On Thursday, June 27, 2001 more than 30 prominent employers, civic leaders, and veterans organization commanders will travel to Kelly Air Force Base, Texas to participate in a three day “Boss Lift” sponsored by the  New Jersey Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. 

Hosted by State ESGR Chairman, Edward A. Kelly, Jr. and Major General Paul J. Glazar, The Adjutant General of New Jersey, the group will visit National Guard and Reserve units at a variety of military installations in the greater San Antonio, Texas area.    

Participants include Joan Verplanck, President, New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, Dr. George Pruitt, President, Thomas Edison College, John A. Monagle, Ford Motor Company, and Cliff Griffiths, Commander, American Legion, Department of New Jersey.

The three day tour includes a full schedule of training activity and briefings beginning with air travel aboard a KC-10 Air refueling Tanker from the 514th Military Airlift Wing,  a visit to a C-5 Galaxy with the 433rd Operations Group at Kelly, AFB, USAFR; a stop at Randolph Air Force Base, a visit with the 4th Recon Battalion, USMCR, Fort Sam Houston and a visit to Fort Hood to observe the 49th Armored Division, Texas Army National Guard.  The return flight on Friday features an in-flight refueling with F-16’s from the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing. 

 “Bosslifts” are sponsored by the Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and are intended  to foster greater understanding of what Guard and reserve soldiers do while they are weekend training or deployed away from their civilian jobs.  One of the primary functions of the ESGR committee is to informally resolve conflicts and scheduling problems that may arise when employees fulfill their mandatory military training obligations or other duties.

New Jersey has an estimated 12,000 reservists in addition to the 9,000 citizen-soldiers of the New Jersey National Army and Air National Guard.   Reservists and Guardmembers are trained and ready to respond to any national security emergency anywhere in the world with the Guard also responsible for responding to natural disasters or other emergencies within their respective state. 

Guard and Reserve soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen normally perform one weekend of duty per month, and 15 days of annual training each year.  This training year alone, New Jersey Guardsmen and women have deployed to 20 states and 16 foreign nations in support of peacekeeping operations, humanitarian missions, and support of our national defense. 

If you have questions about this deployment or job opportunities in your local National Guard unit, please contact Mr. Ray Martyniuk