NOMINATE YOUR EMPLOYER

Submissions are now being accepted for the 2024 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. 

ESGR’s awards program culminates with the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award (ESFA), the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their outstanding support of employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. Each year, Guard and Reserve employees, or a family member acting on their behalf, have the opportunity to nominate their employer for the Employer Support Freedom Award. The ESGR State Committees review nominations and submit recommendations to advance to the next round in each of the three categories: small employer, large employer, and public sector. A National finalist board comprised of senior DoD officials and other stakeholders, may recommend to the Secretary of Defense up to 15 ESFAs to employers to receive the Secretary’s prestigious award.

Nominations are being accepted until December 31, 2023.

Click here to nominate an employer

The 2023 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Recipients are as follows:

• American Bureau of Shipping, Spring, Texas (Army National Guard, Texas)
• CAM Superline, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania (Army National Guard, Pennsylvania)
• Consumers Energy, Jackson, Michigan, (Air National Guard, Michigan)
• E.L. Hollingworth and Co.   Flint, Michigan (Army National Guard, Michigan)
• East Bay Municipal Utilities District, Oakland, California (Navy Reserve, California)
• Exigo Corporation, Colorado Springs, Colorado (Air Force Reserve, Colorado)
• Fiserv, Inc., Brookfield, Wisconsin (Air National Guard, Wisconsin)
• Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Office, Houston, Texas (Army Reserve, Texas)
• Hickory Police Department Hickory, North Carolina (Army Reserve, North Carolina)
• King County  Seattle, Washington (Coast Guard Reserve, Washington)
• Knox County Public Schools, Knoxville, Tennessee (Army National Guard, Tennessee)
• Mechanical Resource Group, Nashville, Tennessee (Army National Guard, Tennessee)
• Ryzhka International, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Army National Guard, Florida)
• UBS Financial Services, Inc. Weehawken, New Jersey (Navy Reserve, New Jersey)
• USA Truck, Van Buren, Arkansas (Army National Guard, Arkansas)

For more information about the Freedom Award, visit www.FreedomAward.mil. To learn more about ESGR, a program of the Defense Personnel and Family Support Office, visit www.ESGR.mil.