Kern County Supervisor earns patriot award

Photo By Gregg Moore | Col. Ahron Hakimi (right) honors David Couch (left), Kern County Supervisor, with the Patriot Award, May 13, 2016, for his extraordinary support of National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers in Bakersfield, Calif. (Courtesy photo)  

BAKERSFIELD, CA, UNITED STATES

05.13.2016

Story by Lt. Col. Gregg Moore 

311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command   

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Col. Ahron Hakimi honors David Couch, Kern County Supervisor, with the Patriot Award, May 13, 2016, for his extraordinary support of National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers. Of the thousands of Kern County employees, many are part time service members.

The Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve office recognizes individual supervisors with the Patriot Award. Hakimi, an Army Reserve Soldier from the 311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) in Los Angeles, nominated Couch.

“The Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve,” said James Combs, California ESGR state chair. “Supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units.”

Couch reassured Reserve Component service members they would maintain their careers with the county should they mobilize and deploy. He recognized the need for Reserve Component leaders, such as Hakimi, to put in extra time for their military duties.

Hakimi’s civilian job is as the Executive Director, Kern Council of Governments. He said, “Supervisor Couch fully supports all military members in the county.”

The office of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States. ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members, and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within the DOD. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of members of the Guards and Reservist who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

For more information about ESGR outreach programs or volunteer opportunities, call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.

• Date Taken: 05.13.2016
• Date Posted: 05.16.2016 01:30
• Story ID: 198163
• Location: BAKERSFIELD, CA, US