Employers receive genuine view into military life

  • Published
  • By SrA. Charles Hutchinson IV
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  Employer Day at Westover coincided with several highlights July 12. Twenty -four employers of Patriot Wing reservists got genuine observations into military life - and in some instances, the activities coincided.

Shortly after the employers filed into the Base Hangar near the Commander's Call stage, a huge American flag backdropped base senior leadership who welcomed the group. They included Brig. Gen. Steven Vautrain, 439th Airlift Wing commander, Col. Richard Tubbs, vice wing commander, and Command CMSgt. David Carbin.

"The 2014 Patriot Wing Employer Appreciation Day was a huge success because of the hard work and dedication of personnel from throughout the wing," said Brig. Gen. Vautrain.

Other wing units assisted PA: Explosive ordinance disposal technicians brought in a bomb-sniffing robot. They also had a static display of a bomb-proof suit. Airmen from security forces had a demonstration of their own. One member portrayed the "enemy" - he wore a red-man suit. Two other members engaged the enemy and narrated to the employers at the same time. They showed off their hand to hand combat skills and eventually showed the proper technique on how to take down a hostile person. One employer volunteered to participate and took on the Airman with a padded coated baton.

Outside the Base Hangar, a Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station C-130 from the 911th Airlift Wing taxied in from landing as part of a medical training exercise The employers watched the C-130 land, unload and treat casualties as well as take off, all while a Patriot Wing C-5 also took to the sky.

Richard Kos, mayor of neighboring Chicopee, was also among the Employer Day guests.

"The mayor and the employers were very impressed during their visit to Westover," Brig. Gen. Vautrain said. " They left the base with a better appreciation of our mission and what our Citizen Airmen do for America."