Employer's flights set for October

  • Published
  • By Technical Sgt. Joe Davidson
  • 452 AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  Reservists from all branches of the service at March are encouraged to invite their employers to fly the friendly skies in October on a C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane or a KC-135 Stratotanker, the work horse of the Air Force's air refueling mission.

The 452nd Air Mobility Wing will host two employer's flights this year.

"The orientation is arranged each year to provide employers a better understanding of what their employees do when they come on military duty here," said Maj. Don Traud, public affairs officer for the 452nd Air Mobility Wing. "We educate the employers and help them learn how they can support the military careers of their reservists. We want to cement the bond between the reservist and their employer."

Employer's orientation flights are sponsored by the Air Force Reserve, the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve program and arranged through the 452 AMW Public Affairs Office.

"It's our way of showing the employers what our office looks like," said Lt. Col. Ken Goode, 729th Airlift Squadron, C-17 Operations. "The employers' support of all of our reservists is important, from the flying squadrons to the guy who's turning the wrench on the airplane. From the flying side of the house, it's a good feeling to be able to fly the employers around."

The day of the employer's flight will begin early with a mission briefing by the wing commander. Since the flight is usually associated with a refueling mission, a member of the 336th Air Refueling Squadron or 729th Airlift Squadron will discuss the process and show the route of the day's flight.  A California ESGR briefer will also discuss the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

"We always look forward to doing employer's flights because it's a great opportunity to show our reservists' employers what we do, the time we spend training and the missions that we do," said Lt. Col. Kurt Driskill, 336th Air Refueling Squadron commander. "So it's a great opportunity to showcase both squadrons, the 729th and the 336th, in what the reservists do on their missions both locally and while deployed and while flying operational missions around the world."

This year's orientations are open to all members of the military at March regardless of military specialty or branch of service. Members wishing to nominate their employer should submit their nomination form as soon as possible.