Exercise Boss Lift – tell your boss where to go
Filed under: ANODE, Army, community, Exercise Boss Lift
Have you ever received an invitation just too good to refuse?
I did when Telstra Network Construction Operative and Army Reservist Captain Cam Atkinson successfully applied to have me ‘Boss Lifted’ to the Solomon Islands.
Cam is currently serving as part of Operation ANODE and I was invited to observe Cam and his Reservist colleagues for three days (7-10 March) in their military environment.
Operation ANODE is the name of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
Exercise Boss Lift is an ADF initiative where civilian employers of Defence Force Reservists experience first-hand the conditions and challenges faced by their employees whilst serving on operations overseas.
Apart from Exercise Boss Lift, my most recent experience with Army was during the worst of the cyclone and storm season in Queensland earlier this year, where Network Construction, along with other Telstra Operations teams, worked in close partnership with Army and Emergency Services to restore critical communications.
The Defence Force made assets, such as Blackhawks helicopters available to fly our constructor operatives and other essential equipment such as generators into flood-affected areas which were totally inaccessible by road. They further assisted by clearing access tracks into some network sites.
This tour of the Solomons and my experience with the Army, concerning Queensland restoration activities, has reinforced to me the importance Reservists and Army personnel play in delivering Australian defence force capability and in supporting the nation during times of adversity. They are also instrumental in supporting regional stability and in the case of Solomon Is supporting a platform for economic recovery.
During Exercise Boss Lift I saw first-hand how Reservist training builds confidence, problem-solving skills, leadership ability and other attributes that are highly valuable in the workplace and as a manager I am firmly committed to continue to support my people who enlist as Reservists.
Photographs of Exercise Boss Lift 2011 will be published by Exercise Boss Lift co-ordinators to the Defence Reserves website over the next week or so.
For more, see 18 March, Townsville Bulletin article by Emily MacDonald entitled ‘Telco boss calls in on his reservist staff on exercise’
Well done to both the Amry and Telstra for this innatiative, a lot of knowledge and understanding can be gained from stepping into someone else shoes. Also a better appreciate of what happens during emergency events and the key roles that these personnel play and how important the support of the company is in the first responders leave, all bosses with volunteers in any organisation should have the opportunity to do this and see how their staff operate under pressure situations that differ from their work enviroment.
Thank you for your comment Krystyna, Telstra has supported employees volunteering for many years in both the defence reserve and emergency services (CFA, etc.). This ‘boss lift’ experience is a great Army initiative which allows managers to see what our people do whilst deployed (e.g. to witness first-hand the leadership and teamwork disciples they learn). I agree that all bosses would benefit from seeing what their team members/volunteers do outside of work.
Thank you John Gibbs for taking the time out from your very busy life as a Telstra Executive to participate in OP Bosslift.
I know it means a lot to the individual serving on operations like Captain Atkinson. I also think recognition by the Telstra’s Senior Leadership Team of the value of defence service is greatly appreciated by all current and former defence members now employed by Telstra.