Patriot Award given to Ameriprise Financial

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot 185th ARW PA
  • 185th Air Refueling Wing
Beresford, S.D. --  

Representatives of the Iowa Air National Guard, Col. Larry Christensen, 185th Air Refueling Wing Commander and Lt. Jeremy Swier presented a “Patriotic Employer” award to Mr. Gary Schaap of Ameriprise Financial in Beresford, S.D. on Thursday.

Swier nominated Schaap for the award because of his support and understanding for Swier’s duties as a member of the Air National Guard.

Swier serves as a newly commissioned KC-135 pilot with the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa and recently completed thirteen months of undergraduate pilot training.

While he was away for training Swier’s wife Amy who is an employee at Ameriprise in Beresford was allowed to work remotely for several weeks at a time in order to be with her husband during the long pilot training program.

Members of the National Guard can nominate their employers for the Patriot Award as a way to recognize their contributions to the mission of the U.S. military.

The Patriot Award is given to employers for their support of guard members by allowing their employees to work flexible schedules, particularly surrounding scheduled times of training and during deployments.

Members of the National Guard, who want to nominate their employers for the Patriot Award or other ESGR awards can fill out a nomination form online at the ESGR website.

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the 185th Air Refueling Wing, the Iowa Air National Guard, the United States Air Force or the Department of Defense of the external website, or information, products, or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Services/Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Air Force does not exercise editorial control over the information users may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of the website.