Civilian employers learn about 149th Fighter Wing Published March 31, 2010 By Staff Sgt. Phil Fountain 149th Fighter Wing Public Affairs LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- More than 20 civilian bosses, who employ citizen-Airmen toured Texas Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing here March 6. As part of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Boss Lift program, employers gained an insider's view of the unit's operations. The ESGR program was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve members and their civilian employers. When times of emergency arise and members of the Guard are activated, sacrifices are made by not only the citizen-Airmen and their families, but also by their civilian employers, said Roland Keller, ESGR ombudsman for Texas. The federal Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act places certain responsibilities on employers of military personnel. ESGR works with the Department of Defense and local units to lessen the impact of these responsibilities to employers of Guard and Reserve Airmen. Showing the employers how the 149th FW operates is a way to show appreciation, said Lt. Col. John Kane, 149th FW vice commander. During the tour, employers learned about the Air National Guard unit's history, whose lineage traces back to the European Theater of World War II, its current F-16 combat fighter jet training and state disaster preparedness missions. They also learned why the 149th Fighter Wing is set to continue combat fighter training far into the 21st century by transitioning from the F-16 to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, if it is selected by policymakers. Pilots and aircraft maintainers also gave the employers an up-close view an F-16 and shared a bit about its maintenances, and the use of night vision goggles in combat operations. Base security forces showed some of the firearms they use, and medical personnel showed tents and equipment used during humanitarian and disaster relief missions. The highlight event of the visit was when the employers witnessed F-16 in-flight refueling operations as passengers in a KC-135 Stratotanker. Lt. Col. Michael McCoy, F-16 instructor pilot, described the flight as a win-win situation for all involved because the employers received the unique opportunity to see the 149th FW in action, and pilots earned required training hours for the successful refueling mission. Many of the employers said that this was their first experience with the military, and appreciated the opportunity to visit. "I've never experienced anything like this," said Keith Christian, a Texas-based grocery store chain manager who wasn't familiar with military life or activities before the tour. "Wow. What a job!" said Jed Garmon, a local power generation equipment shop service manager after seeing the F-16s in action. "I learned a lot, and didn't realize there was so much medical and disaster relief" provided by the Air National Guard unit. During the program's final briefing, Colonel Kane said the support of employers is critical to successfully accomplish the unit's missions, particularly when it comes to disaster relief. Texas Air National Guard forces have been activated in recent years with relatively short notice to respond to hurricanes and wildfires that struck the state and region. Additionally, citizen-Airmen from Texas have been called upon to deploy with the active-duty Air Force in Iraq, Afghanistan and in other areas.