The Freedom Award is the Department of Defense’s highest recognition for employers showing exceptional support to their National Guard and Reserve employees. ESGR received 4,049 nominations from Guard and Reserve members across the nation, a 64 percent increase from last year’s total.

At Fort Leavenworth, the U.S. Army Command Staff College and the G-3 DTPM, Range Control, were nominated.

The Department of Defense honors the employers of Guard and Reserve members as they are critical to our country’s national security. Guard and Reserve members nominated employers, ranging from small to large businesses and the public sector, who have demonstrated support of their service through initiatives such as continued benefits, differential pay and family assistance.

The 2011 recipients will be announced this summer and honored in Washington, D.C. at the 16th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony on Sept. 22, 2011. Recipients of the 2010 Freedom Award met privately with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

Other local employers nominated were

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional support from the employer community.

ESGR was established in 1972 to develop and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers. Paramount to ESGR’s mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.