Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center
Tammy Huneycutt Receives the ESGR Patriot Award
Tammy Huneycutt was awarded the ESGR Patriot award November 6, 2012 by Rick Storm, Kansas ESGR. She received the award for her support of Maj. Marilee Smalley’s military service with the Kansas Air National Guard. (Photo by Curtis Tasset)
Tammy Huneycutt, Director of Education at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas was recently awarded the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award. According to the guidelines for the Patriot Award, the award “is not an employer-wide award, but rather one that recognizes supervisors and bosses nominated by a Guardsman or Reservist employee for support provided directly to the nominator.”
Marilee Smalley, Nurse Educator at the Dole VA Medical Center, and Major in the Air National Guard’s 184th Medical Group at McConnell Air Force Base, nominated Huneycutt for the award. She affirmed Huneycutt’s award, saying “Ms. Huneycutt continually support my military service and she never questions my time needed for my annual training, extra training, or make up days.” Smalley continued “She [Ms. Huneycutt] provides coverage while I am gone so that I do not have extra work when I return.”
Smalley recalled how during her deployments Huneycutt maintained contact with Smalley’s husband and children, providing them support as well. She also kept in contact with Smalley while she was deployed and provided her information and support, and whatever else she needed. Smalley praised Huneycutt, saying, “Tammy has always been open to my experience and stories from deployment, and is quick to recognize (and appears proud) of my being a member of the Air National Guard.”
Tammy Huneycutt was awarded the ESGR Patriot award on November 6, 2012 by Rick Storm, the Kansas state ESGR Employer Support representative. She received a certificate and accompanying lapel pin for her support of Maj. Marilee Smalley’s military service with the Kansas Air National Guard. According to Smalley, “Ms. Huneycutt deserves this recognition because she is by far the most caring, supportive, effective leader and mentor I have ever had in my 30 plus years of employment.”
