ARLINGTON, Va. - Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense agency, announced today that 133 employers have been selected as semifinalists for the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the DoD to employers for exceptional support of their Guard and Reserve employees. This year's semifinalists stood out among an impressive pool of 3,236 nominees.
Freedom Award nominations come directly from Guard and Reserve members, or family members acting on their behalf. The Freedom Award provides service members with an opportunity to recognize employers for going above and beyond what is required by law.
Employers chosen as semifinalists supported their Guard and Reserve employees through a variety of formal and informal initiatives, including developing internal military support networks, providing full benefits to employees fulfilling their military obligations, caring for the families of deployed employees, and granting additional leave to Guard and Reserve employees preparing to leave for or return from deployments.
"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 announced early this summer and honored in Washington, D.C. at the 17th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Ceremony on September 20, 2012. In the years since the institution of the award in 1996, 160 employers have been honored.