A call for Airmen to promote goodwill by nominating their civilian employer for a Patriot Award before Jan. 16

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Citizen Airmen are the backbone of this nation who perform nearly a quarter of the Air Force's mission at only four percent of the total budget - A significant savings for the taxpayer.

The term weekend warrior, which Air Force Reservists were known as, came to a screeching halt for many after the events on Sept. 11, 2001 when deployments became commonplace for those who were known previously for part-time military service.

Due to their commitment and sacrifices, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Agency serves as a conduit between Citizen Airmen and their civilian employer.

Being in the Air Force Reserve is a balancing act. Airmen must balance their civilian career, military career and family life to be successful service members. One commander put it like this, if each of the above is slightly upset with you, then you are doing a good job."

Air Force Reserve Command wants to help and is encouraging Citizen Airmen to nominate their slightly peeved civilian employer for a "My Boss is a Patriot Award." By taking a few minutes and filling out a short online form, you can promote good will at the civilian workplace as you step into the new year. Get the form here.

The ESGR develops and promotes employer support for Guard and Reserve service by advocating relevant initiatives, recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of applicable laws, and resolving conflict between employers and service members.

The Patriot Award is a great way to cultivate cooperative relationships with employers and strengthen support, and the cutoff for this year's nominees is January 16, 2010.

Further, the ESGR program is vital to the Air Force's success, and they're always looking for volunteers. For anyone who may be interested in giving some time to this worthy program, contact Mr. Jim Strickland at (478) 327-1625 or thomas.strickland.5.ctr@us.af.mil.