About the Patriot Award

Nominate your employer for the “Patriot Award". The first step in having your employer considered for recognition as an outstanding employer is to submit a Patriot Award nomination. Every employer nominated will receive a Patriot Award certificate and accompanying lapel pin. Your state or local ESGR Committee can help you arrange the presentation of the award to your employer.

It may lead to bigger things. ESGR reviews all award nominations for consideration for higher levels of recognition at the Local, National, and State levels.

How to nominate your employer

Do it online. For both speed of processing and accuracy in the nomination process, nominate your employer online. Nominations may also be sent to ESGR by mail using a downloadable form.

What to include in the nomination form

Tell us why your employer is great. When completing the employer recognition form, take a few moments to explain in detail why your employer deserves to be recognized. Your local ESGR committee will review your explanation when selecting nominees for higher-level employer support awards.

Here are some examples of what America's most supportive employers do. Consider these examples in writing the narrative of your nomination form, citing as many ways as may apply, and include other ways your employer supports your service.

Supportive employers:

1. Demonstrate support for service in the National Guard and Reserve
   • Maintain contact with Guard & Reserve employees while they are on annual training or mobilized.
   
   
   • Participate in ESGR programs (Statement of Support signings, Employer Briefings, Bosslifts, and others).
2. Publicly acknowledge the contributions of Reserve component employees to our Nation’s defense
   • Sponsor a company Guard & Reserve recognition day.
   • Feature Guardsmen and Reservists on Company bulletin boards, in newsletters or at meetings.
3. Support Guard & Reserve employees beyond USERRA requirements
   • Have a published leave policy.
   • Have a published military mobilization policy.
   • Provide pay differential during periods of military training.
   • Provide pay differential during mobilizations.
   • Provide paid military leave.
   • Provide continuation of insurance and monetary benefits during mobilizations.
4. Support Guard & Reserve employee families during mobilizations
   • Assign a company sponsor to families of Guard & Reserve employees that have been deployed.
   • Hold informational meeting and offers other means of communication for family members of Guard & Reserve employees who have been deployed.

Help your employer get credits for supporting your Service

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard conducts an awards program designed to recognize employers who support a strong National Guard and Reserve force. Employers qualify for recognition when they practice leadership and personnel policies that support employee participation in the Guard and Reserve.

Every employer nominated for recognition will receive the Patriot Award, and will then be eligible for consideration for other awards and recognition based on their level of support described in the nomination narrative.

If your local ESGR Committee has agreed to personally present all Patriot Awards in the State or Territory, the award for your employer will be sent to the committee awards coordinator, who will contact your employer to arrange the presentation. If your local committee is unable to personally make the presentation, the award will be sent directly to you, or to your unit. The award will include an information sheet with suggestions on how to best present the award. If you choose to have the award sent to your unit or home address, ESGR strongly encourages you to contact your local Employer Support Specialist to assist in making the award presentation to your employer a special event.