WASHINGTON – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) proudly announces the 30 finalists for the 2024 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The finalists include small and large private and public sector employers nominated by a National Guard or Reserve Component employee employed in their organization.
ESGR received 1,758 nominations for this prestigious award for employers throughout the 50 states, Guam-CNMI, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and District of Columbia.
“I am honored to congratulate these 30 outstanding employers, who have distinguished themselves by strong support of their Reserve Component employees,” said Ron Bogle, ESGR’s National Chair. “Employers play a critical role in the readiness, retention and success of our National Guard and Reserve forces, and by valuing and supporting their employees’ military service, they are making a direct contribution to our Nation’s security.”
The Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the Department of Defense to employers for their exceptional support of National Guard and Reserve members. The Freedom Award began in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional employer support, with only 340 honorees to date. For more information about the Freedom Award, visit www.FreedomAward.mil.
The Department of Defense will announce the 15 employers selected to receive the 2024 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award early this summer. The awards will be presented in August at the Pentagon.
Here are this year’s Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award finalists: Bartlett Roofing Boise, Idaho Army National Guard
BDV Solutions Lyman, South Carolina Army Reserve
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota Eagan, Minnesota Air Force Reserve
Brion Insurance Agency Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
Clark County Fire Department Las Vegas, Nevada Army Reserve
Cooper University Health Care Camden, New Jersey Air National Guard
Cordia Phoenix, Arizona Air National Guard
Core States Group Bentonville, Arkansas Army National Guard
Council Bluffs Fire Department Council Bluffs, Iowa Army Reserve
Freeport-McMoRan Green Valley, Arizona Army National Guard
Fulton Bank Lancaster, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
Kiewit Infrastructure Co. Lone Tree, Colorado Army Reserve
Kimberly-Clark Corp. Neenah, Wisconsin Army National Guard
League of Minnesota Cities St. Paul, Minnesota Air National Guard
Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Air National Guard
Navy Federal Credit Union Vienna, Virginia Air Force Reserve
Office of the Attorney General of Texas Austin, Texas Navy Reserve
Orange County Sheriff's Office Orlando, Florida Coast Guard Reserve
Penney OpCo LLC Plano, Texas Army National Guard
PSA Management, Inc, Orlando, Florida Army Reserve
Ramsey Solutions Franklin, Tennessee USMC Reserve
SAS Institute, Inc. Cary, North Carolina Army Reserve
Shelby County Fire Department Memphis, Tennessee Army Reserve
Sherpa 6 Inc. Littleton, Colorado Army Reserve
Significance Inc. Annapolis, Maryland Army Reserve
Springfield Fire Department Springfield, Missouri Navy Reserve
The Eyak Corporation Anchorage, Alaska Army Reserves
Tucson Electric Power Tucson, Arizona USMC Reserve
Vision Academy Charter School East Lansdowne, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
Vortex Optics Barneveld, Wisconsin Navy Reserve
About ESGR ESGR is a Department of Defense office that develops and promotes supportive work environments for Service members in the Reserve Components through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. It also provides assistance in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers. To learn more about ESGR, visit www.ESGR.mil.
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