08/21/2026
Anderson Engineering of Minnesota and Medtronic are honored with high ESGR awards.
Located in Arden Hills, Minnesota, the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division has as its mission the provision of “training and readiness oversight for nine National Guard brigades with more than 23,000 Soldiers across Minnesota and twenty-three other States.”
On August 14th 2026 the General Vessey Readiness Center (GVRC) had another occupant, the Employer Support Of The Guard And Reserve Organization (ESGR), whose mission it is to promote cooperation and understanding between Military Reserve Component Service Members and their Civilian Counterparts, as well as assisting in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment.
ESGR is supported by a network of nearly 2,300 volunteers in 54 communities located across all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam-CNMI, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Volunteers hail from a multitude of backgrounds: business, government, academic institutions, and prior military service. Their credentials and experiences, along with those of the Headquarters Staff and a small cadre of Support Staff for each State Committee, enable them to provide Employers, Service Members, and their Families with enhanced employer support for military service in the Guard and Reserve. The session was devoted to Employer Recognition: Annual Planning and Awards Meeting (APAM) for short, and two Plymouth Business Organizations were honored for their exemplary support of their employees who are also military personnel serving their country: Anderson Engineering of Minnesota and Medtronic, both with Plymouth, Minnesota locations .
Anderson Engineering was the recipient of the Above and Beyond Award, which recognizes employers who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment rights Act by providing their Guard and Reserve employees additional, non-mandated benefits such as differential or full pay to offset lost wages, extend health benefits, and other similar benefits.
Medtronic of Plymouth received the Extraordinary Employer Support Award (EES), which they earned subsequently to having already received the Freedom Award for continuous support of their military employees over a period of at least three years. Anderson Engineering and Medtronic of Plymouth both exhibited “Civic Belonging” in its highest form with service to their State and Country as well as service to their Customers. Prepared by Peter R. Bartling, Minnesota ESGR volunteer.
