'Boss lifts' employers to their deployed reservists in action

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, Spring, 2004 by John Randt

In civilian life, Staff Sgt. James Jones is an art education assistant at the Louisiana Children's Museum, in New Orleans. Maj. Doug Athey is an associate professor of health and physical education at Xavier University of Louisiana. Capt. Chris Harris is a sales representative with Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

Maj. David Wortmann is a police officer with the city of Slidell, La.

All four of these Soldiers have one thing in common: They are Reservists who have been serving over a year of active duty with the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command at ports all over the United States.

To honor his Soldiers' employers for their support, Col. Sandy Sanders, commander, 1192nd Transportation Terminal Brigade, New Orleans, decided to invite employers and family members to see their employees at work. What better time, he thought, than a 12-day period in mid-February when the unit was loading four shiploads of equipment at Corpus Christi, Texas, for the Iraqi-bound 1st Cavalry Division.

The move is part of the biggest deployment of American troops since the end of World War II.

Sanders thinks big.

Most "Boss Lifts" of employers to a Reserve deployment average 40 persons. Sanders' vision was bigger than that.

Adroit and creative, Sanders found three military aircraft that could be spared and moved 162 employers and family members to Corpus Christi on Feb. 11. It is the largest such event in the history of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, said Terry Paulson, the association's project officer.

"I want to honor those employers who have been so great for our Soldiers," said Sanders.

As the unit's Soldiers marched in the Corpus Christi port auditorium Feb. 11, employers and Soldiers conducted jubilant reunions.

"I'm just glad to see this guy," said Wade Hammett, hugging Staff Sgt. Jamie Jones, a cargo specialist.

Hammett, art education manager of the Louisiana Children's Museum, in New Orleans, supervises Jones, an art education assistant.

Three faculty members came by to see Athey, operations officer for the 110-member unit.

Surveying a field of equipment filling the port area by the USNS Pollux, a Fast Sealift Ship, Rosalind Hale, of Xavier University of Louisiana, was complimentary.

"This is just wonderful," said Hale. "I can say, 'Doug Athey did all this.'"

Athey gave an embarrassed smile.

Maj. David Wortmann was surrounded by a crew of enthusiastic police officers from the Slidell Police Department.

"Dave is an integral part of our unit," said Lt. Kevin Foltz, of the Slidell department's uniformed division. "This is very impressive."

The Slidell Police Department has done its share.

Of 73 officers, five are Reservists, said Foltz. Currently, three of the five Reservists are on active duty.

The Reservists and their employers were praised by Maj. Gen. Ann Dunwoody, SDDC Commander.

"We were successful because the Reserve did the heavy lifting," said Dunwoody. "We could not have achieved our mission without the work of the Reserves."

From the moment of activation, it took the reservists only 72 hours to begin working on the docks of Corpus Christi in January 2003, said Dunwoody.

Surveying the scene was Col. Robert Askey, who runs SDDC's Plans, Readiness and Mobilization Division.

"They set the standard," said Askey, gesturing to the Reservists. "We couldn't have done it without them.

"They are away from families, jobs and routine. What they're doing is not easy. It is hard work."

"It is important they know they are appreciated."

The last speaker at a luncheon sponsored by the port of Corpus Christi was Sgt. Maj. Tyrone Legier.

"This is truly the highpoint of this deployment," said Legier.

"When this mobilization is complete, you'll get a better person back in the work place."

Those thoughts were echoed by Paulson.

"They're more than small town today," said Paulson, nodding at the Reservists. "They bring the world back to you," work place."