"Twenty-seven civilian employers and supervisors participated in a Boss Lift, Oct. 22–24, 2015, and were flown from the Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City to visit their employee-soldiers at Fort Bliss, Texas, serving with the 116th Engineer Company of the Utah National Guard as they participate in pre-deployment training in preparation for deployment to the Middle East.
"The Boss Lift was sponsored by the Utah Chapter of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves. It is a program designed to build and maintain employer support for the guard and reserves by showing employers the training that their employee-soldiers go through when called to active duty." Continue reading here.
TeraFlex supports its troops and is honored to employ two of its very own national guard soldiers in-house, Taylor Jensen and Corbin Black who both work here in the axle and machine department. They both know they will always have work to come home to, and that they're supported and appreciated by their employers.
Corbin Black recently participated in the "Boss Lift," providing TeraFlex's axle and machine department head Jason Walker an opportunity, on behalf of TeraFlex, to see and experience up-close the type of work in which these young soldiers participate.
"I was given a great opportunity this week by the ESGR and the U.S. Army to visit our great young soldier Corbin Mason Black here at Fort Bliss,” Walker said of his experience. “I have a new respect for the training our boys go through before they are deployed. Super proud of this guy... Thank you to everybody that made this happen. Our boys are in good hands."
Walker looks below as he observes Airmen perform a refueling operation
“I had no idea what he did in the military, I thought he just went and played in the desert," said Walker.
He was able to spend the entire Friday with Black, who is a 25U Signal Support System Specialist assigned to the 166th Horizontal Engineer Company. Walker said he also experienced eating some of the MREs (meals ready to eat), which he said were actually pretty good.
Walker and the other bosses were treated to a full schedule of military training as well as the opportunity to fly inside a KC-135 aircraft. There they observed Airmen with the 191st Air Refueling Squadron from the Utah Air Guard conduct a refueling operation with a C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft in the skies above the Utah desert.
"I also feel that the training and discipline they learn in the field make them better employees," said Walker. "This has really changed my perspective on the military. They really work hard and are willing to go above and beyond in their service. Every soldier stepped up and volunteered to help us out during their busy day."
"And I'm just impressed with Corbin in general,” Walker said referring to his young soldier. “He is very excited about doing this and serving his country."
Black has since been deployed to the Middle East, while a loving wife and supporting company await his return.
Black's LJ treated with a custom TeraFlex wrap