GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Taking to the Montana Big Sky this summer, 22 employers from in and around Great falls had the opportunity to fly in a Montana Air national Guard C 130 Hercules. These select few were employers of members of the Montana Air National Guard 120th Airlift Wing or community influencers who would complete the flight and them share their experience with the community.

The flight or Boss Lift as it is affectionately termed, is part of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) boss lift program. The mission of ESGR is two-fold because it gives the employer a chance to fly, an actual mission and all the working pieces involved in the flight from start to finish. It also gives the Air national Guard and ESGR volunteers a chance to say thanks to all the employers who come out to show their support to the Guard and Reserve members.

ESGR know there are hardships on the employer when their employee is gone from work for annual training, drill weekends or a deployment. Time away from work is tough, but in return employers receive an employee who is drug free, highly trained, and professional in their leadership which are all a plus for the civilian workplace.

Employers for the C130 boss lift learned more about the Uniformed Services Employment Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). The federal law protects military service members and veterans from employment discrimination on the basis of their service and allows them to regain their civilian jobs following a period of uniformed service. ESGR is a resource for employers with a designed help line for both service members/airman and employers. More information can be found at www.esgr.mil.

Following the hour and a half flight around northwestern Montana employers met their airmen, toured their shop, and attended the Montana Air National Guard family day picnic held in the hanger.

Photo: Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve boss lift attendees and C130 crews walk to the Small Air Terminal following their boss lift flight at the Montana Air National Guard 120th Airlift Wing.