MISSISSIPPI. - The Tennessee and Mississippi Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Committees recently conducted a joint Bosslift.  Approximately 45 employers participated in a three-day Bosslift to Gulfport and Camp Shelby, Mississippi on May 5-7, 2010.  Employers got to experience a refueling mission conducted by Tennessee's Air National Guard 134th Air Refueling Wing based out of Knoxville, TN, and  lay beside the "boom operator" as he refueled several A-10's over Georgia.  That evening employers were treated to a wonderful dinner furnished by the Gulfport, MS CRTC commander. 

Gulfport provides a rare venue to observe training from all seven reserve components within an area of only a few miles and Camp Shelby provides the location to observe training by members of the Tennessee Army National Guard and Army Reserve. 

The following morning employers traveled by charter bus to Camp Shelby, MS, and were treated to an M1-A1 tank demonstration followed by a window bus tour of Camp Shelby.   After a brief stop at the Camp Shelby Museum, employers were escorted back to Gulfport, MS where they visited the Naval Construction Battalion Center.  Tours of the training facility were given along with a visit to the Navy Convoy Simulator where employers got the experience actual combat convoy training in 6 separate simulators.

Before departing Gulfport, MS on the third day, employers were given a tour of the Hurricane Hunter facility based at Keesler AFB.   As one employer stated, "It was an experience I shall never forget.  I have always respected our Military guys; I have a new respect for them now. The trip was awesome!
Thanks for putting together such an awesome trip filled with awareness" signed, Mary Smith.

Since September 11, 2001, more than 700,000 National Guard and Reserve men and women have left their families and employers to serve on active duty in the Global War on Terrorism.  Many of these deployed Guard and Reserve members serve, work, and live in the Middle Tennessee area.  None of this could have been possible without the support from their civilian employers.
The Department of Defense established the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve component members and their civilian employers.  Local members are volunteers and are more than willing to recognize community businesses for supporting their Guard and Reserve employees.