05.23.12

Hoeven Congratulates North Dakota Companies Receiving DOD Recognition for Supporting Deployed Employees

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today congratulated Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson for being named finalists for the 2012 Secretary of Defense Freedom Award, which recognizes employers who show exceptional support for their National Guard and Reserve member employees who are fulfilling their service obligations.

“When members of the National Guard and Reserves are called to serve, so are their employers,” said Hoeven. “It is important that employers offer assistance throughout the deployment cycle, and it is encouraging to learn that two of our state’s businesses are receiving recognition for the exceptional support they have provided our Guardsmen. Their support reflects a deep understanding of the importance of military service and shows how we can all serve our country in different, and important, ways.”

Bismarck-based Basin Electric Power Cooperative was nominated by an Army National Guard member who applauded the company for its exceptional care of family members of deployed servicemembers and praised the company for providing regular pay raises during times of deployment. An Army National Guardsmen employed at Dickinson-based Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson recognized the business for its continuous support during his many deployments, from the sending of care packages to maintaining pay and benefits during times of deployment.

The Freedom Award is the Department of Defense’s highest honor for civilian employers supporting Guard and Reserve members. Previous recipients garnered recognition for supportive measures including organizing colleagues to provide dinners to a deployed employee’s family, covering extra shifts during an employee’s military training, taking a deployed servicemember’s children to sports practices and other family events, and establishing robust military support networks.