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(Minot, ND) Trinity Health Sports Medicine Manager Robyn Gust, MS, ATC, has received the ‘Patriot Award’ from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR), an office of the US Defense Department. This award is presented to employers who contribute to national security by demonstrating support for employee participation in America’s Guard and Reserve Force.

Gust was nominated by Ashley King, an athletic trainer with Trinity Health and a member of the North Dakota National Guard. After King’s recent activation to the protest in Cannon Ball, she nominated Gust for the award, writing: ‘My supervisor [Robyn] goes above and beyond to make sure I am able to attend and serve my country and state for duty. She does everything in her power to be sure that I am taken care of before and after my service duty.’

Gust’s support of King and her National Guard participation began before King was an employee of Trinity Health. ‘Hiring her was a no-brainer,’ Gust said. ‘ I have known her since she was a student, and I knew that the work ethic that you have to have to be a part of that [National Guard] would carry over into the work she would do for us.’ Gust adds that the entire Sports Medicine Department rallies behind King with their support. ‘Our department understands the importance of her ability attend regular and extra training she may want or need and to be able to perform her military service at a moment’s notice.’

For Gust, it’s hard to put into words what receiving the award means to her. ‘I don’t even know where to start,’ she said. ‘To be recognized as a person supporting our military is an honor and very humbling.’

King also nominated Trinity Health for the ‘Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award,’ the highest Department of Defense recognition of employers for their support of National Guard and Service members.