(Business Wire) – Tonight GEICO will honor six members of the military with the GEICO Military Service Award for their generous acts of service to their communities.

“I am honored to celebrate this year’s awardees,” said GEICO Chairman Tony Nicely. “For 21 years we’ve recognized exceptional military personnel who are dedicated to protecting their fellow military members and their fellow citizens. I’d like to congratulate these six 2008 honorees for their hard work and compassion in promoting safety awareness.” Recipients of the GEICO Military Service Award are:

Army – Staff Sergeant Ronald White III is honored for his work in traffic safety and accident prevention by creating an effective Crash Dummy Checkpoints program. Originally from Stockton, Calif., he is currently serving in Germany and was selected for this award while serving as the Traffic Section Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the 91st Military Police Detachment 519th Military Police Battalion, Fort Polk, La.

Marines – Gunnery Sergeant John O’Donnell has made valuable contributions in the field of traffic safety and accident prevention, particularly through his motorcycle safety awareness and instruction programs. He is currently serving as the Company First Sergeant, Support Company, MWSS 372 MWSG 37, 3D MAW, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Navy – Chief Petty Officer Giovanni Balingit distinguished himself by organizing drug and alcohol abuse and prevention programs. Currently serving in USS NIMITZ (CVN-68), he was selected for this award while serving at the Fleet Readiness Center, Southwest, San Diego, Calif.

Air Force – Senior Master Sergeant Robert Vanliew is honored for his work in fire safety and fire prevention by reducing related injuries, updating safety regulations and providing expanded training. He is an aerospace propulsion craftsman assigned to the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group as the F100 Repair Network Transformation Flight Chief, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.

Coast Guard – Petty Officer Christopher Rubinan is the Coast Guard recipient of the 2008 GEICO Military Service Award for his work in traffic safety and accident prevention by creating the air station’s motorcycle safety program and working with local community leaders on behalf of local residents. He is currently serving as an HH65C Flight Mechanic, SUCG Air Station Borinquen, Puerto Rico.

National Guard/Reserve – Petty Officer Jennifer Terry made her contributions in the field of traffic safety and accident prevention. Petty Officer Terry is a certified Child Passenger Safety Seat Technician and often teams up with organizations like the Florida Department of Transportation and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department to offer car seat safety checkpoints throughout the area. As a Naval Reservist she was selected for this award while assigned to the Naval Security Forces, NAS Pensacola, Fla. Petty Officer Terry is currently undergoing training at Fort Lewis, WA in preparation for deployment to Iraq.

GEICO established the Military Service Awards in 1988 to pay tribute to members of the military for their contributions to the public good in their roles as “citizens and soldiers,” said Richard Kidd, vice president of military marketing. Each service branch makes nominations for the award in one of three categories: drug and alcohol abuse prevention, fire safety and fire prevention, and traffic safety and accident prevention. A selection committee of senior enlisted members chooses the award winners.

A complete set of guidelines for GEICO’s Military Awards and background information about the honorees are located on the GEICO Web site, www.geico.com in the Information Center, under Military Program.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States based on the latest 12 months written premium. It provides auto insurance coverage for 9 million policyholders and insures some 15 million vehicles.

In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available.

As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial strength by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys.