403rd Wing Hosts Annual Employer Day

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tabitha Dupas
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. --  Reservists know that one weekend a month and two weeks a year, they may have to ask their civilian employers for a few extra favors.

The 403rd Wing hosted an event to show employers that their sacrifices and support play a huge role in accomplishing the military's mission.

"Employer Day is important because we are able to show appreciation for the support our employers have for the military," said Maj. John McKee, 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron nurse. "Sometimes we have to miss work for drill, and this event gives them the understanding of what we do and why we do it."

From department store managers to doctors, police officers to plant workers, employers of Citizen Airmen participated in Employer Day activities.

The group began with a tour of the 403rd Wing, starting at the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, where they were given a wing mission briefing. With the new knowledge that not all Air Force members fly, they moved on to see the wing's support components. The tour included the maintenance facility, fire department, headquarters building and the 815th Airlift Squadron.

By touring the different shops and listening to their individual missions, Major McKee's employer Jim Bridges, nurse manager at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., said he had a better understanding of what Major McKee does when he is away from work.

After the tour, the employers enjoyed a catered lunch at the Bay Breeze Event Center, provided by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

During lunch, an honorary commanders' induction ceremony took place. This program allows community members to shadow a 403rd Wing commander. Through this program, the military and the surrounding communities learn from one another and apply it to their everyday work.

"Building the relationship with the military helps us to understand the direction in which they are taking," said Dr. Alfred Trappey, Emergency Management Specialist at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, honorary commander and employer to Citizen Airmen. "All we see is what is being said by the media. Through events like this, we hear about the pre-stages of deployment, what is being phased-in and the work being done by our employees."

At the end of the day, employers and honorary commanders were able to fly with the 815th Airlift Squadron in a training route along the Gulf Coast.

The event was an opportunity for the 403rd Wing to thank employers for the showing their continuous support of the Air Force Reserve.

"Building the relationships between our citizen warriors and the community is important because each individual is part of the community, and when they (deploy), their families are still with us," said Mr. Bridges.

"The military provides defense, and by honoring those who support us, we gain a better understanding of each other," said Major McKee.

"I think today helps us as employers realize the duties of our employees," said Dr. Trappey. "With their discipline, physical fitness, organization, family and work, we see the hard balancing act and it takes certain individuals to do this."