Microsoft Recognized by the Office of Secretary of Defense With Freedom Award

Continued commitment to National Guard and Reserve honored with highest
recognition given to U.S. employers.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Joining 14 other companies from
around the country, Microsoft Corp. is being honored in Washington this week
by President Barack Obama and Secretary Robert Gates as a top supporter of the
National Guard and Reserve. Today, the diverse set of companies, chosen from
among a record 3,200 National Guard and Reserve member nominations of
employers, will each receive a 2009 Employer Support Freedom Award from the
Office of the Secretary of Defense. Robert Youngjohns, president of Microsoft
North America, will accept the award for Microsoft during an award ceremony to
be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in
Washington.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

"There is no better way for Microsoft to salute our troops than to help take
care of those in our employee family who serve faithfully in the National
Guard and Reserve," said Teresa Carlson, vice president of U.S. Federal
Government Division at Microsoft. "We've found that our warrior-citizens hold
superior skills in leadership, teamwork, discipline and grace under pressure,
all of which are essential assets to strong organizations."

Nominated by Tom Castellano, a technologist in Omaha, Neb., Microsoft was
selected as a Freedom Award recipient for the broad support it provides to
guardsmen and reservists. Benefits include providing National Guard and
Reserve employees with differential pay between their military pay and
Microsoft salary during deployments; continuing employee and enrolled family
members' medical and life insurance benefits during deployments; creating a
military reservist council responsible for coordinating care packages to
deployed employees overseas; providing a life-care guide to deploying service
member employees and their families; and recognizing the military service of
employees through newsletters, official Microsoft publications and public
events.

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the National
Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize
exceptional support from the employer community. The award is the highest
recognition created and given by the U.S. government to employers for their
outstanding support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and
Reserve. It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by
the Department of Defense.

Ongoing Commitment
In addition to its recognition at the Freedom Award ceremony this month,
Microsoft's commitment to those serving their country runs deep. Not only does
the company provide broad benefits for active-duty military personnel, but
several programs are in place to ensure ongoing support:
-- Microsoft has a rich community of Diversity Advisory Councils that are
organized and run by employees, including Military Reservists at
Microsoft and U.S. Military Veterans at Microsoft. These groups
provide
support and community for Department of Defense leaders and guests
visiting Microsoft, coordinate care packages to Microsoft employees
and
others assigned to active duty overseas, host tours of the Microsoft
campus for the National Guard and Reserve troops on medical hold at
Fort
Lewis, Wash., and assist soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical
Center
in obtaining Microsoft certification. Microsoft has supported other
corporations in starting similar affinity groups.
-- To help facilitate job placement for returning American service
members,
Microsoft is a founding and charter member of the nonprofit group Hire
America's Heroes, with a mission to improve access to
private-sector jobs for men and women exiting military service.
Microsoft provides annual sponsorship funding and board leadership,
and
hosts events for the organization.

-- Microsoft is gearing up for this year's edition of its "A
Salute to Our Troops" program, a national program honoring the
courage and inspiration of individuals who demonstrate selfless
dedication to the United States. The program seeks to inspire others
to
action and show unified support for our servicemen and servicewomen as
well as their families. This year's "A Salute to Our
Troops" program will take place in Washington.

More information on Microsoft's work with the U.S. federal government and the
Department of Defense is available at
http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government/federal/default.aspx?id=2.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software,
services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full
potential.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

Liz Smeds of Merritt Group, +1-703-444-9224, smeds@merrittgrp.com, for
Microsoft Corp.