HAVRE, Mont. – The Hi-Line of Montana describes U.S Highway 2 as it stretches across Montana for about 650 miles. Locals call it Montana's Hi-Line since it's the northernmost route traversing the state from east to west.

Recently, employers on the Hi-Line of Montana saw a UH-60 Black Hawk and a Ch-47 Chinook with the Army National Guard land at the Havre, Airport. The helicopters were in town for a special employer outreach event with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an office of the Department of Defense.

The boss lift as it is called, was part of ESGR’s efforts to thank civilian employers of the area’s Guard and Reserve for their support of their employees when they ask for time off for their military obligations. Employers from Havre and area towns were there for a half-hour fight in the area after an information briefing from Montana ESGR volunteers.

Montana ESGR volunteers Brad Livingston and Mike Flaherty thanked employers for hiring Montana Guard and Reserve members prior to the 60 employers taking a half-hour flight in the area. Livingston encouraged current, and future employers, to continue to share these valuable employees with the Montana National Guard and Reserve. He reminded the employers their employees receive significant training during their military obligations and return to work to implement new skills which prove valuable to the business.

One of the goals of the boss lift is to familiarize employers and community leaders with the vital role that the Guard and Reserve play in preserving national security. Another is to acquaint people with how the Guard and Reserve train to respond to their community and their country in time of need. Employers learned more about the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). USERRA protects the job rights of people who leave a civilian job to perform military service, and also protects past and present members of the uniformed services from discrimination by employers. This includes people who enlist in the military and leave their civilian jobs and Reservists who deploy.

Photo: Montana Hi-Line employers prior to their Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) helicopter or boss lift flights in Havre Montana. The boss lift was part of ESGR’s efforts to thank civilian employers of the area’s Guard and Reserve for their support of their employees when they ask for time off for their military obligations. Employers from Havre and area towns were there for a half-hour fight in the area after an information briefing from Montana ESGR volunteers.