An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Article Display

Employers get taste of national guard life

  • Published
  • By Sgt. Bill Addison
  • 444th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Approximately 60 civilian employers boarded military aircraft at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Aug. 16 and headed north to witness New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers in action during their Annual Training at Fort Drum, N.Y.

The Boss Lift, which is sponsored by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, launched from JB MDL aboard N.J. Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotankers and landed at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield. From there, they boarded 10th Mountain Division CH-47 Chinooks to reach some 2,000 Soldiers of the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team who were training in the field.

The Boss Lift program is designed to educate employers to the tasks and training their military employees receive during their time away from the office. That education is integral to foster and maintain employer support for the National Guard and Reserves, according to retired Marine Corps Col. Alan Smith, N.J. ESGR chapter chairman.

"Forty-eight percent of our entire DOD warfighting capability is in the guard and reserve components," Smith said. "If we are going to have a lot of that fighting capability in the Guard and Reserve, we have to have the support of employers and here in New Jersey, we do."

Smith has coined those employers who support their military employees "employer patriots" for that reason.

"They are the patriots who you don't see in uniform, but they're clearly as important," he said. "Without them, those folks in the Guard and Reserve would not be able to take care of their families and do what they need to do in service to their country."
The first stop in the tour was a demolitions demonstration with engineers of A Company, 50th Brigade Special Troop Battalion. Employers donned protective gear, to include helmets and ballistic vests, and observed a variety of breaching techniques used by the engineers.

The event provided Capt. Kristian Del Rosario, A Company commander, a chance to show what he does when he's away from the office to his boss, Patrick Collins of Secaucus, N.J.

"We're (information technology) guys," said Del Rosario. "We work out of cubicles, so one weekend a month I get to come out of the office and blow stuff up. For me, it's great to have my boss come out and see that other side of what I do."

Del Rosario said the highlight of the event for him was the chance to showcase the company's newest equipment, to include the Grenade Rifle Explosive Munition, better known as the GREM.

"It's kind of like a big lawn dart, but it packs a punch," he said.

Collins said he was impressed with what he had seen so far, and he was further impressed to see the level of responsibility his employee has in the military.

"Personally, it's just fascinating to be here, but also to watch Kristian in action is really great," Collins said. "He leads a big team here. He has some huge responsibilities; it's great to see him operate."

John Szczomack, a certified public accountant in Fairfield, N.J., said he was excited to come out and see his employee, Capt. Brett Robinson of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment, in action.

"We support the military and we like to see it firsthand," said Szczomack. "Seeing it up close and personal really gives it a whole other dimension to what we hear Brett talk about when he's in the office."
"It's pretty awesome to have him come out and see what I do when I'm not at work," Robinson said.

The ESGR was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reservists and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitments.