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Thu, Oct 15, 2009
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Delaware’s civilian employers experience military life
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The Delaware Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, an agency of the Department of Defense, announced nearly 25 employers of 512th Airlift Wing reservists participated in Employer Appreciation Day Oct. 3, at the Air Mobility Command Museum in Dover.
The event, co-sponsored by the 512th Airlift Wing and the Delaware Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), is designed to give employers a taste of what it’s like to be a citizen airman.
Welcoming the employers to the event and thanking them for their support were 512th Airlift Wing Cmdr. Col. Michael T. Fitzhenry, 436th Air Wing Cmdr. Col. Manson O. Morris and Gene Hebert of the ESGR Delaware Committee.
“Our nation calls upon our reservists to spend more time away from the workplace to train and meet a demanding operations tempo in support of worldwide commitments,” said Fitzhenry. “We cannot accomplish the mission without the support of employers such as you.”
Fitzhenry then enlisted eight new recruits as part of a mass enlistment ceremony. The newest Air Force Reserve members are from all over Delaware. The employers then participated in a mock enlistment ceremony in which they became airmen for a day.
The newly appointed airmen were given a presentation of how new trainees become qualified service members. The presentations included a physical fitness assessment, a description of Air Force career fields and the proper way to wear chemical-warfare protective gear. After the demonstrations, employers were taken on a tour of the military working-dog facility and of aerial port, where they learned how cargo is processed and shipped worldwide.
After lunch, Hebert briefed employers about the ESGR, whose goal is to gain and maintain employer support. This organization also promotes understanding between reservists and employers by educating them on the laws, which assists with the resolution of conflicts from an employee’s military commitment. In fact, 15 employers signed statements of support at the event. This program asks employers to recognize the vital role of the Reserve components by pledging to support their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.
The day concluded with a C-17 Globemaster III orientation flight to Niagara Falls. The plane ride was the highlight of the day, said Dr. Marc Zubrow of Christiana Care Health System, who added he didn’t know much about the Air Force Reserve until attending Employer Appreciation Day.
This is exactly why Master Sgt. John Witzke nominated his employer - Zubrow. “I wanted to give my employer an idea about what the Reserve mission is and how my absences from work benefits the military mission, which benefits everyone in the grand scheme of things,” said Witzke, whose mission was accomplished by day’s end.
“Working in a large organization, I now know that reservists provide a vital function both to the base and with us,” said Zubrow.
As the 1.3 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions that require extraordinary actions on the part of everyday citizens, ESGR will continue to be the informational agency for the employers of citizen warriors.
More information is available at esgr.mil, or by calling Christine Kubik at 326-7582.
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