceremony here Sept. 12.