Along with Skipper were Clackamas County, Oregon Sheriff Craig Roberts, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Allen J. Kennedy, and Quimby Corporation vice president and general manager Joseph E. Smith of Portland.
This group of Oregon employers had just arrived aboard an Army National Guard aircraft that was transporting a “Boss Lift.” hosted by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).
They were there to visit their respective employees who are also Oregon National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team and observe the brigade’s training prior to their deployment to Iraq in May.
“I wanted to show support for our guys who are going to Iraq,” Skipper said, who has three deploying Soldiers on his staff. “I follow the war. I support the war, and I buy American. Being here and watching this training is going to give me a different feeling when I watch the news.”
The Sandy native said he trained as a heavy weapons specialist and fired 104mm artillery mounted on jeeps. He was assigned to the 413th Regiment, 104th Infantry Division. Skipper, a tenured deputy who retired in 1994, but said he was lured back into office last year.
“Everything is more elaborate now,” Skipper said. “There are so many different training activities and things to learn.”
Skipper was able to spend the afternoon with one of his deputies, 1st Lt. Troy Hakala. The Gresham officer, assigned to Bravo Company, 141st Brigade Support Battalion, has been a deputy for the past two years.
Another BSB Soldier, 1st Lt. William Coker of Alpha Company, also received a visit from his boss. Coker, of Beaverton, is a paramedic/fire fighte. His battalion chief, Kennedy, was impressed with the range and complexity of the training.
“I was so amazed with the CLS (Combat Life Saver) training,” Kennedy said. “That is something on the outside you have to have a two-year degree to do, but here they learn it in 15 minutes. In my job, we are so worried about not being sued, but in combat, the emphasis is on saving a life. It makes so much sense to train everybody that skill.”
Coker discussed some major differences to Kennedy between their civilian jobs compared to the military.
“At home, I’m limited in what I’m allowed to do,” Coker said. “But in the field, I can do surgeries, immunizations and prescribe meds. Out here, we can’t call 911. We are 911.”
Kennedy said his brother recently retired as major after an active duty Army career, which included three deployments to Iraq. The fire chief said he was in awe over the brigade’s logistical prowess.
“It’s just so amazing that they can push so many people through all the different training all day long,” Kennedy said. “I have 320 personnel and 27 apparatuses (fire trucks, fire engines, medic units). I can’t imagine coordinating 2,700 soldiers to accomplish all that they do here.”
At the Rapid Fielding Initiative Building, where soldiers are issued the gear they will be taking to combat, Roberts was able to link up with one of his patrol deputies, 1st Lt. Jeffrey McCowan of Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 41st Special Troops Battalion.
“He (McCowan) is a front-line guy for us,” Roberts said. “It’s great to see him here supporting our country. He’s a great guy and to see him here first hand is incredible. To let our guys go and to witness what they do to prepare is special.”
McCowan, who has been with the sheriff’s department for two years, is one of more than 160 patrol deputies in Clackamas County. He is one of three deputies assigned to the 41st IBCT.
On the flight back to Oregon, Skipper said the visit gave him an eye-opening perspective on the deployment training at Camp Roberts.
“When I was here for training 52 years ago, we went home after six months. This is different. This is the real thing.”

In Photo:  Multnomah County (Portland, Ore.) Sheriff Robert Skipper and his employee 1st Lt. Troy Hakala converse during the Oregon ESGR boss lift at Camp Roberts, Calif., in April.