Bring Your Boss to Work Day

Photo By Sgt. Jasmine Higgins | Employers participating in Employer Orientation Day witness an airdrop demonstration during a flight on-board a C-17 May 2. The flight was two hours long and also included a military combat offload. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Jasmine Higgins, 28th Public Affairs Detachment)  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

05.02.2015

Story by Sgt. Jasmine Higgins 

28th Public Affairs Detachment

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Having two jobs can often be difficult, especially if one job takes time away from the other, one weekend a month and two consecutive weeks throughout the year to be exact. Welcome to the United States Air Force Reserve!

Employer support can come a long way for these Airmen serving in the Reserves, but along with support must come understanding, and while some reservists may take the time to explain their military duties, others take it a step further and show them.

On May 2, the 446th Airlift Wing invited a group of reservists and their employers to attend Employer Orientation Day held on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

The purpose of Employer Orientation Day is to strengthen the reservist-employer relationship by providing employers a better understanding of their Airman’s military missions and obligations.

“Employer Orientation Day is an opportunity for our reservists to invite their employers out and see what we do as reservists because a lot of employers may not know what life is like on the other side, so to speak,” said Master Sgt. Minnette Mason, 446th Airlift Wing public affairs superintendent. “It’s an opportunity for them to see first hand what we do and also learn about our wing, the 446th Airlift Wing.”

Throughout the day the employers were introduced to different types of equipment used by reservists to protect themselves from chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear attacks, explosive ordinance disposal techniques and equipment and security forces.

“We definitely want to make sure that they learn as much as they can in the little bit of time that they have here, because they are only here just a few hours,” said Mason. “So we try to pack in everything we can.”

Employers were eventually brought onto the airfield where they received a demonstration of the wing’s C-17 aeromedical evacuation and air transportation load, followed by a two-hour training flight in a C-17 that included an airdrop demonstration and a combat offload.

“What I appreciated was when we were on the aircraft and we saw the reservists sit side-to-side with their employers … and they’re bonding at that moment … the reservist is so proud of what he does in the military, and the employer seeing why they’re so proud. I think if anything, that’s kind of the take home for the day,” said Mason. “We wanted the employer to learn about us a little bit deeper, that this is where we go one weekend a month, two weeks out of the year, or whatever the case may be, and the reservists to have that time to kind of shine. ‘This is what I do and I’m proud to be a reservist!’”

While on-board the flight, the employers were served lunch and given the opportunity to look around the aircraft and to see things such as the cock-pit and interact with the crew operating the C-17.

“The opportunity to talk first hand with people in the Reserve unit and see the passion they have for their job — It gives you an appreciation for it,” said Rashell Rosenkranz, a team manager for organizational evaluations in the quality control group at the Western Service Center and employer of an Airmen reservist. “Also how well everyone knew their job – when you asked them questions about stuff, how much info they could give you [was amazing].”

Employer Orientation Day concluded with employers being released to their reservists in order to shadow their workplaces for an even better understanding of their day-to-day lives in the military.

“I’m in awe of their dedication and the sacrifice that they make, and some of the conditions of the things that they go out and do,” said Rosenkranz. “I’m completely supportive and it was awesome to see firsthand today.”

• Date Taken: 05.02.2015
• Date Posted: 05.11.2015 15:39
• Story ID: 162928
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US