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ESGR in the News

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HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an office of the Department of Defense, announced that Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) Program Management Office supervisors recently received Patriot Awards in recognition of extraordinary support of employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.

Pennsylvania ESGR is particularly proud to present employers with a Patriot Award for their strong support of their employees serving in our nation’s Reserve forces.

DVS Program Management Office’s Director Sombrata Bandyopadhyay, Division Chief Joseph Shanley, and Business Analyst Nicholas Melnick were nominated for the award by 2nd Lt. Eric Schulden who is a member of the
Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 193rd Special Operations Wing stationed in Middletown, Pennsylvania.

In nominating DVS Program Management Office’s leadership team for the Patriot Award, 2nd Lt. Schulden stated: “My immediate supervisor Melnick, Division Chief Shanley and Director Bandyopadhyay have always been supportive of my citizen soldier status in the PA Air National Guard. They’ve supported me throughout the military schools I’ve had to attend and the training at home station and elsewhere in the country”

Presenting the award on behalf of ESGR was James Astor, Pennsylvania South-Central Area Chair. Astor commented: “It’s critical and an honor to recognize and pay tribute to those employers that hire and support our Guard and Reserve forces. It would be difficult for those in the uniformed services to perform their mission without employer support.” Astor added: “Today’s members of the Guard and Reserves are highly trained and skilled; they bring integrity, a global perspective and, proven leadership to the civilian workforce.”

“Today, supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units,” said Astor. “I am asking all South–Central Pennsylvania employers to take a look at their current human resources policies to incorporate policies supportive of Guard and Reserve employees.” Many Pennsylvania employers provide support above and beyond their legal requirements by law by offering pay-differential to offset the loss of wages, and extension of health care benefits, which complement coverage provided by the military, when their employees mobilize.”

ESGR, a Department of Defense 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. ESGR facilitates and promotes 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, a global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, please call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil/PA

Photo (L–R): 2nd Lt. Schulden, Patriot Award recipients Shanley, Bandyopadhyay, Melnick, and South-Central Area Chair Astor.

Posted in: Pennsylvania
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