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 | June 30, 2016

Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipients named

By Department of Defense

WASHINGTON - Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced today the 15 recipients of the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest honor the DOD gives to employers for support of National Guard and Reserve employees.

"These 15 employers have distinguished themselves through their outstanding support of our Guard and Reserve members and their families," said Secretary Carter. "Without the unfaltering support of employers like them, the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve would not be able to fulfill their vital roles in our national security strategy. It is a great honor for me to recognize these employers, and I congratulate them on their receipt of the Employer Support Freedom Award."

The 2016 Freedom Award recipients below will be honored at a ceremony in the Pentagon on Aug. 26:

Alaska Airlines; Anchorage, Alaska; nominated by Air Force Reserve

Albuquerque Police Department; Albuquerque, New Mexico; nominated by Air National Guard

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing; Springfield, Missouri; nominated by Navy Reserve

Burford Corporation; Maysville, Oklahoma; nominated by Army National Guard

Carolinas Healthcare System; Charlotte, North Carolina; nominated by Air National Guard

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office; Oregon City, Oregon; nominated by Army National Guard

Delmarva Veteran Builders; Salisbury, Maryland; nominated by Air Force Reserve

FASTSIGNS International, Inc.; Carrollton, Texas; nominated by Air Force Reserve

Hope Valley Industries; North Kingstown, Rhode Island; nominated by Air National Guard

Idaho State Police; Meridian, Idaho; nominated by Army Reserve / Army National Guard

Lowe's; Mooresville, North Carolina; nominated by Navy Reserve

Maryland State Police; Pikesville, Maryland; nominated by Army Reserve

Prairie Grove Consolidated School District 46; Crystal Lake, Illinois; nominated by Marine Corps Reserve

Seattle Fire Department; Seattle, Washington; nominated by Navy Reserve

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; Akron, Ohio; nominated by Navy Reserve

The 2016 recipients were selected from 2,424 nominations received from Guardsmen and Reservists. The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. In the years since, 220 employers have been honored with the award.

 

 

Related Articles
Alaska Army National Guard Col. Michele Edwards and Command Sgt. Maj. Russel Throckmorton, the commander and command sergeant major of the 297th Regional Support Group, case the unit colors during a deployment ceremony at the Alaska National Guard Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Jan. 24, 2025. The Alaska Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 297th RSG, will deploy approximately 80 Guardsmen on a nine-month mission to Eastern Europe to support U.S. Army Europe and Africa’s Operation European Assure, Deter and Reinforce.
Alaska Guard Deploys to Eastern Europe to Support NATO Allies
By Staff Sgt. Seth LaCount, | Feb. 4, 2025
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - The Alaska Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 297th Regional Support Group, will deploy about 80 Guardsmen to Eastern Europe for nine months to support the...

The Nevada Air National Guard's High Rollers arrive in Antarctica Dec. 18, 2024, to support the annual U.S. military mission in Antarctica. They flew augmented max duty day missions, logging over 30 hours in three days.
Nevada Guard Airlift Wing Assists with Operation Deep Freeze
By Senior Master Sgt. Paula Macomber, | Feb. 4, 2025
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand - The 152nd Airlift Wing “High Rollers” from the Nevada Air National Guard achieved a historic first by participating in Operation Deep Freeze.The High Rollers supported the annual U.S. military...

More than 140 U.S. Soldiers with the Fort Indiantown Gap-based 3622nd Sustainment Maintenance Company are recognized during a ceremony Feb. 1, 2025, at the Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The unit is departing for a year-long deployment to the Middle East.
Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers Deploying to Kuwait
By Maj. Travis Mueller, | Feb. 4, 2025
HARRISBURG, Pa. - More than 140 Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 3622nd Sustainment Maintenance Company were honored during a Feb. 1 deployment ceremony at the Zembo Shrine.Members of the 3622nd SMC, part of...