(446th AW PA) - "You have been called to active duty status in the U.S. Air Force Reserve per Presidential Order 10-2011 Bravo. You are activated effective 31 March 2012 for one year."

This was the mock deployment order given to 446th Airlift Wing members' civilian employers, who took part in Employer Orientation Day March 31 at McChord Field.

The day's events gave participants a glimpse into Citizen Airmen's military lives and the challenges they face while trying to strike a balance between the Reserve Triad: family life, civilian career and military commitment.

The goal was to give the employers a better understanding of what the Air Force Reserve and 446th AW's mission is and the critical role they have in enabling their Reserve employees to accomplish it.

"I want you to understand why your support is so valuable in our nation's defense," said Col. Bruce Bowers, 446th AW commander, who welcomed the group to McChord Field. "We couldn't do what we do without it."

Communicating how important that support is to Reservists is vital, according to Lt. Col. Kathryn Mercer, 446th AW comptroller.

"My employer frequently hears, ‘I have Reserve duty this weekend,'" said Mercer, whose civilian job is to assist in managing Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility's $1.3 billion budget. "I wanted him to meet the other team I work with and the military mission I help support."

"It can be frustrating when our officers are gone," said King County Jail's Capt. Ken Lollie, civilian supervisor of 446th Security Forces Squadron's Tech. Sgt. Michael LeFrancis. "Until today, I had no idea what (LeFrancis') military assignment was. Now I have a better understanding of what our support means. I can't wait to go back and share what I've learned with my command staff."

After receiving a briefing about where they were "deploying," employers processed through a series of checkpoints including finance, personnel support, medical and chemical weapons training. Employers even got to try on an M-50 gas mask.

Besides just getting a firsthand look at the deployment process, employers also experienced a short flight aboard a C-17 Globemaster III and witnessed an aerial delivery and combat offload.

For Steve Fullerton of Creative Photographics, watching Reservists prepare the aircraft for the flight gave him a better understanding of what his employee Master Sgt. Scott Terra, 782nd Airlift Squadron loadmaster, does on a drill weekend. He said it also helped him to understand just how important it is to balance the Reserve Triad.

"I didn't really understand until today exactly what he does or what his job entails," Fullerton said. "I just assume everyone in the Reserve juggles as much as he does between volunteering, work and the military; it's just amazing."

The opportunity to participate enabled Mercer's employer, Ron Arnold, to gain a valuable perspective on how the military and civilian careers merge in Mercer's life.

"Today's orientation made me very conscious of all she does for the nation through her Air Force service," he said. "I see what she does at work all year long; it was great to see the rest of the story."

The highlight for Mercer was being able to give her employer such a unique experience. "I just enjoyed seeing how proud the 446th AW's members were as they demonstrated to their employers what they do and what the Air Force Reserve does in support of our nation's defense."

Photo: Reservists and civilian employers witness an aerial delivery of cargo aboard a C-17 Globemaster III during the 446th Airlift Wing’s Employer Orientation Day held March 31 at McChord Field. More than 30 civilian employers of 446th AW’s members participated in the event.