Ohio Guard, Reserve units co-host joint employer awareness event

special Staff Report
910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office

8/21/2013 - YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- The Air Force Reserve's 910th Airlift Wing, the Ohio National Guard and Ohio Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve teamed up to co-host the inaugural joint employer awareness event, August 1- 2.

The event gave civilian employers of Air Force Reservists and Ohio National Guardsmen the opportunity to get an up-close look at both the 910th's facilities and the Ohio National Guard's Joint Military Training Center at nearby Camp Ravenna, Ohio. The event was designed to give attendees a better understanding of the mission that their employees carry out as members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The two-day event was created out of necessity because of the mandated elimination of military orientation flights brought on by the federal sequester. The opportunity to fly aboard military aircraft traditionally has been a big draw for employers to participate in these types of events. With the flights being cancelled, event organizers were forced to come up with creative ways to share the Guard and Reserve missions with employers.

"We had to think outside of the box a bit after the flights were cancelled," said Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr., 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs superintendent. "So, we teamed up with the Guard and ESGR, pooled our resources and came up with what we all think is a pretty cool program."

Participants visited various Ohio National Guard combat simulators and training sites and observed a cargo airdrop from one of the 910th's C-130 Hercules aircraft at Camp Ravenna. Attendees observed 910th fire department training, walked through a C-130, witnessed an aircraft cargo on-load and toured several shops on the air station. Event organizers considered the venture a success and hoped to put on an expanded event for even more attendees in the future.

"This was a pilot program, the first ever in the state of Ohio," said John Marino, East Ohio ESGR Military Outreach coordinator. "Next year, we plan on it being bigger and better with the goal of having all branches of the armed services represented."