County employer receives ESGR Patriot award

Chris Bidinost (center), supervising probation officer with the Santa Clara County Juvenile Probation Department's Alternative Placement Academy, was awarded the Department of Defense's National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s Patriot Award during a ceremony in San Jose Feb. 24 by employee Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Underwood (left), 129th Rescue Wing’s human resource advisor and Lt. Col. Pete Sobrino (right), 129th executive officer. (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kim Ramirez)

County employer receives ESGR Patriot award

Chris Bidinost, supervising probation officer with the Santa Clara County Juvenile Probation Department's Alternative Placement Academy, was awarded the Department of Defense's National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s Patriot Award during a ceremony in San Jose Feb. 24 for supporting his employee, traditional Guardsman and 129th Rescue Wing’s human resource advisor Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Underwood. (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kim Ramirez)

County employer receives ESGR Patriot award

Published March 2, 2010
129th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. -- A Santa Clara County employer of a 129th Rescue Wing Airman based here received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve's Patriot Award during a ceremony in San Jose Feb. 24.

Chris Bidinost, supervising probation officer with the Santa Clara County Juvenile Probation Department's Alternative Placement Academy, was nominated by Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Underwood, the 129th Rescue Wing's human resource advisor, through the Department of Defense's National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Sergeant Underwood has worked for Mr. Bidinost as APA's senior military instructor for seven years while also reporting for duty as a traditional Guardsman at the 129th RQW.

"The military has been the backbone of the Alternative Placement Academy," Mr. Bidinost said. "I've been working with Sergeant Underwood since 2003. We're thankful to have had him for this long."

Mr. Bidinost received a Department of Defense Certificate of Appreciation and a Patriot lapel pin nationally recognizing his support of National Guard employee Sergeant Underwood.

"Chris has been a big supporter of youth programs and the National Guard," Sergeant Underwood said. "I'm proud to say his award came through."

All members of the National Guard and Reserve are eligible to nominate their employers for the Patriot award at http://esgr.org/about.asp.

"It is my pleasure to help recognize such an understanding and accommodating employer of one of our Airmen," said Col. Amos Bagdasarian, 129th Rescue Wing commander. "Employer support is essential to our mission, allowing Airmen to leave their everyday lives to serve their nation as National Guardsmen."