Employers learn importance of Reservists, mission, aircraft Published June 15, 2012 By Senior Airman Elizabeth Gaston 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- The 94th Airlift Wing hosted civilian employers of Reservists from Westover Air Reserve Base June 14-15 during an Employer Support for Guard and Reserve Boss Lift to Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Westover ARB, the nation's largest Air Force Reserve Command installation, is located approximately 90 miles west of Boston and serves as the home of the 439th Airlift Wing. Members of the wing support Air Mobility Command's worldwide airlift mission while operating 16 C-5B aircraft. The wing commander acts as host to contingents of Air Force Reserve and Guard units as well as sister service units. Thirty-two attendees, who included employers, members of Massachusetts ESGR and military personnel, were ferried to Dobbins ARB in a C-5 by 439th Airlift Wing leadership for a two day stay. Throughout the trip, Col. Steven Vautrain, 439th AW commander, emphasized to the employers the high tempo within the Reserve. Aircrews are expected to fly numerous missions, requiring some Reservists to be away from their civilian bosses more often, said Vautrain. The 439th was mobilized in 2010. We have been doing a lot, and we will be expected to maintain that. In this endeavor, the wing was supported by the Massachusetts ESGR, who acts as an educator to the employer and an advocate for the servicemember. ESGR advocated this boss lift to show civilian employers, first-hand, not only how Westover ARB operates, but also how the 439th Airlift Wing's mission fits in with the whole AFRC picture. "It's important for employers to realize that Westover ARB is not the end all be all of the Guard and Reserve," said Earl Bonett, Massachusetts ESGR vice chair. "We want employers to see all the other things that go on." During the first day, the group visited Lockheed Martin Marietta Plant 6 for a guided tour of the C-130J and C-5M production lines. Lockheed Martin officials also conducted briefings on the different aircraft that the Air Force has contracted them to build. The second day, the employers were treated to breakfast at the Dobbins ARB Consolidated Club, where they met Maj. Gen. Wallace W. Farris Jr., 22nd Air Force commander and former 439th AW commander. Farris spoke about the overall mission of the 22nd AF, which is a tenant organization on Dobbins ARB, and each of the 11 wings under the command. Following breakfast, the visitors toured the Eastern Regional C-130 Simulator, where they not only tried their hands at touch and go's, but also were given a hands on demonstration with night vision goggles. From there, the group was given a guided tour of an actual C-130H, by a 94th AW aircrew. These tours supplemented the already intimate experience the group was getting from the C-5 they were using from Westover to Dobbins and back. During the Boss Lift, the employers were able to see why both the C-5 and the C-130 were in the Air Force fleet. One visitor even asked why we still had aircraft with propellers when jet engines were known to be more advanced technology. This question was answered directly by both Col. Vautrain and Col. Tarchick, 94th AW commander, throughout the visit and illustrated clearly during the tours. The C-5 is built to fly at longer, higher cruising altitudes where the jet engines will operate more efficiently, while propellers are still more efficient at the lower altitudes where the C-130 aircrews are most likely to perform their own critical airlift missions, according to the commanders. Both wing commanders emphasized the global reach and capacity of the gigantic C-5 and "go anywhere, do anything" capability of the smaller C-130.
