Florida Reservists welcome civilian employers during ESGR bosslift

  • Published
  • By by Senior Airman Xavier Lockley
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, FL --  Civilian employers of Air Force Reservists, and members of the state Employers Support of the Guard and Reserve committee, took flight aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker for a firsthand look at an air to air refueling mission during the 927th Air Refueling Wing Bosslift, Jan. 10, 2015.

The bosslift began with a breakfast and reception at the passenger terminal followed by a greeting by 927th Air Refueling Wing commander Col. Randal Bright.

"First of all, I would like to thank the employers for taking some time out of their busy schedules and come to see what their employees do on UTA weekends," said Bright. "Civilian employers are a valuable support system for a reservist and for these people to come here to the 927th means a lot."

After greeting the commander, the employees were taken to the KC-135 to prepare for take-off. During the flight they were given the chance to see an air to air refueling mission from the boom pod where members of the 63rd Air Refueling Squadron refueled a C-17 Globemaster III.

"Today was the most rewarding experience ever," said Ian MacGeorge, a representative with the Employer Support the Guard and Reserve. "I not only learned a lot, but I gained a new insight and respect for what goes on here at the 927th ARW, this is certainly the coolest thing I have ever witnessed."

The group then returned to MacDill with a better understanding of the 927th Mission as they were welcomed back by their employees to see other aspects of the mission.

"This was a great opportunity to see what our Reservists are during UTA weekends," said James Dicks, State Chairman of the ESGR. "The employers are given the chance to take back what they saw here, and share their experience with others and not only that but maybe this gives that employee more responsibility after seeing what they saw during the flight."

The 927th ARW has approximately 900 Reservists assigned to the wing and of those, more than 700 have civilian occupations in addition to their reserve commitment. The goal of the ESGR bosslift is to provide employers and civic leaders the  opportunity to observe firsthand the capabilities and mission of the 927th Air Refueling Wing.