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Bosslift increases reserve employer awareness

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chris Bolen
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION JOINT RESERVE BASE FORT WORTH, Texas --  Employers of reservists and Guardsmen from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth area arrived at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base May 25, 2011, to take part in a "bosslift" sponsored by the Texas Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

The mission statement of ESGR is "to gain and maintain the active support of all employers for the men and women serving in the Guard and reserve by increasing awareness of federal and state laws, promoting compliance through education, recognizing supportive employers and providing informal mediation services."

The "bosslift" tour is a key tool in helping employers with reservists and Guardsmen working for them to gain an understanding of the type of environment and challenges their employees face when they're on military duty.

The tour took a group of more than 20 Texas employers to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and Dover Air Force Base, Del. escorted by both the 301st Fighter Wing and NAS Fort Worth JRB commanders and ESGR staff. The tour is a special two-day series of events designed to give them a first-hand look at the world of the reservist and Guardsman.

"This was truly a unique experience to see the impact our reserves and Guardsmen are having on our country's military operations," said Randy Blubaugh, vice president of compensation and benefits for Cash America International, Inc. "I came away with a much greater understanding of the roles these young men and women are filling on behalf of our country's defense."

The tour is designed to show the training and the different missions involved when their reserve and Guard employees are called to duty. Each of the military installations along with NAS Fort Worth JRB brought a unique view of the military.

NAS JRB Fort Worth is home to a variety of Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Army and Texas Air National Guard units. During a tour of the base, the employers were able to get an overview of two of the base's component units including the Air Force Reserve's 301st Fighter Wing, and the Navy's Fleet Logistics Support Wing.

The tour included the Navy F-18 Hornet, C-40 and KC-130 simulators used by Navy and Marine Corps units, as well as the control tower here and the Air Force Reserve flight line and hangar operations. For lunch the employers sampled military "chow" at the base dining facility before departure.

The "lift" part of the tour began in the afternoon as the employers and took off onboard a 507th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft from Tinker AFB, Okla. During the flight to NAS Norfolk they observed firsthand the boom "pod" and its operation.
In Norfolk, the tour included the Naval base facilities, air operations area and piers where Navy ships from submarines to giant aircraft carriers are docked.

The employers took part in a special dinner that evening in downtown Norfolk recognizing the contribution of the Fort Worth Police Department. Police Chief Jeff Halstead. Chief Halstead received the prestigious "Above and Beyond" award given in limited numbers by state and territory ESGR committees. It recognizes employers at the state and local level who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements for granting leave and providing support for military duty by their employees.

Guest speakers included 301st Fighter Wing commander Brig. Gen. Ronald "Bruce" Miller, NAS Fort Worth JRB Commander Navy Capt. Tracy D. (T.D.) Smyers and retired Maj. Gen. Jerry Icenhower Texas State ESGR president.

The following morning the tour continued with a short flight across the Chesapeake Bay to Dover AFB, Del. Dover AFB is home to active and reserve units including the Air Force Reserve's 512th Airlift Wing, referred to as the "Liberty Wing."

Dover AFB operates the largest and busiest air freight terminal in the Department of Defense and the Air Mobility Command Museum is co-located there. The base is also home to the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, the DOD's largest joint-service mortuary facility and the only one located in the continental United States.

The employers were briefed on the base and 512th Airlift Wing mission and capabilities by Col. Karl Schmitkons, 512th AW Operations Group commander. Additional briefings included the activities of the base mortuary affairs organization conducted by Van Williams chief of public affairs for the Mortuary Affairs organization.

The group then toured the mortuary facility campus and then moved on to the massive, automated base logistics operation center.

The logistics center is responsible for around the clock shipments of critical material all over the world. James Ewing, traffic management officer for Dover, conducted the walking tour of a small segment of the base warehouse operation.

The afternoon segment of the tour began with demonstrations by the 436th Security Forces Squadron working dog group, Phoenix Ravens, the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) group, Dover control tower operations, and air traffic control facilities.

The tour concluded with a stop at the AMC Aircraft Museum before "saddling up" and flying back to Fort Worth.

Following a quick and safe return by the skilled tanker aircrew from Tinker AFB, many of the ESGR tour participants expressed their thanks for the opportunity to see just what their employees may experience.

Many of the employers added that it was definitely an educational experience. "I was not aware of the ESGR program before this event," said Randy Blubaugh. "The Bosslift event was an eye opening experience; I was amazed to see our reservists responsible for highly critical roles."

As the Department of Defense (DoD) principle advocate, ESGR highlights relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws and resolves conflict between employers and Guard and reserve members.