05/07/2018

Good Afternoon MTAS,

It’s another great Monday, and the first full week of May. I hope you have strong plans for advancing customers and their needs this week.

If you are a Kentucky Derby fan, then I’m guessing you enjoyed the weekend. It was a sloppy track, but an exciting two-minute race.

Last week Richard Stokes had an amazing experience with the National Guard in California. He shared with me some of the highlights of his trip, including a couple of photos (attached) and this description:

This past week I participated in the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Boss Lift with the TN Army National Guard 278th Armored Brigade Combat Team to Fort Irwin, California. The program tries to encourage employers to support those employees, over 4,000 TN members of the 278th Armored Brigade Combat Team, in anticipation of an upcoming deployment to Eastern Europe.

Included on the trip were both public and private sector officials and business leaders from across the state. City officials included Kevin Townsel, HR Director, City of Franklin; George DeCroes, HR Director, City of Kingsport; and Buddy Lewis, Police Chief, City of Covington.

Travel was provided via a C-17 Globemaster III, the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft, and included an in-flight refueling by a KC-135 Stratotanker. The highlight of the program was the tour of the National Training Institute at Fort Irwin. The National Training Center is part of the US Army Forces Command(FORSCOM). The opposing force at the National Training Center (NTC) is the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, the Blackhorse Cavalry, who are stationed at the base to provide an opposing force to units on a training rotation at Fort Irwin. A simulated battle was also demonstrated.

Richard told me about how prepared the National Guard is to take on emergencies; and it was the perfect tie-in to the presentation he delivered at the spring TCMA conference on “Employment Laws Impacted by Natural Disasters.” I’m glad that Richard was invited to participate in the ESGR and was so willing to share what he learned. If you participate in any out-of-the-box and innovative projects, please let me know and I’ll share your story (hey, it’s part of our goals!).

Also last week (April 30), Brad celebrated a work anniversary with MTAS. Congratulations on six years Brad!

The sun is shining in Knoxville and it looks like another glorious spring day in East TN. I hope you are enjoying the weather as much as I am.

Have a terrific week,
Margaret