Employers recognized for support of the military

Courtesy Photo | (Left to right) Lt. Col. William Maguire, 1101st Mobile Support Battalian, commander, from Southampton, Pa., New York City Transit Authority Superintendent Elizabeth Curray, Master Sgt. Marlene Porter, the 1101st operations noncommissioned officer from Queens, N.Y., who also works for the NYTA, and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas McGarry, 1101st command sergeant major from Schenectady, N.Y., stand together after Currey was presented the 2014 Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Award April 26 at Fort Totten.  

FORT TOTTEN, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

04.26.2014

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Matson 

87th Training Division

FORT TOTTEN, N.Y. - The New York City Transit Authority and Black Entertainment Television were honored with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Award for their support of Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers in an awards ceremony April 26, at Fort Totten.

Lt. Col. William Maguire, 1101st Mobile Support Battalian, commander, from Southampton, Pa., and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas McGarry, 1101st command sergeant major from Schenectady, N.Y., presented awards to the two organizations for their efforts in supporting their military employees. The employers went the extra mile to allow for the unique circumstances of military employees by doing things such as allowing their employees flexible schedules, providing time off prior to and after deployment and granting leaves of absence if needed.

"If you cherish your freedom (and) guard your freedom, you have to give a little bit of yourself and that's what soldiers do every day and supervisors should be aware of that," NYTA Superintendent Elizabeth Curray said after accepting the award with Revenue Manager Renee Burgess on behalf of the NYTA. "Soldiers in the Army make better employees, through their discipline and the fact they appreciate their jobs more."

Representatives from BET were unable to attend the ceremony to accept their award but were also honored.

The NYTA was nominated for the award by Army Reserve Master Sgt. Marlene Porter, the 1101st operations noncommissioned officer from Queens, N.Y., who has been employed by the NYTA since 1992. She stated the NYTA provided her with "unparalleled support" during a mobilization in 2007. The BET was nominated for their award by 2nd Lt. Brittany Wyatt, a human resource officer with the 1101st from Newport News, Va.

"I work as a freelancer, and whenever I have to go on duty, my employer is very supportive and understanding," Wyatt said. "I just wanted to recognize people who support the military so others might do the same."

• Date Taken: 04.26.2014
• Date Posted: 05.04.2014 13:59
• Story ID: 128659
• Location: FORT TOTTEN, NEW YORK, US
• Hometown: QUEENS, NEW YORK, US
• Hometown: SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, US
• Hometown: SOUTHAMPTON, PENNSYLVANIA, US