WASHINGTON - Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, announced Monday the 15 recipients of the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
The Freedom Award is the Department's highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of Guard and Reserve employees.
This year's recipients were selected from 2,864 nominations received from Guard members and Reservists for going far beyond what the federal law requires to support their military employees.
One winner was nominated by an Air National Guard member; six were nominated by members of the Army National Guard
"I'm honored to announce the recipients of the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award," said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. "Guardsmen and Reservists across the nation rely on strong bonds with their civilian employers. By recognizing these 15 exceptional employers, the Department of Defense celebrates the contributions made by American employers to our Citizen Warriors. I commend these extraordinary employers for their unwavering commitment to service members and their families."
The award winners will be honored Sept. 26 at the Pentagon.
The winning Army National Guard employers are Capital One, McLean, Virginia; General Mills, Inc., Golden Valley, Minnesota; New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Concord, New Hampshire; PNC Bank, Pittsburgh; Triumph Pharmaceuticals, St. Louis and Zions Bank, Salt Lake City.
The Washoe County (Nevada) School District was nominated by a member of the Air National Guard.
Other winners were Arizona Public Service, AT&T, CH2M-WG Idaho, J.G. Management Systems, Inc., Los Angeles Fire Department, Shofner Vision Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and UNC Health Care.