Civilian employers visit citizen-soldiers training for deployment

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class April Davis | Capt. Chris Harvey, of Boise, Idaho, with Headquarters Troop, 2-116 Armored Reconaissance Squadron, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, teaches Mayor Brian Blad, of Pocatello, Idaho about the M4 Rifle during the Boss Lift event at Gowen Field Training Center, Aug. 26. Employers from across Idaho and Oregon attended the Boss Lift to learn what Army National Guard Soldiers go through during pre-deployment training and mobilization in order to increase their understanding and support for Citizen-Soldier employees. The 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team will mobilize in September for a year-long deployment to Iraq.  

GOWEN FIELD TRAINING AREA, IDAHO, UNITED STATES

08.30.2010

Courtesy Story

115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Pfc. Philip Steiner

GOWEN FIELD TRAINING AREA, Idaho – A business is comprised of many parts, the simplest of which is the employer and the employee. For some, it’s not always that simple. As a National Guard member, many servicemembers work a civilian job during the week and one weekend a month with their military units, but when these soldiers are called to deploy overseas they will be gone from their civilian jobs for a year or more.

Knowing how difficult separation for civilian employment can be for both the employer and employee, the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve started a program called the Boss Lift to improve relationships and understanding between servicememebers and their employers. This program brings civilian bosses out to the site of deployment training and shows them what their employees are doing for the military.

One such Boss Lift event happened here Thursday and Friday, Aug. 26-27. Employers where flown in from all over Idaho and Oregon to take part in the event. A tour of the facilities, displays of humvee’s and other vehicles, weapons, and battlefield gear were a part of the unique visit for the managers.

“It’s pretty special and cool to see the action and the facilities and see it first hand what our soldiers have to go through,” said Ty Joseph Porter, from Columbia Mortgage in Boise, Idaho. “It makes you realize how much they really have to give up and how hard it would really be.”

Not only is it a good chance for the bosses to see the lives of soldiers getting ready to deploy, but it also inspires confidence and reassurance in the military.

“Well, you think you know because you’ve heard all this stuff but until you see it you don’t know; it makes you admire it more than I did in the beginning. This experience makes me want to help support the troops when they leave and when they come back,” said Bobby Pile, a supervisor at Twin Falls Area of Commerce in Twin Falls, Idaho.

With all the turmoil of deployment, the home community of these soldiers can quickly feel the strain. The event also gave members of the National Guard the opportunity to say thank you to the community and businesses for everything they do to support the troops and their families.

“We want to thank them and let them know how grateful we are for their support of the soldiers and their families,” said Sgt. Michael Jepson, of Boise, Idaho, a battle Tactical Operations Center non-commissioned officer with Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team. Jepson helped guide the boss tours and gave background information about the weapons and gear on display.

This event serves a purpose to help soften the blow of a deployment on businesses and their managers by helping them to understand what their employees will be doing while deployed, as well as the transition from military to civilian life when they return home.

• Date Taken: 08.30.2010
• Date Posted: 08.30.2010 16:18
• Story ID: 55428
• Location: GOWEN FIELD TRAINING AREA, IDAHO, US