The 2009 Nevada ESGR Annual Employer Recognition Event took place on June 25th at Fallon Naval Air Station in Fallon, NV.  The day began early for the employers from the southern area of the state; they met at the Las Vegas Readiness Center at 4:30 a.m. to take a commercial flight to Reno.  Employers from the northern and northeastern areas of the state met at the Washoe County Armory in Stead.  Both groups were then flown on two Army National Guard Ch-47 “Chinook” helicopters to the Naval Air Station.  For many of the attendees this was their first experience flying on military aircraft and it proved to be an exciting and unique experience as they got used to sitting on net seats and flying while the back of the aircraft was open to the sky.  At Fallon Naval Air Station they began an executive tour.  First stop, the control tower, where James “Zip” Upham, FNAS Public Affairs Officer, entertained the group of 32 employers with a factual history of the base, the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) and stories of the Top Gun program while several different types of aircraft flew by.  The group then was taken to the VFC-13 hangar.  VFC-13 “The Fighting Saints” provides adversary training for Navy and Marine Corps Active and Reserve fleet and replacement squadrons, carrier air wings and Marine aircraft groups, USAF units, to include Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard and Canadian Forces.  The unit's mix of 23 F-5E, F-5F and F-5N aircraft are all painted in a variety of colorful adversary schemes of blue, gray, or brown camouflage.  One of the VFC-13 pilots addressed the group and employers had a chance for a one-on-one visit with the pilot over the cockpit of his plane and learned first-hand about the squadron's ability to perform its adversary mission of providing a capable and realistic aircraft threat.

The Employers were then taken to the Silver State Officer’s Club for a luncheon and a stirring speech given by BG (Ret) Randall Sayre of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.  During the luncheon the employers were also treated to a video presentation by Mike Williams of REMSA.  REMSA was the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipient for the state of Nevada.  This award is the highest honor given by the Department of Defense agency Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and only fifteen are awarded nationwide annually.  The video presentation showed REMSA’s CEO, Patrick Smith, who was personally invited to go on an international USO Tour with the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. James Cartwright, and several other celebrities.  Smith represented thousands of American Employers who support our military men and women as he toured with the USO supporting troops overseas.  The video presentation showed clips and highlights from his tour of military bases in five different countries around the world.  A round of applause followed the final remarks by Mike Williams as he told the employers in attendance, “We have three employers with us today who will be given this year’s Pro Patria award.  As you can see from what happened to REMSA, it all started with the Patriot Award, which led to the Above and Beyond Award, then the Pro Patria Award and culminated with the Freedom Award and this USO tour - yes folks – this is a BIG deal.”
Thirty two employers were then presented with Nevada ESGR awards that included the Seven Seals Award recognizing significant individuals or organizational achievements,  the Above and Beyond Award which recognizes those employers who demonstrate exceptional support, and the highest state award, the prestigious Pro Patria Award,  presented to employers who provide outstanding and unconditional support for our National Defense.  A great time was had by all who attended and we at NV ESGR continue to thank our employers who support our Guard and Reserve military service members.