F-M Ambulance Service Director of Operations Chad Mickelson and Operations Manager Don Martin were both awarded the prestigious Department of Defense Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The ESGR is a Department of Defense organization that seeks to promote a culture in which all American Employers support and value the military service of their employees.
Sean Knodel, a paramedic with F-M Ambulance Service who is currently deployed with the Army National Guard, nominated Mickelson and Martin for the award. Knodel says that both Mickelson and Martin have been extremely accommodating so that he is able to be both a paramedic and a soldier. The ESGR Patriot Awards is a way to recognize employers who provide extraordinary patriotic support to their employees who have answered their nation’s call to serve.
F-M Ambulance Service was also be awarded the Above and Beyond Award from ESGR. The Above and Beyond Award is presented to recognize employers at the local level who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployments Rights Act by providing their Guard and Reserve employees a wide range of measures, including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, granting leaves of absences if needed, and other similar support during, before and after their deployment. The award is given in limited numbers by state committees to employers who have had at least one of their supervisors/managers recognized with a Patriot Award, and who have signed or agree to sign a statement of support.
“F-M Ambulance Service is proud to support their employees who continue to serve their country as a member of the Guard and Reserve,” states Sherm Syverson, Executive Director of F-M Ambulance Service. “F-M Ambulance Service, Chad Mickelson and Don Martin are very proud of the paramedics that work at F-M Ambulance Service and help protect our country. We are very thankful to Sean Knodel for nominating us for these prestigious awards.”
F-M Ambulance Service paramedic Ted Werre is also currently deployed with the Army National Guard.
Both the Patriot Award and the Above and Beyond Award were presented at a ceremony that took place at 8:30 AM on Friday, August 1, 2014 at F-M Ambulance Service.
