Nominations open for employer award

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004 | 8:40 a.m.

The Defense Department began accepting nominations Feb. 1 for the 2004 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, which recognizes significant contributions and sacrifices made by employers of National Guard and Reserve members.

For the first time since the awards program was established in 1966, nominations may be submitted by anyone who has knowledge of a company or organization deserving of the award. Previously only guardsmen and reservists could submit nominations.

In addition, defense officials expect to increase the number of awards presented from five in previous years to as many as 15.

The awards program is particularly important now because so many of America's employers are affected by the war on terror, said Bob Hollingsworth, executive director of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

As of Jan. 27, 193,804 guardsmen and reservists were serving on active duty: 164,416 in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve; 2,000 in the Naval Reserve; 19,757 in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve; 6,764 in the Marine Corps Reserve; and 1,057 in the Coast Guard Reserve.

"An essential link has been formed, as many of America's employers have become inextricably linked to the nation's defense by sharing their most precious asset, their employees," Hollingsworth said.

Nominations will be accepted at the ESGR website through March 15. Recipients will be recognized during Sept. 21 ceremonies in Washington.

Previous award recipients include Home Depot, Miller Brewing, American Airlines, American Express, Intel and UPS.

Airman highlighted

A former Las Vegas High School student was recently highlighted in the Nellis Air Force Base weekly newspaper, the Bullseye, as a Nellis Warrior of the Week. Senior Airman Dallas Swalla, daughter of Mike and Yolanda Morland of Las Vegas, attended Las Vegas High from 1994 to 1996. She graduated from Alva High School in Alva Oklahoma in 1998.

Swalla, a medical technician, is assigned to the 99th Medical Operations Squadron at the base. Her supervisors noted that she is "a highly motivated, sharp and dependable troop with great knowledge of many aspects of her career. Swalla recently served as a key worker for the base clinic and hospital during the Combined Federal Campaign Drive.

In brief