Dobbins hosts Massachusetts civic leaders Published June 15, 2012 By Senior Airman Elizabeth Gaston 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- The 94th Airlift Wing hosted civilian employers of Reservists from Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass, during an Employer Support for Guard and Reserve Boss Lift June 14-15 . The Boss Lift included employers, members of Massachusetts ESGR and military personnel who were ferried by C-5B from Westover to Dobbins for the two-day visit. Col. Steven Vautrain, 439th AW commander and tour leader, continually emphasized to the employers that Reservists work in a high operational tempo environment. The colonel explained that aircrews, especially those who fly the C-5, can be away from their families and civilian jobs more often, said Vautrain. The 439th was mobilized in 2010. Hence the importance of the ESGR, who helps educate civilian employers about the commitments of military service and advocates for servicemembers when needed. ESGR helped organize the boss lift to show civilian employers, first-hand, how Westover ARB operates and how the 439th AW's mission fits in the Air Force Reserve Command picture. "It's important for employers to realize that Westover ARB is not the end-all be-all of the Guard and Reserve," said Earl Bonett, Massachusetts ESGR vice chair. "We want employers to see all the other things that go on." During the first day, the group visited Lockheed Martin Marietta Plant 6 for a guided tour of the C-130J and C-5M production lines. Lockheed Martin officials also conducted briefings on the aircraft that the Air Force has contracted them to build. The second day, the employers were treated to breakfast at the Dobbins ARB Consolidated Club, where they met Maj. Gen. Wallace W. Farris Jr., 22nd Air Force commander and former 439th AW commander. Farris spoke about the overall mission of 22nd AF, which is a tenant organization on Dobbins ARB, and each of the 11 wings under the numbered Air Force. The visitors toured the Eastern Regional C-130 simulator, where they tried their hands at touch and go's, and got a hands-on demonstration with night vision goggles, then were given a tour of a Dobbins C-130H by the 94th AW commander. During the Boss Lift, the employers were able to see why both the C-5 and the C-130 were in the Air Force fleet. One visitor even asked why we still had aircraft with propellers when jet engines were known to be more advanced technology. This question was answered directly by both Vautrain and Col. Tarchick, 94th AW commander, throughout the visit and illustrated clearly during the tours. The C-5 is built to fly at longer, higher cruising altitudes where the jet engines will operate more efficiently, while propellers are still more efficient at the lower altitudes where the C-130 aircrews are most likely to perform their own critical airlift missions, according to the commanders. Both wing commanders emphasized the global reach and capacity of the gigantic C-5 and "go anywhere, do anything" capability of the smaller C-130.