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Pudgy's supervisor honored by DoD for extraordinary support

  • Published
  • By Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  New Jersey Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, announced Sept. 25, 2014, Bruce Reeves, Pudgy's Sports Pub supervisor, was honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of his extraordinary support of Senior Airman Misti Klesser while serving in the New Jersey Air National Guard.

According to Alan Smith, New Jersey ESGR State Chair, "the Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who, like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation's call to serve. Supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation's Guard and Reserve units."

Pudgy's joins with 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. Many employers provide above and beyond support with 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.

ESGR, a DoD office, 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.

They facilitate and promote 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 ESGR volunteer opportunities, please call 800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.