The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Crain receives Patriot Award from Department of Defense

    Southeastern President John L. Crain (left) accepts the U.S. Department of Defense Patriot Award from Larry L. Jones, (right) vice chairman of the Louisiana Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Crain was nominated for the honor by Southeastern English Instructor Alan Marsh (center). Photo Courtesy of Public Information.

    University president John L. Crain was recently honored with the Patriot Employer Award from the U.S. Department of Defense in recognition of support provided for military reservists and National Guardsmen. 

    This recognition was presented to Crain by Larry L. Jones, a retired U.S. Coast Guard commander and vice chairman of the Louisiana Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. 

    “We are always proud to be recognized in this way, and I hope it does serve as an additional factor that might influence enrollment,” said Crain. 

    The award reflects the efforts made to support citizen-warriors through a wide-range of measures, including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed. 

    Southeastern maintains an Office of Veteran Services in conjunction with the Office of Financial Aid in order to work with students and faculty enrolled in the military. 

    “Staff works with students and prospective students who may be eligible for various educational assistance programs,” said Crain. “We also work hard to make sure we comply with all rules and policies to provide accommodations for students who serve in the military when they are called to duty. We also cooperate with the Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs, for example when they seek to use university facilities in conjunction with deployment ceremonies.” 

    Although Crain has never served in the military, his father and a few nephews have served over the years. 

    Crain was nominated for the award by English instructor Alan Marsh, a member of the Louisiana Army National Guard. 

    “It’s just a good will gesture,” said Marsh. “Anyone who’s in the National Guard and has other employment, they’re encouraged to do things like this. The employer accommodates you, and the Guard tries to reciprocate.” 

    During his employment at Southeastern, Marsh has been called to duty several times. Marsh went to Iraq with other public relations specialists to document the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 256th Brigade Combat Team’s participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

    “It’s an inconvenience for the university, but they’ve always tried to accommodate for me,” said Marsh. “The National Guard has done the same thing. After Katrina, they activated me for a while, but once classes resumed, [the guard] let me go teach. They did the same thing for Gustave and Isaac. It’s a two-way street.”

    Marsh noted the university continues to pay the salary of deployed faculty for two weeks. 

    Southeastern was also recognized in 2011 by ESGR with the Seven Seals Award for the university’s support of the National Guard and Reserve. The university has also been named a Military Friendly University for the past three consecutive years by “GI Jobs Magazine.”

    “People who serve in the military give a great deal of themselves in service to their country and to us all,” said Crain. “Doing right by them is simply the right thing for us as an institution to do.”

     
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