OREGON EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE

3225 State St. NE, P.O. Box 14350, Salem, OR 97309     Phone: 503-584-2841   Web: www.oresgr.org

News and Events

WARRENTON - The Oregon committee for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognized people, businesses and organizations during their annual awards dinner on Aug. 4, at Camp Rilea.

The awards presented included: the Seven Seals Award, the My Boss is a Patriot Award and the Pro Patria Award. 

The Pro Patria Award is the highest honor the Oregon ESGR Committee can present and three Oregon businesses, in three categories, were given the award for the significant and steadfast support of Guard and Reserve members, active and military veterans.

They included: NTP Distribution Inc, Wilsonville (under 500 employees); Evergreen International Aviation (over 500 employees); and Port of Portland (public sector organization).

According to 1st Sgt. David Cook of A Co., 141st BSB, 41st Brigade, NTP Distributions, Inc. worked diligently throughout the nominator's career guarantying he was able to meet his military obligation and even continued his healthcare and insurance benefits while he was serving his Nation. NTP President Greg Boyd accepted the award.

Dan Klump, vice president of human resources, accepted the award on behalf of Evergreen International Aviation in McMinnville. Lt. Troy Bliss's nomination, praised Evergreen for being “proud of our country and its citizens who continually make sacrifices so we all can live in peace.”  Picture above

Nominated by Master Sgt Troy Graham, the Port of Portland was honored for providing pay compensation including healthcare and insurance benefits, while he was serving in the Middle East. Accepting the award was Bill Wyatt the executive director of the Port of Portland.

  Picture above

These three organizations have policies very supportive of members of the Guard and Reserve's service, as well as assuring management is well versed on USERRA.  All three were also nominated for the prestigious Secretary of Defense ESGR Freedom Award. 

Initiated by the Guard member or Reservist, the ‘My Boss is a Patriot” award recognizes their employer for supporting that military's members' service. The 2008-09 recipients included:

Master Sgt. Jeff Dintleman, the supervisor of Staff Sgt. Nathan Brushe. Dintleman is the senior enlisted person at the Camp Rilea Range Operations.  Picture Above

Lt. Col. Dean Perez is the Human Resources Director for Clatsop County. Perez has deployed twice to Afghanistan. In his award nomination, Perez writes:  “Duane Cole and our Board of County Commissioners understand the importance of maintaining a partnership between the National Guard and the county and are highly supportive of my military service in the Guard.” 

Tom Bennett was also honored for his journalistic support. Prior to working for Clatsop County, he was employed by Astoria's local newspaper, the Daily Astoria.  Bennett reported on both of Perez’s deployments and was embedded with soldiers from Oregon’s 41st Brigade.

Also recognized, and unable to attend, was Susan Brooks from Astoria’s Job Corps office Master Sgt Garrett Reeves works full-time for Brooks, nominated her for the award. He is assigned to the Oregon Air National Guard's 116th Air Control Squadron at Camp Rilea.

The Seven Seals Award was presented to four nominees to publicly recognize their outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to employees and families of those who have been called to serve.  Picture Above

Dave Kramer and Paul Sundermeir of the State Attorney General's office were honored for their significant work in helping to craft and present House Bill 3256, which was sponsored by District 30, Rep. Greg Matthews.  Gov. Ted Kulongoski has since signed the Bill.

Doctor said that the work by Kramer and Sundermeir was an ideal complement to the existing Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). It's believed to be first of its kind in the U.S. to establish a state law that is similar to USERRA.

News director Michael Desmond represented Bi-Coastal Media, owners of KAST radio and three other area stations in Astoria. Oregon ESGR Chairman, Brig. Gen. (ret) Bill Doctor said that through his reporting and interviews that Desmond's conducted for his weekly radio show, “Michael and the station's management have been a driving force behind ensuring news about Oregon’s military and its veterans is reported.”

Desmond has also ensured that ESGR public service announcements are scheduled on all four stations. The PSAs inform and educate the public about ESGR.

American Legion Post 12 from Astoria and Post 99 in Seaside were each recognized for “continually setting the standard of support by veteran service organizations for all military units that train at Camp Rilea and at Coast Guard Station Astoria.”

Awards were presented to Post 12 commander Pat Ehrlich and Post 99 Commander Lou Neubecker. 

Another Deployment

  For all that did not know,  B Company 168 AV has received a notice that they will called up again for Operation Enduring Freedom on 8 June 2010.  This is a Chinook Helicopter unit based in Pendleton, Oregon.       

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