Minnesota Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee

08/19/2026

Social Media Template
Washington County Sheriff’s Office supervisors were honored with three Department of War Patriotic Employer Awards.
Staff Sergeant Alec Zachrison (E6) of the Army Reserves National Guard presented the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriotic Employer Award to his employment supervisors, Matthew Wieland, Michael Ramos and Dan Starrry. The award was given Monday August 17th at the Washington County Law Enforcement Center in Stillwater, MN. Staff Sergeant Zachrison spoke appreciatively of their continued support and assistance, and he wanted to recognize and honor them with a Patriot Award.
Minnesota ESGR Committee Member Bob Gagne assisted in the presentation.
All 3 recipients of the Patriot Award also signed a Statement of Support to publicly demonstrate support for employee service members.
Photo left to right: Dan Starry, Michael Ramos, Staff Sergeant Zachrison, ESGR Volunteer Bob Gagne, and Matthew Weiland.

08/18/2026

Congratulations on receiving the highest state level ESGR award, the Pro Patria, and thank you for your continued support of your service members. Well deserved.

08/15/2026

The Minnesota ESGR Committee recognized 18 companies with ESGR Awards at the General Vessey Readiness Center, home to the 34th Infantry Division Headquarters, on the Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS) today.
While every day is a great day to recognize employers who go above and beyond in supporting their service members , today was special. We will post pictures of the event soon.

08/13/2026

The Above and Beyond Award was presented to the Martin County Jail of Fairmont, MN on Aug 12, 2026. This prestigious award was presented on behalf of the U.S. Secretary of War and the Minnesota Committee for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) by Regional Chair Doug Broich. Accepting the award for the Martin County Jail was Tanya Rathman, Martin County Jail Administrator. This award is given in limited numbers by State ESGR Committees to employers who have had at least one of their supervisors/managers recognized with a Patriot Award and who have signed an ESGR Statement of Support. This award will be given to only 20 businesses this year, from hundreds of Patriot Award nominations received in Minnesota that have honored their employees’ service in the United States military by providing assistance or benefits that go beyond the minimum required. Tanya Rathman had previously been awarded the Patriot Award.

Photo from left to right: Doug Broich, ESGR Region Chair and Tanya Rathman

08/06/2026

St Paul, MN – On August 5, 2026, the 133rd Air Lift Wing conducted a Bosslift for Airmen member employers. The day started with a breakfast prepared by the 133rd, an ESGR USERRA Briefing by our Ombudsman Director, a 133rd briefing by the Wings Command Chief, and employer visits to the workstations of the Airmen. The day concluded with a C 130 flight over Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands, Split Rock Light Housew and the Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth. The Bosslift was enjoyed and appreciated by twenty four employers.

ESGR is a Department of Defense office that develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members in the National Guard and Reserve through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. ESGR also provides assistance in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers.
ESGR celebrates over 51 years of excellence in support of the Reserve Components and their civilian employers. For more information about ESGR outreach programs or volunteer opportunities, call (800) 336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil/mn.

08/05/2026

Happy Birthday U.S. Coast Guard!

Happy 233rd Birthday to the U.S. Coast Guard! 🎂 🎉

Starting in 1790, the has steadily advanced and will continue to meet the challenges of the future by transforming our total workforce, sharpening our competitive edge and advancing our mission excellence.

08/04/2026

Pine County Sheriff’s Office, Pine City MN – On August 3, 2026, four Patriotic Awards were presented by ESGR volunteer Bob Boone. The awards were written up by Army Reservist Ellena Sundet. Ellena is a Deputy with the Pine County Sheriff’s Office and received deployment orders. Ellena’s narrative expresses how grateful she is to the four recipients for the support and understanding given her for additional pre-mob training, missed work days and time with her family before deploying.

ESGR is a Department of Defense office that develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members in the National Guard and Reserve through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. ESGR also provides assistance in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers.
ESGR celebrates over 51 years of excellence in support of the Reserve Components and their civilian employers. For more information about ESGR outreach programs or volunteer opportunities, call (800) 336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil/mn.

Photo left to right: Patrick Ellstrom, Scott Grice, Bob Boone and Joe Workman.
Not available for the presentation were Ellena Sundet and Deputy Josh Matson.

08/03/2026

Hasting, MN, July 20th, 2026– U.S. National Guard Sgt. Ryan Sellars presented three Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Awards to his supervisors at Hasting’s Culvers. The awards were presented to: Owner Josh Malaske, General Manager Chris Einfeldt, and Assistant Manager Brittney Novak. Sgt. Sellars stated that this award was in recognition and appreciation of the support he has received while working at Culvers and especially during his full-time status at Camp Ripley. His supervisors have always gone far above and beyond in appreciating and supporting his military service, and he found this award a way to honor such support. Sgt. Sellars strongly emphasized how this is an organization where service members are appreciated and supported. He also emphasized that his team of supervisors at Culver’s of Hastings has continuously supported his career progression in both his civilian and military careers. Their unwavering support and consistent offering of growth opportunities have clearly defined his professional direction.

In addition to receiving a Patriot Award, Culver's franchisee Owner Josh Malaske signed an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve “Statement of Support,” stating how proud he was to have service members working here and how greatly he appreciates them. The “Statement of Support” thus confirms that they join other employers in pledging:
We fully recognize, honor, and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA).
We will provide our managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.
We appreciate the values, leadership, and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists, and Veterans.
We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families, in peace, in crises, and in war.

An employee serving in the National Guard or Military Reserve, or the spouse of a National Guard or Military Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors for the Patriot Award for support provided directly to the nominating Servicemember and his or her family. The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide range of measures including flexible schedules, time off before and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence when needed.
Also present was ESGR Ombudsman Everett Doolittle. ESGR is a Department of Defense office that develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members in the National Guard and Reserve through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. ESGR also assists in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers. For more information about ESGR outreach programs or volunteer opportunities, call (800) 336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.osh
Photo: Presenting the ESGR Patriot Award from left to right were Assistant General Manager Brittny Novak, Sgt. Ryan Sellars, Owner Josh Malaske, and General Manager Chris Einfeldt.
Photo of the signing of a “Statement of Support” by Culver’s of Hastings Owner Josh Malaske.

07/31/2026

Thank you to the outgoing State Chairs for your service. Thank you to the State Chairs taking the oath of office for a second term. Your service enhances national security and helps employers and service members navigate their responsibilities.
We all Serve

07/31/2026

Thank you for recognizing the efforts of our volunteers!