BARTLESVILLE, Oklahoma  –   Oklahoma Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program, announced today Phillips 66 Executive Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Brian Mandell received the ESGR Pro Patria Award in recognition of the extraordinary support of Phillip’s 66 employees who serve in the Oklahoma Guard and Reserve.

“The ESGR Pro Patria Award was created to publicly recognize U.S. employers providing extraordinary patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who have answered their nation’s call to serve,” said Ray Knapp, Oklahoma Committee Chair. “Supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units.”

“National Guard and Reserve members bring tremendous skills and capabilities to our workforce, and employer support for their military service is critical to maintaining the strength of our Guard and Reserve units,” said Knapp. “By valuing the military service of their Guard and Reserve employees, employers are directly supporting the readiness and retention of our All-Volunteer Force, and our national defense.”  He added, “I am excited that Phillips 66 has also been named as a Finalist in the Secretary of Defense’s Freedom Award competition – the highest employer award from the Department of Defense.”

Phillips 66 joins thousands of American employers who have reviewed and amended their current human resources policies to ensure compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Many employers provide support far beyond what USERRA requires, including pay differential to offset the loss of wages, and extension of health care benefits to complement coverage provided by the military when their employees mobilized.

“Supporting the military is an integral part of the Phillips 66 culture,” Mandell said. “We’re proud to support our active-duty guard and reserve members because we value their service to our country.”

ESGR is a Department of Defense program that develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members in the National Guard and Reserve through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. ESGR also provides assistance in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers.