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The Grunt Style Foundation leaders Tim Jensen and Will Wisner speak with Veteran Service Organization’s to discuss the historic passing of The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The team is joined by U.S. Army Major General Jeffrey Phillips, US Army (Retired) Jeffery Phillips, Executive Director of the Reserve Officer Association (RAO). Listen in and learn about the general's time in public affairs, his affinity for Army Culinary Specialist (MOS 92G) and his role the historic 5 day fire watch that took place on the steps of Capitol Hill.
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About the Veteran
Jeff Phillips assumed the duties of executive director of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States on December 8, 2014. With 50,000 members, Washington-based ROA is a congressionally chartered corporation to promote the development and execution of a military policy for the U.S. that will provide adequate national security. Since its founding in 1922, ROA is the premier advocate for Reserve Component equipment, training, manning, professional development, family care, and employment rights. Through its Service Members Law Center, ROA offers expert legal information on employment, military voting rights and other legal issues.
Now retired from the Army, Major General Phillips last served as the deputy commanding general (U.S. Army Reserve) of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command, at Fort Eustis, Va. In this part-time position, he was responsible for ensuring that the Army Reserve’s requirements and capabilities were reflected in Army training and training doctrine.
General Phillips, a former deputy chief of public affairs of the Army, was commissioned in the Regular Army as a second lieutenant of armor in 1979. His service includes assignments in Afghanistan, the Balkans, Egypt, Honduras, Israel, Iraq, and Germany, as well as the U.S. He commanded an M-1 Abrams tank company in the 2nd Armored Division. In nearly 37 years on active and reserve duty, he served in operational, communications, and logistic staff positions from battalion through Army headquarters.
Throughout his military career, General Phillips has been a supporter of health programs and initiatives within the military community. His 3rd Infantry Division team was recognized for excellence in providing behavioral healthcare, including telehealth technology. On the Department of the Army staff, he managed the service’s programs to provide efficient and caring Reserve soldier medical processing.
His federal service includes civilian appointments as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs and White House liaison in the Department of Veterans Affairs under President George W. Bush, and as communications director and subcommittee staff director in the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Phillips co-authored America’s First Team in the Gulf. Published in 1992, this illustrated history of the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm used photographs taken by the Army public affairs soldiers he led.
His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Star medals and the Army Parachutist Badge. He shares in the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization while he served with them in the Middle East.
Phillips holds a master of arts degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, a master of arts degree in adult education and human resources development from The University of Texas at Austin, and a bachelor of arts degree in journalistic studies from the University of Massachusetts.
About the Veteran Service Organization
Since 1922, The Reserve Officers Association of the United States, now known as the Reserve Organization of America to reflect its all-ranks membership, has championed the cause of the Reserve Components at home and in war. The evolution of that mission has helped protect the rights and benefits of individual members of the Reserve force and their families, while preserving a strong and capable Reserve force as a critical component to our national security. ROA continues to serve the Reserve and National Guard in an era where the need is greater than ever before.
In 1922, after the first world war, General of the Armies John “Black Jack” Pershing helped form ROA to ensure America had a strong Reserve force – he and his fellow founders of ROA knew war would come again. It did and with ROA’s support, the nation had a cadre of Reserve leaders on which to rebuild its armed forces. From every background and branch, “citizen-warriors” have served their country; from duty at home, to Europe to Vietnam, the Pacific to Southwest and Southcentral Asia, Africa and now space.
For 100 years ROA has been the only organization solely dedicated to supporting the Reserve Components and their critical role in national defense. ROA is America’s only exclusive advocate for the Reserve and National Guard – all ranks, all services. With a sole focus on support of the Reserve and Guard, ROA promotes the interests of Reserve Component members, their families, and veterans of Reserve service; and conducts a legislative campaign that ensures the readiness of our Reserve force. Together, ROA’s members sound off in one voice for one mission.
Reserve duty has changed, with increasing operational missions. So has the “new” Reserve Organization of America. ROA provides the tools, resources, support, education, and advocacy Reservists and their families need to succeed, in and out of uniform.
We call this—Reserve Strength. Reserve Life .
