U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Justin Shattuck, 446th Civil Engineering Squadron emergency manager out of McChord Field, Wash., helps Carmen Cook, a director with the Washington State Employment Security Department here, don a chemical warfare protective suit during the 446th Airlift Wing's Employer Orientation Day here April 2, 2011. Employers spent the day learning about the Air Force Reserve mission with a mock mobility line and orientation flight aboard a C-17 Globemaster III. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Moody/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Ted Inouye, 446th Aerospace Medicine Squadron flight surgeon out of McChord Field, Wash., shows his civilian employer Debra Adams, a manager with Franciscan Medical Group, how to use a personnel restraint harness during an orientation flight aboard a C-17 Globemaster III here, April 2, 2011. Colonel Inouye is also a general surgeon with the Franciscan Health System in his civilian practice. The 446th Airlift Wing hosted employers from throughout the Northwest during Employer Orientation Day, which gives employers the opportunity to learn how Reservists train and fight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Moody/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Capt. Nate Foster, 446th Security Forces Squadron operations officer out of McChord Field, Wash., discusses combat offloads with Sheriff Gene Dana, Kittitas County, Wash., during an employer orientation flight aboard a C-17 Globemaster III. Captain Foster is also a deputy with Kittitas County, Wash. in his civilian job. During the April 2, 2011 event here. Employers from the Northwest got a glimpse of the 446th Airlift Wing mission and learned how teams of specialists train and fight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Moody/Released)

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Employers lined up for a chance to climb into the flight deck aboard a C-17 Globemaster III during Employer Orientation Day at McChord Field, Wash. here, April 2, 2011. The 446th Airlift Wing hosted civilian employers from throughout the Northwest during the bi-annual event, held every April and October, which gives employers the opportunity to learn how Reservists train and fight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Moody/Released)

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"It was amazing," said Carmen Cook, a director with the Washington State Employment Security Department during the 446th Airlift Wing's Employer Orientation Day at McChord Field here, April 2, 2011. Ms. Cook was one of the lucky civilian employers who had the opportunity to take a seat on the flight deck aboard a C-17 Globemaster III for an orientation flight. Employers from throughout the Northwest participated in the bi-annual event which gives them a glimpse into the Reservist's mission to train and fight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Moody/Released)

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446th AW builds employer confidence with orientation day

Published April 3, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Moody
446th Airlift wing Public Affairs

MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. -- Some Reservists' civilian employers may not have a complete understanding of why their employee would decide to put on an Air Force uniform to work over the weekend- just so they can come back to their job on Monday.

During 446th Airlift Wing Employer Orientation Day, April 2 on the Reserve weekend, employers got first-hand experience and an awakening to why a Reservist would make that decision.

"I invited JoAnn Holloway (a business manager with United Parcel Service) because I knew it would help her appreciate the military and my involvement with the Reserve," said Staff Sgt. Allen Jackson, 446th AW Chaplain's assistant and employee of Ms. Holloway.

The bi-annual event, held every April and October, allows employers the opportunity to get a glimpse of the 446th AW mission and learn how teams of specialists train and fight.

"Amazing," said Carmen Cook, a director with the Washington State Employment Security Department. "I have a whole new insight and appreciation for what my coworker does," said the supervisor of Lt. Col. Luke Upton, 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander and a full-time administrator with WSESD.

The employers started the day with a Reserve mission briefing then processed for a "deployment", experiencing what Reservists go through when they get mobilized. Briefers included: chapel support, legal, finance, personnel, family readiness, intel, medical, and emergency management. At the aeromedical evacuation station, Lt. Col. Ken Winslow, 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse, explains how employer support plays a vital role in their mission.

"You're contributing to getting the injured home," said Colonel Winslow, who's a nurse practitioner at Snoqualmie Valley Hospital in Snoqualmie, Wash. "Everybody contributes to the AES mission for getting our injured home to the best medical care in the world."

Topping off their day, employers participated in an orientation flight aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, where they had the chance to sit on the flight deck, view the world above the clouds and talk with flight crews about their mission.

Appreciation and confidence in the Air Force Reserve was evident in the positive feedback from the employers, who now get a clearer understanding of how their support is critical to the success of the Reserve mission.

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