Office of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Recognizes Coggins International as a Patriotic Employer

Atlanta, GA - August 12, 2011 – The Office of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognized Keith Coggins, Founder & CTO, and Jula Jane, President & CEO, of Coggins International as Patriotic Employers for contributing to National Security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America's National Guard and Reserve Force.

Coggins and Jane attended the Employer Appreciation Luncheon hosted by ESGR on August 12, 2011 where they each signed a Statement of Support for the Guard and were presented with the Patriotic Employer award—now displayed prominently in the Coggins International Headquarters. As a Defense Contractor with a military background dating back to Vietnam, Coggins places great importance on hiring Reservists whenever possible. "The Guard and Reserve are essential to the strength of our nation," remarks Coggins. "Therefore, we commit to fully supporting the Reservists within our organization, by providing paid leave when serving at their local duty station and special consideration when deployed around the world."

Speaker, Colonel Brent Bracewell, Commander, 78th Aviation Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard, gave an inspirational and captivating speech about how important civilian employers are to our nation's national security; citing relevant examples of service members who were better able to serve the country knowing that their jobs were waiting for them upon returning home from deployment. It was revealed that almost half of our military forces reside in the Reserve Component which is comprised of the Guard and Reserve.

Penelope Harbour, GA ESGR Program Support Specialist announced that the ESGR was in need of volunteers to help support their many activities including Employer Outreach; Ombudsman; Public Affairs; and Military Unit Representative. Coggins and Jane immediately volunteered and are standing by for their first call to duty.

Co-founders of Operation G.I. Jane, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting deployed single mothers in the U.S. military, Coggins and Jane regularly volunteer their time to help those in need. "Through our charity, Operation G.I. Jane, we have witnessed women in the Reserves unexpectedly get deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, leaving their civilian careers and children behind," says Jane. "Many of these women joined the Reserves prior to military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, only to later go from Reserves to active duty and deployment. As sole- providers for their children, one of their main concerns is having a job to come back to when their deployment ends. That's where organizations like Operation G.I. Jane and ESGR come into play, providing much-needed employment assistance and peace of mind."

About Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a Department of Defense agency that seeks to develop and promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees with ESGR as the principle advocate within DoD. It does so by advocating relevant initiatives, recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of applicable laws, and resolving conflict between employers and service members through mediation.