The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a program from the US Department of Defense that recognizes employers who flexibly support those in their workforce that also serve in the Guard and Reserve.
VIROQUA, WIS.— On March 21 in VARC’s corporate office lobby, President and CEO of VARC Elizabeth Filter was presented with a Patriot Award from ESGR Rep John Gessner for VARC’s tremendous support of Army National Guardsman Staff Sergeant Risa Mauss. Following the award ceremony, Filter and SSG Mauss gave Gessner a tour of VARC’s corporate office, demonstrating what SSG Mauss is up to when not dressed in her green OCP uniforms.
Employer Patriot Award
The Patriot Award is unique in the sense that the winning organizations are employee-nominated, with SSG Mauss initiating this process of recognizing VARC. “Your Patriotic Employer Award reflects the high level of support that you have provided for SSG Mauss while serving in the Wisconsin Army National Guard,” remarked Wisconsin ESGR Chairman Scott D. Legwold in a letter accompanying the award. “The Wisconsin Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve… is pleased to announce your recognition as a Patriotic Employer.”
On the civilian side of things, Staff Sergeant Risa Mauss was welcomed back to VARC last April, taking on her latest post as Director of Client Services. Prior to moving away from the area back in 2020, Risa was VARC’s Associate Director of Services, also serving in other management capacities within the organization for over five years.
The ESGR was established in 1972 after the United States transitioned to an All-Volunteer military force. This group provides critical support to both service members and the civilian organizations that employ them. By strengthening the relationship between employers and our citizen warriors, the ESGR aims to maintain the excellence of America’s fighting force by reinforcing the civilian supports that contribute to an individual soldier’s overall stability.
“…A key component of their continuing ability to defend the nation is found in the support of employers like you,” says Ronald E. Bogle, National Chair of the ESGR in another letter to VARC. “By valuing and enabling their military service, you make it possible for our Citizen-Warriors to balance the demanding individual responsibilities of both civilian employment and our national defense.” Due to the monthly and yearly trainings that enlisted warriors are required to attend, it can be a staffing struggle for some employers when anticipating short absences. VARC is happy to work with these constraints, and balance our employees’ civilian demands with their military ones.
VARC is honored to be designated a Patriotic Employer, and will continue to support SSG Mauss and all our other citizen warriors that are currently in our employ, or will be in the future.
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