JOINT BASE SAN ANOTNIO-LACKLAND,Texas –
The 433rd Airlift Wing hosted close to 20 employers on Employer Orientation Day, March 8. The goal of employer's day is to help employers better understand the Air Force mission, to see their employees perform their military duties and to strengthen the employer and reservist relationship.
Employers began arriving at here at 7 a.m. The early start was to let the employers experience the reality of showing up for the weekend drill after a five-day workweek.
Employer Orientation Day, which is co-hosted with the Texas Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, is designed to give employers a first-hand look at what their employees do on Unit Training Assemblies or drill weekends, annual tours and deployments.
After a continental breakfast at the 433rd Headquarters Building, Col. Aaron Vangelisti, 433rd AW commander, welcomed the employers and gave them a mission briefing that covered the 433rd's AW worldwide mission capabilities, the financial impact on the local community and resources the "Alamo Wing" utilizes in today's Air Force.
The employers toured the C-5A Galaxy aircraft, escorted by pilots, flight engineers and loadmasters from the 68th Airlift Squadron. The group then saw cargo loading and unloading performed by the 74th Aerial Port Squadron. Aerial port squadrons provide responsive global cargo and passenger movement operations.
Other units that participated in the Employer Orientation Day, was the 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, the 433rd Airlift Control Flight and the 433rd Civil Engineering Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team.
"It was both informative and educational," said Dave Saylor, owner of Acadiana Café, a Cajun Restaurant in San Antonio. "I learned things about what the Reserves do; what the Air Force does-I had no idea."
"What impressed me the most was the quality of your personnel," Saylor said, "Especially the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and the C-5A."
Employer Orientation Day concluded with lunch. Representatives from the ESGR brief the purpose of their program and explained the Uniformed Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
"You folks that are getting ready to join the Reserves, if you don't know about this, you will hear about it as you go through your career. There are laws to protect you in your military career and your civilian bosses," said Caryl Hill, the representative from ESGR.
They then offered the employers an opportunity to sign ESGR Statements of Support, which many signed after lunch.
"Thank you," Col. Vangelisti said to the ESGR representatives. "You are making sure our Airmen are taken care of and that our employers out there are all working together as a partnership."
The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a Department of Defense agency that helps to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers.