NEWTON, Iowa—DMACC Professor and retired Army Reserve officer Christopher McClure nominated DMACC for recognition with a National Military Award called the Pro Patria Award. The award shows that recipients have demonstrated the greatest support to Guard and Reserve employees through their leadership and practices, including adopting personnel policies that make it easier for employees to participate in the National Guard and Reserve. This is the highest level award that may be bestowed by an ESGR State Committee. Last year, Professor McClure’s Army Reserve unit was deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a U.S. Department of Defense initiative, established in 1972. Its mission is to gain and promote employer support for Guard and Reserve service.  More than 600 recent Veterans are enrolled as DMACC students and the College has been previously recognized as a “Military Friendly School.”

Mark Hennessey, the state director of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program, presents the Pro Patria Award to Rob Denson, DMACC President (left) and Joe Pugel, DMACC Board Chair, at the DMACC Newton Campus