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ISP to receive Freedom Award |
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August 25, 2016 |
 The Idaho State Police has been named a
recipient of the 2016 Secretary of Defense
Employer Support Freedom Award, the nation's
highest honor given to employers for exemplary
support of National Guard and Reserve employees.
The Idaho State Police is one of 15 employers
from the private and public sector across the
United States selected from 2,424 nominations
submitted by members of the National Guard and
Reserve. The Idaho State Police was nominated by
three of its employees who are also proud
Service members.
Idaho State Police Colonel Ralph Powell will
accept the award from Secretary of Defense Ash
Carter during a ceremony at the Pentagon in
Washington, D.C., on Friday, August 26.
"It is with humility and a profound sense of
esprit-de corps that the Idaho State Police
accept this honor," said Col. Powell. "This is
not an award for the Idaho State Police as an
agency, but rather an award for the Idaho State
Police as a family. Our employees are who make
it possible for Service members to serve. They
do this by taking on the extra work during
deployments and routine training missions and by
going the extra mile to ensure that service
members' families are taken care of as well,
making it less of a hardship to serve."
Leading up to this award selection, ISP has been
awarded the following awards from the ESGR since
2011:
Nine Patriot Awards - In recognition of
individual supervisors for support provided
directly to the nominating Service member and
his or her family. The Patriot Award reflects
the efforts made to support citizen warriors
through a wide-range of measures including
flexible schedules, time off prior to and after
deployment, caring for families, and granting
leaves of absence if needed.
The Above and Beyond Award - In recognition of
employers at the local level who have gone above
and beyond the legal requirements of the
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment
Rights Act by providing their Guard and Reserve
employees additional, non-mandated benefits such
as differential or full pay to offset lost
wages, extended health benefits, and other
similar benefits.
The Seven Seals Award - In recognition of
significant individual or organizational
achievement, initiative, or support that
promotes and supports the ESGR mission, to
include the efforts of the more than 4,500
volunteers who carry out ESGR's mission across
the Nation on a daily basis.
The Pro Patria Award - Recipients have
demonstrated the greatest support to Guard and
Reserve employees through their leadership and
practices, including adopting personnel policies
that make it easier for employees to participate
in the National Guard and Reserve. This is the
highest level award that may be bestowed by an
ESGR State Committee.
President Barack Obama signed a proclamation
declaring August 21 - 27, as National Employer
Support of the Guard and Reserve Week. The week
recognizes the important contributions employers
have made in supporting the military service of
their National Guard and Reserve employees.
Emphasizing the critical support employers
provide, the President Obama stated, "We must
never waiver in our commitment to fight for
those who have fought for us, and we must
continue striving to connect each of them with
opportunities to keep their families strong and
our country competitive. This week, we recognize
the important role played by the families,
employers, and communities of these men and
women in ensuring they can step forward and
serve our country when they are needed most."
Friday's ceremony will be broadcast live on the
web from 7:55 a.m. to 9:10 a.m. Mountain Time at
https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/9240. The URL
will not be active until shortly before the
ceremony begins.
The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under
the auspices of ESGR and is the Department of
Defense's highest honor for employer support of
National Guard and Reserve employees. In the
years since, 190 employers have been honored
with the award.
For more information on the 2016 Freedom Award
program, visit
www.freedomaward.mil. For more
information on ESGR, visit
www.esgr.mil.
Other Idaho law enforcement agencies nominated
for 2016 Freedom Awards were the Ada County
Sheriff's Office, Clearwater County Sheriff's
Office and the Post Falls Police Department. |
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