Neel Mehta
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, has announced the 15 recipients of the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The award is the highest recognition given by DoD that is bestowed upon employers who demonstrate outstanding support of their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.
A selection board comprised of senior DoD officials, business leaders and prior awardees selected the 15 recipients, who will be honored at the 16th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Sept. 22, 2011. Last year“™s recipients enjoyed a private meeting with Vice President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates prior to the ceremony.
The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under ESGR, which was established in 1972 to develop and maintain support for employees serving in the Guard and Reserves. Freedom Award recipients go above and beyond support that is required by law, offering formal and informal initiatives that include providing the difference between military and civilian salaries during deployments, continuing full benefits and providing personal support to the families of employees called to service.
A full list of 2011 Freedom Award recipients can be found here
