U.S. Attorney’s Office For The Western District Of Michigan Honored By Department Of Defense For Support Of Employees Serving In The Guard And Reserve

           GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Michigan Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, joined U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr., in announcing today that the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan was honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of its extraordinary support of its employees serving in the United States military Reserve Components. U.S. Attorney Miles accepted the award on behalf of the office.

           According to Paul Ryan, Michigan ESGR State Chair, “the Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve. U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan were nominated for being highly supportive of the Reserve Service. Supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units.”

           U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles said, “Many of my relatives served in the U.S. Military so I place great value on hiring veterans and supporting Reserve Component members as they complete their military obligations throughout the year. The skills, training, and contributions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of these outstanding citizens is critical to accomplish the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice.”

           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 the Department of Defense. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

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