KCSD HR director receives Patriotic Employer Award

Klamath County School District’s human resources director was honored with a Patriotic Employer Award Feb. 25 for his exceptional support of employees serving in the military. The award ceremony was held at Kingsley Field.

Jamie Ongman was nominated by Patrick Rose, a social studies and AVID teacher at Brixner Junior High School, and a member of the 173rd Security Forces Squadron based at Kingsley Field.

The award, presented by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), honors civilian supervisors who go above and beyond in supporting employees who serve in the National Guard or Reserve.

In his nomination, Rose credited the district’s HR department with providing steady support during military trainings and activations.

“The KCSD HR department has helped tremendously as I’ve been called away on orders and training,” Rose said. “They’ve helped maintain the balance between my military obligations and my civilian career.”

Ongman was surprised and humbled by the award.

“This recognition is appreciated, but supporting our service members is simply the right thing to do,” he said. “Our veteran employees are selfless individuals who serve students and the communities of the Basin in multiple ways. It’s easy to support those who support us.”

Pete Goodrich, ESGR Area 5 chair, said that kind of support is essential to national defense readiness.

“Our national defense strategy depends on reserve combatants,” Goodrich said during the ceremony. “Forty percent or more of our military capability exists only in the National Guard or the Reserve. We need well-trained, readily available service members who can step forward to support the nation’s needs.”

That readiness, he said, depends heavily on civilian employers.

“Yes, there are federal laws in place,” Goodrich said. “But Jamie does this because it’s the right thing to do.”

Presenting the framed certificate, Goodrich read from the citation:

“On behalf of the Department of Defense, Jamie Ongman of the Klamath County School District is recognized for contributing to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard.”

Also attending the ceremony were John Troike, ESGR outreach volunteer and retired Naval Air service member, and Jim Cunningham, ESGR outreach volunteer, retired pilot and Air National Guard general.

As the event concluded, Ongman emphasized that supporting service members is simply part of the district’s responsibility.

“When someone is willing to serve our country, we need to step up and support them. That’s who we want to be as a district,” he said.

ESGR, a Department of Defense program, works to promote cooperation and understanding between service members and their civilian employers and provides education and mediation services as needed.