Arlington, VA (May 22, 2012) – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, announced today that Uniform Color is one of 30 employer finalist for the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the Department of Defense (DoD) to employers for exceptional support of their Guard and Reserve employees. This year, Uniform Color was one of only 30 finalists nationwide narrowed down from a starting pool of 3,236 nominees.

The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. To be eligible for the award, an employer must be nominated by one of its Guard or Reserve employees, or a family member of that employee.

Uniform Color actively pursues military personnel in need of work via the local Reserve units and through hiring fairs. In fact, the Navy Reserve nominator, Jay Greenwell, was recruited at a military hiring expo attended by the company vice president. Mr. Greenwell nominated the organization for this award because of the support given to him and his family during his reserve service and active duty in Kuwait. Uniform Color also offers free extended grief counseling and financial assistance to military families of deployed employees.

ESGR will announce the 15 recipients of 2012 Freedom Award later this summer. The final selection will be 5 small companies, 5 large companies, and 5 public sector companies. The 2012 recipients will be honored with the 17th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in Washington, D.C. in September. Past recipients of the Freedom Award have met privately with the President and Vice President of the United States, and the Secretary of Defense.

About ESGR and the Freedom Award:
The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. In the years since, 160 employers have been honored with the award. Established as a DoD agency 40 years ago, ESGR develops and maintains employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers. Paramount to ESGR’s mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

For questions or interviews regarding the Freedom Award, please visit www.FreedomAward.mil or contact Beth Sherman, ESGR Public Affairs, at 571-372-0705 or by email at ESGR-PA@osd.mil.