THREE FORKS, Mont. – Montana employers, flying in a Montana Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk and a CH-47 Chinook experienced a bird’s eye view of Missouri Headwaters State Park. The Park, in southwestern Montana, preserves the historic location where Lewis and Clark discovered the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin Rivers creating the headwaters of the 2,300 Missouri River.

The flights were part of a Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (Montana ESGR) outreach program designed to educate and thank employers for being supportive of their Service members.

The boss lifts offer employers an opportunity to see their citizen soldier on the job when they are away from their civilian occupations. Montana Guard or Reserve members invited their employers to attend the bucket list event.
The boss lift experience is billed as the “ride of a lifetime” and takes place throughout the United States. Boss lift events range from mock convoy operations to video-simulated firefights, to flying to a briefing and Abrams Tank firing range viewings.

Attendees learned more about the mission of the Montana Army National Guard 1-189th General Support Aviation Battalion (1-189th GSAB) who crewed the flights. The 1-189th GSAB service members delivered a safety briefing and offered insights into life as a member of the Montana Army National Guard.

Montana ESGR volunteers provided more information to employers about their 50-year program advocating relevant initiatives; recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of applicable laws; and resolving conflict between service members and employers. For more information, visit ESGR.mil.

Employers received a personalized Statement of Support certificate to sign, and then display at their place of work designation their support of Montana’s Guard and Reserve.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of a Department of Defense Patriot Award to Pam Nichols Clinic Manager for the Montana VA Health Care System Bozeman and Anaconda Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Nichols received the award in recognition of her extraordinary support of her employee, Master Sergeant Jessie Trimbach, serving in the Montana Air National Guard 120th Airlift Wing Medical Group.

“It was an amazing day indeed and one I will never forget and I know I also speak for my own “boss”, Susan Geubtner when I say that,“ commented Nichols. “We were both incredibly honored to have been able to have this experience and it truly was an “experience” from start to finish.

" I can’t thank “my” Guardsman, Master Sgt. Jessie Trimbach, enough for making it all possible. I also have to add that I was literally speechless when I realized that in addition to what was already a day I knew I would never forget; I was informed that Jessie had also nominated me for the “Patriot Award”. Suffice it to say, I was beyond humbled and there were most certainly tears. Yesterday truly was a memory of a lifetime. Thank you again to Jessie and to the entire ESGR program and those driving it, for making these events possible.”

Photo: Employers learned more about the mission of the Montana Army National Guard 1-189th General Support Aviation Battalion (1-189th GSAB) during an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) helicopter, or boss lift, outreach event in Three Forks, Montana. The 1-189th GSAB provided a safety briefing and offered insights into life as a member of the Montana Army National Guard.

Photo: Bird’s eye view of the Three Forks Montana landscape from a Montana Army National Guard helicopter during a recent boss lift for local employers with Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).