Joint-Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. – With Tacoma’s proximity to Joint-Base Lewis McChord, it is not unusual to hear the sounds of the twin turbine engines of CH-47 Chinooks as they fly overhead.  As families walk along the sidewalks and drivers crane their neck to look up, they cannot differentiate whether those helicopters are crewed by active duty, reserve duty, or national guard soldiers.  This is not only because they fly the same equipment, but the Reserve Component soldiers, with their much more limited training time, are required to have the same level of skill as their active-duty counterparts who train fulltime. 

On a damp and partially rainy day, 15 employers got to witness firsthand to what their reserve component employees do when called upon to serve their Nation.  Foxtrot Company Second Battalion 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion) teamed up with the Washington ESGR to host a Bosslift for these employers.

The ESGR Boss Lift event is an opportunity for reservists to share a military experience with their civilian employers, so they have a better understanding of what their traditional reservist do when called away from their civilian employment to fulfill their military duty obligations.

“The Boss Lift is one of our biggest programs to educate our employers who employee Reserve Component soldiers,” said Phil Sanders, Washington ESGR’s state chair.  “It’s a way of opening their eyes to what their employee is doing when they’re gone.”

The employers were welcomed by battalion commander Lt. Col. Jospeh Spencer and company commander Maj. Jamie Beaver who thanked the employers for being supportive of their soldiers.  The employers received a briefing on the capabilities of both Army Reserve Aviation and the unit’s capabilities in particular.  The employers also received a briefing from Washington ESGR South Sound Co-Chair Ohad Lowy who briefed the employers and attending service members on ESGR’s mission and Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Act, the federal law that protects service members from discrimination and allows them to rejoin their civilian jobs following a period of military service.

The employers then loaded on two CH-47s Chinooks.  However, due to the rainy weather, the employers got to only experience the precise hovering capabilities of the helicopters, before unloading from the crafts.  However, after the weather cleared up, the employers reloaded on the helicopters to experience a flight around the Puget Sound.  The flight not only provided some great views and photo opportunities, but showcase the skill of all those involved in flying and maintaining the CH-47s.

For Scott Ness, project manager at Rivers Edge Environmental Services, the Bosslift provided him a unique opportunity to learn what his employee, who is also his nephew, does when called to serve in the Army Reserves. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Brandon, an asbestos abatement supervisor and a pilot with the 2-135th Aviation BN (GSAB), is an example of someone who needs to balance his civilian employment with his commitment to military service.

“It is amazing,” said Ness about his experience at the Bosslift.  “Employers know what their employees do every day at work but this was a real eye opener.  Many employers don’t know what their employees do when they serve.”

“I was surprised to learn how much the active duty leans on the Reserve Component,” add Clayton Mullendore, vice president at Rivers Edge Environmental Services who also attended the Bosslift.  “Brandon works 2 jobs – his civilian and miliary.  His military service does not only take him away from his work, but from his family as well.”

The benefits of learning at the Bosslift what their employees do when called to serve were not limited to the employers.  “To be a service member and to have an employer who understands and supports my military service is a huge relief,” said Brandon.  “Not all employers are supportive of their employees who serve.”

ESGR is a Department of Defense office that develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members in the National Guard and Reserve through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. ESGR also provides assistance in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers. For more information about ESGR outreach programs or volunteer opportunities, call (800) 336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil/WA.