West Virginia Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program, announced this week Sheriff Bruce Sloan of the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Office was honored with an Extraordinary Employer Support Award at their annual APAM awards luncheon May 23, in recognition of extraordinary support of its employees who serve in the West Virginia Guard and Reserve.

“The Extraordinary Employer Support Award was created to recognize sustained employer support of National Guard and Reserve service. Only prior recipients of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award or the Pro Patrie Award, who have demonstrated sustained support for three years after receiving one of those awards, are eligible for consideration at the committee level, said John Miller, West Virginia ESGR state chair. Of the 3.000 applicants for the Freedom Award, Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Office was selected in the top 148 as a semifinalist.”

“Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Office joins thousands of American employers who have reviewed and amended their current human resources policies to ensure compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Many employers provide support far beyond what USERRA requires to include pay differential to offset the loss of wages, and extension of health care benefits which complement coverage provided by the military when their employees are mobilized.

Service member Charles Smith said this about his employer: “The Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff work with other officers with this military duty, even at a last minute situations. They go above and beyond. While away on orders and away from home they always check on my home and family to assist with things while I am away.”

ESGR seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States. ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members, and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within DoD. Paramount to ESGR’s mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

For more information about ESGR outreach programs or volunteer opportunities, call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.