MARQUETTE, Mich. - Congratulations to Conservation Officer Sgt. Mark Leadman, Michigan Department of Natural Resources in Marquette for receiving the ESGR Patriot Award.  Sgt. Leadman was nominated by Chief Petty Officer Jeremy Sergey of the St. Ignace U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.

When asked why Sergey nominated Leadman he had this to say, "Being a member in the [Coast Guard] Reserve is very hard on families with using days off to drill, time spent away from family, and dealing with the stress of deployments. These stressors can be compounded if a member has a supervisor, or an organization that doesn't understand the sacrifices the reserve member makes to fulfill their duties of being in the reserves," Sergey said. "Sgt. Leadman has gone above and beyond what is legally required of him when managing members like myself. The simple fact that he schedules my long weekends on drill weekends, so I don't have to use no-pay military leave, or annual vacation is a huge stress relief for me.”

Sergey went on to say, “When I have left for active duty, he has offered to help my wife cut the grass in the summer and shovel the driveway in the winter. When I was gone at drill with a new baby at home, he has checked on my family. He makes my wellbeing a top priority. The Patriot Award is to recognize such examples of true leadership. I felt it my duty to nominate Sgt. Leadman, as he has set the standard on what all supervisors should strive to be who have military reserve subordinates."

Presenting the award is Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Upper Peninsula Area Chair Pam Basal. 

To learn more about the Patriot Award, visit www.esgr.mil/mi.