Pro Patria Award goes to TEEX for supporting employees in the Reserves

TEEX has received the statewide Pro Patria Award from the Texas Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. Only six employers were selected for the prestigious award out of 900 nominated by their employees serving in the Reserves.

The award was presented March 25 in Austin during the group’s Annual Conference & Awards program. The keynote speaker at the awards ceremony was the Hon. Dennis McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.

The “Pro Patria” Award, which is a Latin term meaning “for one’s country,” is the highest award the state committee bestows on an employer in recognition of programs and policies that go above and beyond statutory expectations in supporting their employees serving in the Reserve components.

Approximately 24 percent of TEEX’s 500-plus permanent salaried employees are military veterans, as are many of its 800-plus part-time wage employees. During the past three years, five TEEX employees have been recalled to active duty. Under TEEX policies, employees on extended active duty have the opportunity to continue their benefits package, including health insurance, for the employee’s family. Departments and coworkers also include deployed employees in holiday celebrations, send care packages, check on families and have even cared for livestock for deployed employees.

Other award recipients were the Army & Air Force Exchange Service of Dallas; Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office; Methodist Mansfield Medical Center; Tax Masters, Inc., of Houston; and Tesoro Corp. of San Antonio.