Photo By Tech. Sgt. Alison Bruce-Maldonado | Bosses of Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) employees, board a bus on the flight-line...... read more read more
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Over 40 employers and distinguished visitors from the islands of Maui, Hawaii and Oahu participated in the Hawaii Air National Guard's (HIANG) Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR) event on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii (JBPH-H), Nov. 8, 2018.
The ESGR provides employers and supervisors with a Boss Lift event so they may have the opportunity to better understand what their employees do when they are away from their civilian occupation for military duty.
The employers and supervisors or "bosses", were nominated by their employees so they could see firsthand some of the things National Guard Airmen do.
“It’s important that we have supervisors and companies that support our people in uniform," said Donna Shimizu, ESGR volunteer and retired Air Force Master Sgt. “I think it’s because they can get a better idea of how important it is to hone their skills in order for them to be ready, whether it be at the state or national level, so they are ready to go, and to be fully trained."
Employers from the island of Maui were brought to the base on a C-17 Globemaster III, flown by the HIANG’s 204th Airlift Squadron.
The bosses were then transported to the HIANG’s 154th Wing dining facility, where they were treated to lunch and listened to a brief by retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, ESGR state chair and Brig. Gen. Gregory Woodrow, 154th Wing commander. During the briefing, the employers learned about various careers in the Air National Guard.
“This ESGR program is very good," said Douglas Asano, Battalion Chief with the base Federal Fire Department, Emergency Management Section. “It’s good for the employers to understand the set-up and the mission of their employees."
After lunch, the bosses took transportation to the flight-line and were treated to a static display of an F-22 Raptor and a briefing by HIANG pilots from the 199th Fighter Squadron and the active duty 19th Fighter Squadron. Both units fly the Raptors.
“I think I was more honored and appreciative for today," said Chandler Ford, an employer from Kaiser Permanente on Maui. “I come from a family that has a lot of folks that have served in the military and I’ve heard the term ‘weekend warrior’ and I know for a fact that is not what is going on because we get staff that gets deployed sometimes for a year and a half and they are right there, so I was pretty humbled for the whole experience."
After the F-22 static tour, the Maui bosses returned to base operations and chatted as they prepared for their return flight.
“Not Everyone is lucky enough to have a supervisor or employer that supports them," said Shimizu. “It’s always nice to say thank you because everybody likes it, and a thank you goes a long way."
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.11.2018 05:30 |
| Story ID: | 299531 |
| Location: | HONOLULU, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 82 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, ESGR Boss Lift showcases HIANG to employers, by TSgt Alison Bruce-Maldonado, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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