Brig. Gen. Daniel I. Schultz, commander of the 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), presents ESGR's Patriot Award to George Rogers, GEICO Regional Vice President of Region VI Florida. Standing next to Rogers is Lt. Col. Carlos Tirado who is employed by GEICO and nominated Rogers for the award.

By Staff Sgt. Andrew Winchel
143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Public Affairs

(ORLANDO, FL) Brig. Gen. Daniel I. Schultz, commander of the 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), presented the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s Patriot Award to Mr. George Rogers, the GEICO Regional Vice President of Region VI, Florida.

The Patriot Award was presented at the 1st Lt. David R. Wilson Reserve Center to Mr. Rogers in recognition of extraordinary support of his employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. Specifically, Rogers was nominated by Lt. Col. Carlos Tirado who is a member of the 143rd and a GEICO employee.

“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,” said Florida ESGR Program Support Specialist, Suzanne K. Godfrey. “Mr. Rogers was nominated for being highly supportive of the Army Reserve by his reserve component employee. Supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s National Guard and Reserve units.”

Lt. Col. Tirado, a munitions materiel management officer with the 143rd has been employed by GEICO for eight years. He is preparing to deploy with the 143rd.

“Mr. Rogers has gone above and beyond what an employer has to do,” Tirado said. “Thank you for your support,” Tirado said to Rogers. “I will miss my second family ... thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Tirado also stated that the support he received from GEICO will enable him to accomplish his mission.

“It’s quite an honor to receive this,” Rogers said. “We recognize the sacrifices you all make. There is a real strong affiliation with the military and our company. You won’t find any company more committed to taking care of its reservists. Any kind of accommodation we can make, we’ll try,” Rogers said.

After receiving the award Rogers mentioned that not long ago another GEICO employee deployed to Afghanistan and when he returned, the employee learned that GEICO had promoted him two levels while he was mobilized.

“We don't just offer them a job when they get back; we promote them as if they were there,” Rogers said.

After the presentation, Rogers and Schultz had a meeting and discussed the Army Reserve’s Employer Partnership program. The program is a one-of-a-kind joint venture launched in April 2008. It offers America’s business leaders tangible incentives to hire Army Reserve Soldiers. Chief of the Army Reserve, Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, devised the program as an innovative way for employers to gain access to the Army Reserve talent pool.

“I want to thank Mr. Rogers and GEICO for supporting its employees who are members of the Army Reserve and particularly for supporting members of the 143d ESC during their mobilization,” Schultz said. “Employer support is critical to reservists and it affords the civilian employer and the Army Reserve highly capable individuals who provide a competitive edge in business as well as in the defense of our nation.  Employers like GEICO are valuable Army Reserve partners and are critical for the success of our military men and women.”

For more information about the Army Reserve Employer Partnership program go to: http://www.armyreserve.army.mil/ARWEB/NEWS/WORD/Employer_Partnership.htm

ESGR provides education, consultation, and if necessary mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees. To learn more about ESGR’s employer outreach programs and volunteer opportunities go to www.esgr.mil.

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