NEW ORLEANS --Earlier this week Entergy Corporation was presented with the Pro Patria award from the Louisiana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

The Pro Patria Award is presented annually by each state ESGR committee to the one employer in their state or territory who has provided the most exceptional support of our national defense through leadership practices and personnel policies that support their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.  Employers qualify for recognition when they practice leadership and personnel policies that support employee participation in the Guard and Reserve.

Last year Chief Intelligence Specialist David Snyder, a reservist with the Navy Reserve Defense Intelligence Agency Headquarters 1482 at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, nominated Entergy for the Patriot Award.

After receiving the Patriot Award, Entergy became eligible for consideration for the Pro Patria award based on their level of support described in the nomination narrative.

“During my time as a shift worker at the Little Gypsy and Lewis Creek Power plants in LaPlace, La., and again as a shift worker with Entergy's Energy Management Organization, the management at Entergy went out of the way to provide me with shift coverage in order to allow me to attend every drill weekend, annual training, and military school opportunity provided to me,” said Snyder.  “I couldn’t ask for a better company to work for.”   

Jack Humphries, the state chair for the Louisiana ESGR presented the award to Mr. Terry Seamons, senior vice president for Entergy’s Human Resources and Administration.

Entergy Corporation employs approximately 15,000 people and is able to go out of the way to support deployed service members.

“During my deployment to Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Entergy provided me with differential pay,” Snyder said in his nomination.  “From the minute I told them of my mobilization they made sure that everyone in my corporate chain of command from the vice-president level down to my immediate supervisor sat down and gave me their full support and promised to do what it takes to ensure my family and I were taken care of during my deployment.”

Representing Snyder who was unable to attend were Navy Capt. Dwayne Baxter, commanding officer for the Naval Operational Support Center, where Snyder is assigned and Navy Cmdr. Tracy Day, who will accept command of the NOSC from Baxter in a few weeks.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflict through mediation. ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation, and if necessary mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees.
As the 1.3 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions that require extraordinary actions on the part of everyday citizens, ESGR will continue to be the informational agency for the employers of citizen warriors. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil, or by calling Frank Huff, Program Support Specialist of the Louisiana ESGR Committee, at (318) 290-5246.