Alabama Power supervisors like Layne Walker in Hueytown regularly support those in the military, but they are unaccustomed to getting saluted themselves by service members.

That was the case Aug. 25 when Mark Phillips, a Protection and Control line technician, presented Walker, Line SCADA Team Leader in Hueytown, with the Patriotic Employer Award.  Phillips is a master sergeant in the Alabama Air National Guard and nominated Walker for the award.

Submitted through Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and approved by the Department of Defense, the Patriotic Employer Award recognizes those who actively support service members like Phillips, who has to take time off work for training, activations and deployments.

Mark Phillips, a Protection and Control line technician, presented Walker, Line SCADA Team Leader in Hueytown, with the Patriotic Employer Award. Jim Butler, far right, is an Alabama representative with ESGR and delivered the award to Alabama Power’s Hueytown office.

In presenting the award, Phillips said throughout his nearly 11 years with Alabama Power, Walker and the company have been nothing but supportive of the times he has spent wearing his other uniform.

“I know it makes it more difficult on you and the company when I have to be away in service to my country,” Phillips said. “But I want you to know how much I and my unit appreciate your support of me. I wanted to recognize you for that support by presenting you with this award.”

Walker was thrilled with the recognition, but said it is a principle passed down throughout Alabama Power to support employees who serve their country.

“I’m very honored and humbled to receive this award on behalf of Alabama Power and Southern Co.,” Walker said. “We stand behind our service members 100 percent. When you are going into harm’s way in service to our state, our country, our freedom and our Constitution, the least we can do is support your efforts.”

Jim Butler is an Alabama representative with ESGR and delivered the award to Alabama Power’s Hueytown office. He said while federal law requires that companies hold jobs open for service members while they are on duty, some are reluctant to do so and not all show the same level of encouragement as Alabama Power.

“I’m always pleased when we have the opportunity to present a Patriotic Employer Award to a deserving company,” Butler said.

Butler said while some companies receive an overall corporate award for their military support, the supervisor-level award is an important one because that is often the level where the service member experiences the company’s backing the most.

“This is where the rubber meets the road,” he said.

–Mike Tomberlin