Cooper University Health Care Honored With Prestigious ESGR Pro Patria and Seven Seals Awards

Cooper University Health Care was proud to be recognized at an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Awards Ceremony on December 10, 2024. Representing Cooper at this prestigious event were members from Cooper's Section of Military, Diplomatic & Field Surgical Affairs, active-duty U.S. Army medic rotators, Special Operations Combat Medic leadership assigned to Cooper, and Cooper's embedded Army Medical Department Military-Civilian Trauma Team Training (AMCT3) Program team members.

Cooper was awarded both the ESGR Pro Patria Award and the Seven Seals Award, marking significant recognition for its commitment to supporting U.S. military reserve forces.

The Pro Patria Award, the highest honor bestowed by an ESGR State Committee, was awarded to Cooper for the first time. This distinguished recognition is given annually to one small, one large, and one public sector employer in each state or territory. It highlights employers who have shown extraordinary support for National Guard and Reserve employees through leadership and forward-thinking policies that allow employees to balance their military service and civilian careers.

Eligibility for the Pro Patria Award requires previous recognition with the Above and Beyond Award, a Statement of Support, and a Patriot Award to a supervisor or representative.

The Seven Seals Award, also presented to Cooper, is ESGR's most inclusive recognition. Bestowed at the discretion of the ESGR State Chair or senior leadership, this award honors significant organizational or individual achievement in advancing ESGR's mission. This mission is carried out daily by over 2,300 ESGR volunteers who advocate for and support National Guard and Reserve members across the country.

During the ceremony, Cooper's leadership reaffirmed its commitment to Guard and Reserve employees by signing ESGR's Statement of Support pledge to:

• fully recognize, honor, and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reem
• ployment Rights Act.
• provide our managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.
• appreciate the values, leadership, and unique skills Service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists, and Veterans.
• continually recognize and support our country's Service members and their families, in peace, in crises, and in war.

The dual recognition of Cooper with the Pro Patria and Seven Seals Awards, along with the Statement of Support pledge, highlights the organization's unwavering dedication to military personnel. These honors underscore Cooper's leadership in fostering an environment that values and supports Guard and Reserve members, further cementing its commitment to the nation's military community. In November, Cooper was recognized by the New Jersey Governor's Department of Veterans Affairs with the "We Value Our Veterans" Award for its commitment to veterans' causes and support of veterans.

Presenting the Pro Patria and Seven Seals awards were retired U.S. Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant Michael Ferrero, president and founder of The Coffee Platoon and Bridging the Gap for Veterans Foundation, along with NJ-ESGR Area Chair Pat Ward.