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Winchester Fire Chief Gary Greeson and his department were honored on Jan. 18 by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program for going the extra distance to aid reserve military personnel with job retention and accommodating active-duty time around their work schedules.

A special tribute was held at Fire Station No. 1 where Greeson was presented with a plaque from the Secretary of Defense’s ESGR program, and he was named as a patriotic employer for “contributing to the national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve Force.”

However, Greeson was quick to point out that it hasn’t been all his doing to accommodate reserve military personnel as Fire Department employees. He explained that the city government has labeled supporting military personnel as a priority, and the details are listed as part of city policy.

He extended his thanks to Mayor Terry Harrell and City Administrator Beth Rhoton for their efforts in the process.

The tribute was attended by Harrell; Greeson; Fireman Andrew Jackson, an Air Force staff sergeant with the Tennessee National Guard; Joe Thomas, ESGR chair emeritus for Tennessee; and Rhoton.

In addition to Jackson, the Winchester Fire Department employs one other serviceman — Fireman Jordan McGill who is a specialist with the Alabama Army National Guard.

Greeson said the department has had several military personnel over the years, and they have turned out to be outstanding employees with skill levels aided greatly by their military training.

“We really appreciate what they do,” he said, referring to the military personnel. “They’ve been a huge benefit to our department.”

Greeson said the military presence instills a solid work ethic with a strong focus to do well in the work environment, and that’s always been the case with the military personnel he has employed. He added that firefighters require a lot of training, and the skills the firemen have picked up from their military service go hand in hand with what they do on the job as firemen.

Greeson was also presented with a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve, signed by Ronald E. Bogle, ESGR national chair, and Lloyd J. Austin III, U.S. secretary of defense.

It says:

“We recognize the Guard and Reserve are essential to the strength of our nation and the well-being of our communities.

“In the highest American tradition, the patriotic men and women of the Guard and Reserve serve voluntarily in an honorable and vital profession. They train to respond to their community and country in time of need. They deserve the support of every segment of our society.

“If these volunteer forces are to continue to serve our nation, increased public understanding is required of the essential role of the Guard and Reserve in preserving our national security.

“Therefore, we join other employers in pledging that:

“— We fully recognize, honor and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

“— We will provide our managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage those 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 employ guardsmen, reservists, transitioning service members and veterans.

“— We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families in peace, in crisis and in war.”

ESGR is the lead U.S. Department of Defense program promoting cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and their National Guard and Reserve employees.

Established in 1972, ESGR operates within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. ESGR develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members in the Reserve Components through outreach, recognition and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws and resolves conflicts between the service members and their employers.