WEBVTT

00:00.224 --> 00:02.807
(piano chords)

00:06.696 --> 00:07.954
- [Narrator] The National
Guard and Reserve

00:07.954 --> 00:12.635
make up more than 35% of
total American armed forces.

00:12.635 --> 00:15.341
The majority of these men and
women hold civilian careers

00:15.341 --> 00:17.990
outside of their military service.

00:17.990 --> 00:20.310
Working quietly in our communities.

00:20.310 --> 00:22.327
They are your friends and neighbors.

00:22.327 --> 00:24.740
From firefighters to financial advisors,

00:24.740 --> 00:27.643
teachers to tradesman,
our citizen soldiers

00:27.643 --> 00:31.616
and airmen are sewn into the
communities in a unique way.

00:31.616 --> 00:34.183
When called to duty,
whether helping respond

00:34.183 --> 00:37.563
to a wildfire or flood, or
fighting America's wars abroad,

00:37.563 --> 00:40.329
these soldier's and
airmen's civilian employers

00:40.329 --> 00:43.794
have a gap to fill and
challenges to overcome.

00:43.794 --> 00:46.288
However, despite the
challenge, many employers

00:46.288 --> 00:48.879
go above and beyond any legal requirement,

00:48.879 --> 00:52.311
and support their military
employees at incredible levels.

00:52.311 --> 00:54.537
Each year, the Department
of Defenses Employer

00:54.537 --> 00:57.521
Support of the Garden Reserve, or ESGR,

00:57.521 --> 01:00.547
honors employers who surpass expectations.

01:00.547 --> 01:03.817
(guitar music)

01:03.817 --> 01:06.937
- I'm on my way out to Jeff City.

01:06.937 --> 01:10.577
For an awards ceremony
to honor my employer.

01:10.577 --> 01:12.730
When my employer found
out that they won the

01:12.730 --> 01:16.270
Freedom Award, they were beyond excited.

01:16.270 --> 01:18.013
- [Narrator] 30 of
Missouri's businesses and

01:18.013 --> 01:21.010
organizations were recently
honored at the state level

01:21.010 --> 01:23.794
with an awards ceremony in Jefferson City.

01:23.794 --> 01:26.481
The ceremony gave Guard
and Reserve employees a way

01:26.481 --> 01:28.431
to let their employers know that their

01:28.431 --> 01:30.951
support does not go unnoticed.

01:30.951 --> 01:34.133
- As a guardsman, you can
have your civilian career,

01:34.133 --> 01:38.021
and yet serve in the
military, is very important

01:38.021 --> 01:41.124
to the national defense of the country.

01:41.124 --> 01:45.085
(official yells commands)

01:45.085 --> 01:46.633
- [Narrator] Missouri has a proud legacy

01:46.633 --> 01:48.625
of employer support for the military.

01:48.625 --> 01:50.326
Out of thousands of applicants,

01:50.326 --> 01:52.398
Missouri employers have been recognized

01:52.398 --> 01:53.936
at the highest level.

01:53.936 --> 01:57.307
Being awarded the Secretary
of Defenses Freedom Award,

01:57.307 --> 02:00.186
the top honor an employer can receive.

02:00.186 --> 02:04.228
- The service that the companies,
the police departments,

02:04.228 --> 02:07.645
the small business, also give to America,

02:08.798 --> 02:12.853
by allowing those men and women to remind

02:12.853 --> 02:16.103
their fellow citizens on a daily basis,

02:17.235 --> 02:20.402
that the price of freedom is not free,

02:21.379 --> 02:25.206
and that their fellow
citizens sleep well at night

02:25.206 --> 02:27.539
because of their sacrifices.

02:28.533 --> 02:30.448
- [Narrator] Militias service pre-dates

02:30.448 --> 02:33.126
the American Revolution,
before independence,

02:33.126 --> 02:36.150
local communities formed
their own security forces.

02:36.150 --> 02:39.185
Citizens who would rally
in times of emergency

02:39.185 --> 02:42.412
to protect their homes and
cities from outside threats.

02:42.412 --> 02:44.258
Today, the National Guard and Reserve

02:44.258 --> 02:46.140
continues this proud tradition.

02:46.140 --> 02:47.463
Without support of employers,

02:47.463 --> 02:49.658
it would be nearly impossible to sustain

02:49.658 --> 02:52.409
an operational force of
guardsmen and reservists

02:52.409 --> 02:55.398
ready to respond when the
state or nation calls.

02:55.398 --> 02:57.884
- It's really nice just
to be here to recognize

02:57.884 --> 03:00.238
all those people that,
still call in that extra

03:00.238 --> 03:04.771
20% to help me to continue
to fulfill my state mission

03:04.771 --> 03:06.239
and my federal mission within

03:06.239 --> 03:07.987
the Missouri air national guard.

03:07.987 --> 03:10.753
- [Narrator] The ESGR awards
program is one small way

03:10.753 --> 03:12.758
our nation says thank you to

03:12.758 --> 03:15.234
supportive businesses and organizations.

03:15.234 --> 03:17.675
It is a reminder to
these military employers

03:17.675 --> 03:19.629
that they are critical partners

03:19.629 --> 03:21.897
in ensuring our national defense.

03:21.897 --> 03:24.564
(guitar music)