>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

wild blue Yonder: Boss Lift activities included flights over Boise and surrounding areas in Blackhawk helicopters. ().

- Bill Rautenstrauch

- The Observer

BOISE — Last Friday, more than 100 employers or employer delegates from Idaho and Oregon gathered in a theater at Gowen Field, exhausted from a two-day, whirlwind tour of the base and a close-up look at modern military life.

They had flown in C-130 transport planes and Blackhawk helicopters. They had climbed on tanks and armored personnel carriers, peeked inside at the weapons systems and controls.

They had toured the Idaho Military Museum, played war games on virtual simulators, had their pictures taken in the cockpit of an A-10 jet fighter. They had watched in reverence the flag ceremony known as "Retreat."

They had also attended a banquet at which Grande Ronde Hospital of La Grande had been recognized for its contributions to American defense.

And now, almost as quickly as the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve "Boss Lift" had begun, it was coming to an end.

"We kind of dragged you through a knothole, but we wanted to make sure you had a chance to experience what it's like to be a part of our community," Kip Moggridge, Boss Lift coordinator, told the crowd.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is an agency of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.

It works to foster understanding of the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act, the federal law that protects the employment and reinstatement rights of reserve component members.

It also operates programs aimed at building cooperation between employers, employees and the Reserve component armed forces.

Last week's Boss lift went a long way toward that goal, judging by the reaction of some of the local participants.

Seven Union County businesses and one school district were represented at the event, which was the first interstate Boss Lift ever to take place in the Pacific Northwest.

In addition to Grande Ronde Sign Company and Grande Ronde Hospital, local participants included U.S. Bank, Boise Cascade, Cove School District, Bowman Trucking, local dentist Nels Nelson, and The Observer.

Earl Storey, the ESGR's Pendleton representative, accompanied the local group, as did Richard Matteson of the Pendleton Country Club.

The Oregon contingent was assembled by Jack Johnson, a retired National Guard officer from Cove who serves as chair of ESGR's Oregon Area Six.

Johnson's area takes in Hood River, The Dalles, Hermiston, Milton-Freewater, Pendleton, La Grande and Baker City.

About 550 National Guardsman live and work in the area. Many are members of the Third Battalion, 116th Armored Brigade that served in Iraq in 2004-2005.

The brigade is headquartered at Gowen Field. The Boss Lift was hosted by the Idaho National Guard, and sponsored primarily by Idaho ESGR.

Johnson said he was happy to see the Idaho and Oregon ESGR work together to make the event a success.

"I'm pleased everybody knows that Oregon is part of the team," he said. "Assets are limited right now, but I think this is going to expand. I think there will be some regional Boss Lifts in the future."

The local group boarded a C-130 at the Union County Airport, joining other employers or representatives from Lewiston and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Another C-130 picked up passengers in Pocatello; many more people attending the event hailed from Boise.

Following a briefing Thursday morning at the Gowen Field theater, the Boss Lift split into smaller groups and boarded buses for various stations on Gowen Field.

Army, Air Guard and Marine Corps personnel took charge, giving the civilians a look at war fighting equipment and training aids, the flag ceremony, and more.

"I was impressed with our guides. They're absolutely proud of what they do, and you can tell they're happy doing it," said Steve Lyon, human resource manager for Boise Cascade's Inland Region.

Boise Cascade employs about 700 workers at its three plants in Union County. Lyon said about 10 local workers are in the National Guard.

He said his company believes in supporting the Guard, and in making sure that jobs left behind when soldiers mobilize are waiting when they return.

"We just work with it," said Lyons. "We understand what we need to do and our plant supervisors make sure the proper arrangements are made."

Thursday evening the Boss Lift converged on the Gowen Field Officer's Club for the annual "Salute to Employers" dinner and award

ceremony.

Those formally recognized included Grande Ronde Hospital, winner of the Oregon Employer's Award.

In announcing the award, Johnson praised the hospital for its support of Dr. John Page when he mobilized for duty in Iraq.

Beyond living up to its obligations under the employment rights act, the hospital paid the difference between the emergency room physician's civilian salary and what he made as a military officer.

Page has since returned to civilian life and is again at work at the hospital.

Paul Shorb, senior director of support services at the hospital, accepted the award on behalf of President and CEO Jim Mattes.

Shorb spoke briefly, saying the hospital will remain supportive of those employees who are called away to help fight the war on terror.

Shorb said a doctor's absence poses a hardship, but overall, the hospital comes out a winner.

"They come back with better skills, and we're happy to have them," he said.

Keynote speaker at the awards dinner was Craig Duehring, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.

Duehring, a decorated combat pilot and retired Air Force colonel, plays a key role in policy development and supervision of the armed forces reserve components.

He said the war on terror begun on Sept. 11, 2001 is likely to continue for many years, and that reserve components will play an increasingly important role.

Because Guard and Reserve members face more deployments, employer support and cooperation is crucial, he said.

Friday, the Boss Lift continued with base tours, and concluded with remarks from Moggridge, Idaho National Guard Commander Larry LeFrenz, and others. The Union County contingent returned home aboard a C-130.

Johnson, who has been active in ESGR for 14 years, said he believed the Boss Lift was a positive experience for area employers.

"I think it was an excellent opportunity for employers to understand what their employees go through," said Johnson. "That was our intent and that's what I think we accomplished."