United Behind the Uniforms
Hardeman County Correctional Facility saluted for supporting military
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Hardeman's family readiness group with 1-278th Unit commanders
As we salute military servicepersons and veterans for their contributions, it’s easy to overlook those who support them.
But at Hardeman County Correctional Center, supporters are far from overlooked. The Army National Guard and Reserve recently recognized facility warden Joe Easterling as a military-friendly employer by giving him an appreciation certificate - but he gives kudos to his staff. “I feel it’s recognition for the facility, rather than just me,” Easterling says.
The nomination came from one of the facility’s own military servicepersons.
“I nominated the warden because he’s always supportive,” says Robert Strickland, a facility K-9 handler and Guard soldier. “He asks me about my job with the service and how it’s going and he’s never had anything negative to say about me taking off work to serve.”
Strickland learned about the appreciation certificate through a service-related ceremony.
“Guard and Reserve officials told us about benefits available to us as deployed servicemen,” he explains. “We were told that if you have a supervisor who’s extremely supportive, you can fill out paperwork to have him or her recognized.”
There are several other military servicepersons at Hardeman, including Charles Reece, a shift captain.
“Warden Easterling always goes beyond what he has to for us,” Reece says. “If we need a couple of days off because we have drill coming up or if we’re leaving town for two or three weeks for summer camp, he’ll give us a couple days before and after to spend time with family.”
Dan Callahan, program support specialist at the Tennessee Committee for Employer Support of the National Guard and Reserve, presented the appreciation certificate to Easterling.
“Overall, it’s just a way for us in the Guard and Reserve to recognize and say thank you to the employer,” explains Callahan. “There’s very little we can do for the employer other than saying, ‘Thank you for being a patriot.’”
Easterling also signed a statement of support for the Guard and Reserve upon receiving the certificate.
“Being a veteran myself, I felt really good about accepting the certificate on behalf of the facility and signing the formal statement,” Easterling says. “I’ve always supported our troops; I was army for seven years.”
Along with Easterling, the entire staff shows its support for military servicepersons in multiple ways.
“The facility put on a family day, complete with a cook out and inflatable structures for the kids to play on,” says Kenneth Ozier, a correctional officer at Hardeman and Guard soldier. “It was a big get-together for all the soldiers and their families.” Hardeman Training manager Nena Moss was instrumental in helping to organize the event.
The facility is also committed to caring for the soldiers once they’ve gone overseas. “We have boxes that we’re sending over with goodies for the soldiers being deployed,” Easterling says.
Additionally, the facility maintains resources for military families.
“We have a family readiness group that’s led by our Human Resource manager Laura Harville and our Quality Assurance manager Amy Pierce, and the entire facility plays a part in it,” Ozier says. “For instance, if my wife can’t mow the lawn she can call the family readiness group and they can find someone who would be willing to come out and mow our lawn for us. Or if we needed childcare, they could help us find a childcare support group.”
Ozier says that in uncertain times, the facility’s support provides welcome security.
“It’s a comfort knowing they’re there to help when I’m away,” he says. “And it’s great to know that when I come home, I have a job to come back to, especially with the economy being the way it is right now.”
By DeAndra Mack