Iowa Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense (DoD) office, honored the University of Iowa Veterans Association with an Area Chair Award in recognition of their extraordinary support of students who serve in the Iowa Guard and Reserve.

“The special ESGR award was created to allow our Area Chairs to publicly recognize organizations and employers providing extraordinary patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve,” said Steve Bogel, Iowa ESGR state chair. “Supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units.”

Mark Hennessey, Area 6 Chair for ESGR personally nominated the U of I VA based on their ongoing partnership with ESGR and their support of students currently serving in the Guard and Reserve. 

“We truly appreciate all the support we receive from the U of I Veterans Association," Hennessey says. "They are a great partner that helps promote the mission of ESGR.”

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, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.