The Honolulu Police Department and Native Hawaiian Veterans have been selected by the Department of Defense as semifinalists for the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

The Freedom Award is the DoD’s highest honor for employers that provide extraordinary support to their National Guard and Reserve employees. This year, 138 semifinalists stood out among 2,899 employers nominated by a Guard or Reserve employee. 

The Freedom Award provides service members with an opportunity to recognize civilian employers that go above and beyond in supporting their service. Employers selected as semifinalists assist Guard and Reserve employees through formal and informal initiatives, including setting veteran hiring goals, establishing military employee liaisons, providing childcare for deployed employees, arranging care package drives, and granting additional leave for military employees and family members before and after deployments. 

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve will announce the 2013 Freedom Award finalists next month after a review board comprised of military and civilian leaders selects the 30 most supportive employers. Up to 15 award recipients will be announced early this summer and honored in Washington, D.C. in September at the 18th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony.