Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, is now accepting nominations for the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the Department of Defense's highest award presented to civilian employers for support of their employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. Nominations may be submitted by Guardsmen, Reservists, or family members acting on their behalf at www.FreedomAward.mil through January 21, 2013.

Each year, up to 15 of the nation's most supportive employers are selected as recipients and honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Past Freedom Award recipients' supportive measures have included arranging childcare services for deployed employees, sponsoring trips to visit injured employees, and working longer hours to cover the shifts of employees at military training.

For questions regarding the Freedom Award, please contact Lisa Ward, ESGR Program Support Manager, via phone at (678) 569-5741, or by e-mail at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .