ESGR supports Service members, recognizes employers

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 624th Regional Support Group Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  Citizen Airmen who support and defend the Constitution by wearing an Air Force uniform can only successfully balance their family, civilian employment and Reserve commitment with the support of their civilian employer. Sometimes, those employers may go above and beyond to support their military employee.

Air Force Reservists who want to thank their employer for this support can recognize them by nominating that employer for one of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve employer recognition awards.

Known commonly as "ESGR," the focus of the organization is to promote an understanding of both the National Guard and Reserve as well as encourage support of employers in development of human resource policies and practices that support an employee's participation in the military. ESGR also works to inform and educate employers on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act as well as help foster the willingness of employers to support their employees called to military service for long periods of time and greater frequency.

Service members are encouraged to use this program not only as a means of recognition but also as a tool to help educate their employers about the Guard and Reserve mission.

"The Guard and Reserve are an all-volunteer force," said Bob Borek, Hawaii State Chairman, ESGR. "Many people don't understand that about them. Nominating their employer gives us the opportunity to talk to them and bring them up to speed, all while building a relationship with the employer and service member, so they are all on the same sheet of music."

The Patriot Award is the first step in saying "thank you." This award recognizes an employer for his or her support of National Guard and Reserve members. Nominees of the Patriot Award receive a Department of Defense Certificate of Appreciation and a "Patriot" lapel pin. All members of the National Guard and Reserve are eligible to nominate their employers and can nominate them online at www.esgr.org/newforms.asp?p=patriot.

The next award level is the "Above and Beyond" Award, which is given in limited numbers by state and territory ESGR offices. This award recognizes employers who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements for granting leave and providing support for military duty by their employees. Submissions can be made by individual Guard and Reserve members and go through their local ESGR contact, listed on the national ESGR local contacts page at http://www.esgr.org/site/Contact/StateLocalContacts.aspx.

The "Pro Patria Award" is the next level of recognition a Guardsmen or Reservist can give an employer. This award is presented annually by each state or territory ESGR organization to one employer who has provided the most exceptional support to national defense through leadership practices and personnel policies that support their Guard or Reserve. The Pro Patria award is also the highest level of recognition given by Hawaii ESGR.

Lastly, the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support. Nominations must come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating, or from a family member of the Reservists or Guardsman.

The Freedom Award was created to publicly recognize employers who provide exceptional support to a Guardsman or Reservist and is presented by the Secretary of Defense annually to the nation's 15 most supportive employers. The nomination season opens the first working day of November and closes the third Monday of January. More information on the Freedom Award can be found at www.freedomaward.mil.

Mr. Samuel Wong, Program Support Manager, Hawaii ESGR, pointed out the best way for a Guardsman or Reservist to nominate their employer for any ESGR award was to submit them via the ESGR website, http://esgr.org.

He added that it doesn't just have to be the Guardsman or Reservist submitting these awards.

"Spouses can also nominate their employer while others are deployed," he said. "They play a husband/wife role in the relationship and household and if their employer is supportive, they can nominate them too."

Members interested in more information on these awards can contact the ESGR via their website www.esgr.org. Awards can be found on the "Programs" tab.

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