Employers visit Kentucky Guard troops headed for Iraq

sdm Story by Capt. Andi Hahn, 149th MEB Public Affairs Photos by Staff Sgt. Michael Oliver, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs [caption id="attachment_8229" align="aligncenter" width="574" caption="Soldiers from the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade demonstrate the equipment they use to civilian employers and news media in preparation for their deployment to Iraq as part of the ESGR "bosslift" to Camp Atterbury, Ind. June 29, 2011."]

Click here to see more pictures of this event. CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. (June 29, 2011) -- Civilian employers and news media from all over Kentucky got a taste of military life while visiting Soldiers from the 149^th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade during the Kentucky Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve 2011 “bosslift” to Camp Atterbury, Ind., June 29. The 149^th MEB is currently mobilized deploying to Iraq and the bosslift was an opportunity to bring employers of these Soldiers to a military training environment and allow them to see first-hand what their employees do for the military. Spc. John Lundy from 1^st Battalion, 149^th Infantry, left his regular job with the Army Corps of Engineers in Harlan County, Ky., to deploy on active duty with the Kentucky National Guard. His boss, resource manager Dave Robinson, had a newfound respect for the commitment and sacrifice his employee has made. [caption id="attachment_8242" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="Soldiers from the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade demonstrate the functions of an M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon in preparation for their deployment to Iraq to civilian employers during the ESGR "bosslift" at Camp Atterbury, Ind June 29, 2011."]

“Knowing that they’re going overseas, that’s a really big honor just to come up and get to be able to see John and see what he’s doing, see what they’re getting ready to go do over in Iraq,” said Robinson. Lundy said it was good to see Robinson after being gone over a month already. “It was no different than being at home,” he said. “I gave him a big hug and everything.” ESGR State Chairman Retired Maj. Gen. Bob Silverthorn worked with the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard leadership in order to make this event happen. He credits their support to ESGR to provide this unique opportunity to the Kentucky employers. "It's vital to the national defense that our Guard and Reserve Service members are supported at home by their civilian employers, said Silverthorn. "The purpose of the bosslift is to provide employers with a real world experience in the training, skills and leadership that their employees obtain through service in the Guard and Reserve." The civilian employers started their military day aboard a Kentucky Air National Guard C-130. They flew from Louisville, Ky., to Camp Atterbury where they were greeted by members of the 149^th MEB. The employers were bussed out to a training site to observe the 617^th Military Police Company conducting base defense operations security at an entry control point and a live fire exercise. Col. Scott Campbell, 149^th MEB Commander, addressed the employers at the training site and thanked them for their support to the Guard. “I’ve been a traditional Guardsman for more than 30 years,” he said. “I know the challenges of having a military career and a civilian career. Without your continued support, I could not be a success.” The civilian employers also enjoyed a traditional military lunch menu of a Meals, Ready to Eat and witnessed the infantry Soldiers perform close quarters marksmanship with M-4 rifles. Lt. Norman Norris of Louisville’s Department of Corrections got to visit co-worker Sgt. [caption id="attachment_8243" align="alignright" width="199" caption="Employers of Soldiers from the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade enjoy a Military Meal-Ready-to-Eat while visiting their citizen-soldier employees during the ESGR "boss lift" to Camp Atterbury, Ind June 29, 2011."]

Employers visit Kentucky Guard troops headed for Iraq

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