An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | July 28, 2014

2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipients announced

By Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

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.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Air National Guard civilian firefighters, assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, pose in front of the fire truck that was the first on scene, South Burlington, VT, June 4, 2025. These firefighters provided the first fire truck on scene to a local fire.
Vermont Air Guard First on Scene of South Burlington Fire
By Airman Raymond LaChance, | June 4, 2025
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Doireann Chesbrough, a civilian firefighter for the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, was sitting next to the radio in the dayroom of the station as the sun began to set over the Green...

Paratroopers from the Colorado National Guard and the Jordanian Armed Forces stand together before the first joint Colorado-Jordan airborne Friendship Jump, Watkins, Colorado, April 23, 2025. Members parachuted from a CH-47 Chinook as part of an event to strengthen interoperability and deepen the partnership between the two forces.
Airborne Operation Strengthens Colorado Guard, Jordan Partnership
By Senior Airman Melissa Escobar-Pereira, | June 4, 2025
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – In a display of cooperation and capability, Soldiers from the Colorado Army National Guard and the Jordanian Armed Forces recently conducted a joint airborne operation in Watkins, Colorado.The April 23...

Army Guard Soldiers assigned to Regional Command-East of the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission, also known as KFOR, host a multinational non-commissioned officer academy, referred to as the Jungleer Academy, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, May 8, 2025. 11 Sergeants Major from seven countries shared their experience with the soldiers, and many nations showcased their weapons, gear, vehicles and took a flight or hoisted in the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
Army Guard Soldiers in Kosovo Host Inaugural Event for Non-Commissioned Officers
By Sgt. Cheryl Madolev, | June 4, 2025
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – National Guard Soldiers assigned to Regional Command-East of the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission recently hosted an inaugural multinational event for non-commissioned officers (NCOs), focusing on...