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JAXPORT employee receives U.S. Department of Defense recognition

[ September 17, 2021   //   ]

The Office of the Secretary of Defense recently recognized JAXPORT Asset Manager Brandon Blanton for his outstanding support of fellow JAXPORT employee Seaman Matthew Reed during Reed’s service in the Navy Reserves.

Blanton received the award from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense program based at the Pentagon that promotes cooperation and understanding between service members and their civilian employers.

“The intent of the Patriot Award is for the service member to officially recognize his or her immediate supervisor for their continuing support of their service in the Guard and Reserve, and to simply say ‘Thank You’,” said ESGR Area 4 Vice Chair and Ret. Command Master Chief Robert Rose. “Knowing they have the support of employers like JAXPORT back home allows our Guard and Reserve members to focus on their mission during their active-duty period of deployment anywhere across the globe. The Guard and Reserve military mission could not function effectively without Patriotic employers like JAXPORT.”

Seaman Reed, who serves JAXPORT as a Crane Technician, nominated Blanton for the recognition.

“Brandon was very supportive while I was going through my training,” Seaman Reed said. “He would call and check on me, and make sure I was doing alright and made me feel very comfortable that my job at JAXPORT was here waiting for me. I feel honored to give him this recognition because he deserves it very much.”

“I am extremely honored to receive this award and grateful to Matthew for nominating me,” Blanton said. “We at JAXPORT are proud to support our employees who serve and are grateful for their service to our country and our port.”

About a quarter of JAXPORT’s employees are veterans representing all branches of the U.S. military. JAXPORT’s veteran employees have nearly 400 years of combined military service.

The port also plays an important role in military cargo operations. As one of the nation’s 17 Strategic Seaports, JAXPORT is on call 24/7 to move military cargo for national defense and other initiatives.

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