ESGR Awards and Recognition Program

Freedom Award

The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the United States Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. The award, presented since 1996, has honored employers that support military employees above and beyond federal requirements.

Nominations must come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating, or from a family member, and will be accepted from Nov. 1 - Jan. 16, 2012.

After the 15 award winners are announced in the spring of 2012, they will be honored in Washington, D.C., at a ceremony that will host members of Congress, senior military officials and the Servicemembers and families that nominated them.

To nominate your employer, click here and select "Nominate Employer."

Statement of Support

The ESGR Statement of Support Program seeks to inform and educate employers about their rights and responsibilities towards their employees, who serve in the National Guard and Reserve, and to also recognize and reward those employers who go “over and above” the requirements of the law.

A Statement of Support signing employer denotes the following:

• We fully recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA)
• Our managers and supervisors will have the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve
• We will continually recognize and support our country’s Servicemembers and their families in peace, crises and war

To participate in the Statement of Support Program, please click here.

Patriot Award

The Patriot Award is the first in a progressive series of ESGR awards for outstanding employer support. Every Guard or Reserve member who wants to say, "My Boss Is A Patriot," can nominate their employer for this award, and the employer will receive:

• A personalized certificate signed by the Secretary of Defense thanking them for their support
• An ESGR "Patriot" lapel pin
• Optional official presentation by a member of the Minnesota ESGR Committee
• Opportunity for further recognition at the state and national level

"Above and Beyond" Award

• Honorees are invited, with their nominator, to a banquet attended by the Assistant Secretaries of Defense and Major Command leadership
• Award is personally presented by ESGR State Chair Paul Monteen
• Recipients may be forwarded to be considered for National recognition

Pro Patria Award

• Each state chooses a maximum of two recipients for this award
• Honoree and nominator are invited to ESGR Awards banquet attended by the Assistant Secretaries of Defense and Major Command Leadership
• Award is personally presented by ESGR State Chair Paul Monteen
• Recipients may be forwarded to be considered for national recognition

Seven Seals Award

• Volunteer work on behalf of military members
• Donations to military-friendly charities
• Raising awareness of the military lifestyle among the general public
• Special services for Guard and Reserve members
• Many others