Boss Lift gives employers 30,000 foot view of National Guard mission

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot
  • 185th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
Sioux City, Iowa --  Over 40 civilian employers and distinguished visitors from around the states of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota boarded flights departing the Sioux City, Iowa airport for an important military mission on Thursday.

The passengers were actually guests participating in an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, "Boss Lift" flight.

During the flight, guests who were nominated by their National Guard employee, flew on three different KC-135 mid-air refueling aircraft. After making their way to the refueling area above South Dakota, passengers like Eric Hoak of Sioux City, Iowa, got to witness an air to air refueling while lying next to the boom operator in the back of the aircraft.

"I'm very excited about getting to do this," said Hoak "I've had friends that have done this and my neighbor is a 185th pilot!"

After meeting up with F-16 fighter aircraft from the South Dakota Air National Guard, the flight returned to the Sioux City airport a few hours later.

According to ESGR representative Val Corbin of Sioux City, Iowa, events like Thursday's Boss Lift are designed to give employers a firsthand look at the National Guard mission.

"The goal of the ESGR program is to make sure employers, of all the different services, understand the importance of what their military employees do when they are not at their civilian jobs," said Corbin.

Corbin says it is important for employers and National Guard members to know their rights and responsibilities. She said events like Thursday's boss lift help both employer and employee foster a better relationship through understanding.

One of the aircrew members who flew on Thursday, Vice Wing Commander Col. Scott Plambeck has been flying the KC-135 for 15 years. Plambeck said the refueling mission is typical of the kind of thing 185th team members do every day.  He said it is great to have employers along on the trip, because they get to see what the National Guard does.

"This is a great opportunity through the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, to have the employers out here. Two thirds of our unit membership are traditional guard members so our employers are a vital part of our team," said Plambeck.

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