|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RESERVISTS AND THEIR EMPLOYERS RECOGNIZED BY AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION
Contact: Lynette Cross at (703) 247-5800, x. 4807 or
lcross@afa.org
Arlington, VA, July 13, 2005 – Lt Col James A. King, Jr. and MSgt James M. Williams,
and their respective employers, are being awarded the 2005 Air Force Reserve Citizen Airman Awards. Sponsored by
the Aerospace Education Foundation (AEF) and the Air Force Association (AFA), the awards recognize the outstanding
achievements of traditional reservists and the support they receive from their civilian employers.
Lt Col King is the Senior Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Staff Judge
Advocate of the 66th Air Base at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. During 2004, he was detailed to Operation
Iraqi Freedom to support the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Projects and Contracting Office in Baghdad,
Iraq. During the tour, he provided advice and support for the formation and administration of contracts necessary
for the reconstruction of the Republic of Iraq’s infrastructure.
The Boeing Company, Lt Col King’s employer, offered its long established reserve
employee support to him and his family. Among other things, Boeing provides up to five consecutive years of
military leave for its activated reservists. For annual tours, the company provides ten days of military leave.
These policies permit its employees to perform duty without consuming all their vacation time. Last summer, The
Boeing Company honored its deployed reservists with a one time appreciation payment of $3,000 over and above the
differential pay policy.
MSgt James M. Williams was activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom during 2004 and
assigned to the 1058th Air Expeditionary Force Truck Company as company armorer. He maintained weapons and
ammunition for convoy duty in Iraq, to include operations in the very dangerous and unstable Sunni Triangle and the
Triangle of Death. It was his responsibility to lead the inspection of, and change the spring and bushing assembly
for, 150 M-16s to ensure battle readiness.
Waste Management Industry (WMI) of Phoenix, Arizona, employs MSgt Williams as a route
manager. When MSgt Williams deployed, WMI continued all benefits (including health plan) for MSgt Williams’ family.
MSgt Williams had his seniority at WMI continued, his vacated position remained open for him, and his vacation
accrued throughout his deployment. WMI also provided the pay difference between his civilian and military salaries.
The Citizen Airmen Awards to Air Force reservists and their employers will be presented
at the awards ceremony which opens Air & Space Conference 2005 on Monday, September 12, 2005, in Washington D.C.
For more information on the ceremony and the conference, please visit AFA’s website at www.afa.org.
####
The Air Force Association (AFA) is an independent, nonprofit, civilian organization
promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. AFA
has more than 230 chapters nationwide and overseas, and more than 130,000 members. Visit us on the Internet at
www.afa.org.
Return to AFA Press Releases
|
