Wing’s annual appreciation day educates reservist employers

Civilian employers take their seats aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft and await takeoff Aug. 3, 2018, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Employers of Air Force reservists were invited to attend Employer Appreciation Day to get a snapshot of the reserve mission at the 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Justin R. Norton)

Wing’s annual appreciation day educates reservist employers

Civilian employers participate in a defense response demonstration led by the 302nd Security Forces Squadron Aug. 3, 2018, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado during the reserve wing’s employer day The event provides employers of reservists a snapshot of the 302nd Airlift Wing mission sets and background on the Air Force Reserve. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Justin R. Norton)

Wing’s annual appreciation day educates reservist employers

Civilian employers watch a military working dog demonstration led by the 21st Security Forces Squadron Aug. 3, 2018, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Civilian employers of 302nd Airlift Wing reservists were invited to attend Employer Appreciation Day to get a snapshot of the wing’s mission and background on the Air Force Reserve program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Justin R. Norton)

Wing’s annual appreciation day educates reservist employers

Col. James DeVere, 302nd Airlift Wing commander, thanks participants of the wing’s annual Employer Appreciation Day for their attendance and continued support of their Air Force Reserve employees Aug. 3, 2018, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The event provides employers of reservists a snapshot of the 302nd AW mission sets and background on the Air Force Reserve. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Justin R. Norton)

Wing’s annual appreciation day educates reservist employers

Published Aug. 8, 2018
By Staff Sgt. Justin R. Norton
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --

Many Reserve Citizen Airmen must balance military duty, family life and civilian employment. Every year the 302nd Airlift Wing hosts an Employer Appreciation Day to thank civilian employers and share with them some of the mission sets their employees support.

More than 30 participants attended the annual Employer Appreciation Day event at the 302nd AW, Aug. 3, to gain insight into what reservists are doing when they’re away from their civilian workplaces performing military duty.

“It’s really important to keep us linked so that you understand the pressures we’re under and that we understand the business pressures you’re under,” said Maj. Gen. Craig L. LaFave, 22nd Air Force commander.

LaFave was visiting the 302nd AW, which falls under his command, and joined the participants for lunch to express his support for the reservists and their employers.

Colorado Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve volunteers also participated in the day’s activities answering questions from civilian bosses about how their reservists contribute to national defense.

The attendees saw aircrew training firsthand aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft during a training mission at the start of the day. After the flight they sat down with Col. Gregory Berry, 302nd Operations Group commander, who gave an overview of the 302nd AW’s mission and aerial firefighting capabilities.

Following the mission brief, the group participated in a hands-on defense demonstration conducted by the 302nd Security Forces Squadron and watched a military working dog presentation from the 21st Security Forces Squadron. The event wrapped up with a trip to the 302nd Maintenance Squadron propulsion shop where maintenance technicians had a C-130 engine on display.

Anne Rimmer, with Lockheed Martin in Boulder, Colorado, whose employee is a first sergeant with the wing, said she thought the reservists’ triad and the emphasis placed on the need to juggle the personal and professional aspect of being a reservist was what stuck out the most.

“It’s important that we all make sacrifices,” Rimmer said.