Employer Appreciation Day attendees look skyward at an F-16 Viper West aerial demonstration during Employer Appreciation Day here Saturday. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Heather Skinkle)

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Nathan Anderson, a civilian employer from Nucor Building Systems in Brigham City, tries on a bomb suit during an Explosive Ordnance Disposal demonstration here Saturday as part of Employer Appreciation Day. The suit helps protect EOD technicians when they must detonate a bomb. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Heather Skinkle)

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Tech. Sgt. Eileen Safford, the 419th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s maintenance supply liaison, and Senior Airman Edna Razo, also a supply troop, explain the supply system to Razo’s civilian employer, Nathan Anderson of Nucor Building Systems in Brigham City. Razo hosted Anderson on a tour of her work area as part of Employer Appreciation Day activities Saturday. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Heather Skinkle)

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419th Fighter Wing pilot, Lt. Col. Andrew Chudy, showcases the F-16 and its capabilities to Employer Appreciation Day attendees Saturday. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Heather Skinkle)

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The Viper West F-16 aerial demonstration maintenance team salutes pilot, Capt. Garrett Dover, as he prepares for take-off as part of Employer Appreciation Day here Saturday. “I went to the last Hill Air Force Base air show and it was cool but this Viper West demo was much cooler,” said attendee Frederick Campbell, of ARUP laboratories in Salt Lake City. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Heather Skinkle)

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Employer Appreciation Day attendees enjoy the show as Viper West pilot, Capt. Garrett Dover, performs a series of precision turns during an F-16 aerial demonstration as part of Employer Appreciation Day here Saturday. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Heather Skinkle)

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Civilian employers get behind-the-scenes look at Reserve mission

Published Aug. 8, 2011
By Public Affairs staff
419th Fighter Wing

Hill Air Force Base, Utah -- The 419th Fighter Wing rolled out the red carpet for civilian employers of Utah Air Force Reservists this Saturday during the wing's annual Employer Appreciation Day.

Employers traveled from near and far to attend the event - several traveled from Idaho, Nevada, and Colorado. The wing hosts EAD each year to thank employers for their support, educate them about the Air Force Reserve and offer a firsthand glimpse into their employee's role in national defense.

The event featured an F-16 aerial demonstration by Hill's own Viper West team, an explosive ordnance (bomb) disposal demo, and an up-close look at an F-16 static display.

"I went to the last Hill Air Force Base air show and it was cool but this Viper West demo was much cooler," said Frederick Campbell, a civilian employer from ARUP laboratories in Salt Lake City.

"I'm really a hands-on type, so being able to try on EOD's bomb suit was the best," said Keir Wolfley from Biomat USA in Taylorsville.

Employers also met with wing leadership and received informational briefings on the wing's mission and visited their employee's military work area to learn more about their reservist's duties and reserve commitments. In addition, the local Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve organization briefed employers on laws that protect both employers and reservists.