DoD Honors Supporters of National Guard, Reserves

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES

07.12.2005

Courtesy Story

Defense.gov         

Defense officials have announced that 15 organizations have won the 2005 Secretary of Defense Freedom Award for supporting employees who serve in the Reserves and National Guard.

"The 15 recipients of the 2005 Secretary of Defense Freedom Award, by the above-and-beyond support of their employees who serve in the Reserve and National Guard, set a high standard for all of America's private and public employers," said David Janes, national chairman of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve on July 11. "I thank them and congratulate them for having received this recognition for their contributions to their employees and the Nation."

The 15 recipients of this year's Secretary of Defense Freedom Awards are:

Then-Secretary of Defense William Perry instituted the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The award publicly recognizes employers, who were nominated by their employees who voluntarily serve in the National Guard and Reserve, for exceptional support above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994. The award is the highest in a series of Department of Defense employer awards that include the Patriot Award, the ESGR Above and Beyond Award, and the Pro Patria Award.

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a DoD agency established in 1972. The organization strives to gain and maintain active support from all public and private employers for the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve. ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation, and, if needed, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees.

As the 1.2 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions, ESGR continues to be the informational agency for their civilian employers, officials said.

Award ceremonies will take place in Washington on Oct. 15, marking the 10th anniversary of the awards program.

(From an ESGR news release.)

Story by American Forces Press Service

• Date Taken: 07.12.2005
• Date Posted: 07.04.2025 04:37
• Story ID: 537810
• Location: WASHINGTON, US