On a sunny July morning, FVTC Director of Security Services Derek Reiter watched from the tarmac as a Black Hawk helicopter landed at the Appleton Flight Center.
That day, Derek would be one of several area employers traveling aboard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to Fort McCoy near Tomah, Wisconsin, where they would learn firsthand about life as a soldier.
“When the helicopter landed, we were informed we would be making a stop in Wausau to pick up five more people before heading to Fort McCoy,” says Derek. “As you could imagine, I was not upset about spending more time in the helicopter.”
Derek was nominated for this event by Kevin Berry, FVTC Security Services Manager and National Guard member, to recognize Derek for his support for Kevin’s service.
A typical Boss Lift, hosted by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), includes a ride in a military vehicle or aircraft, a visit to a shooting range or a visit to a military museum. By providing employers with a closer look at military life, the Boss Lift program helps foster stronger partnerships between the civilian workforce and the military, ensuring Wisconsin’s Guard and Reserve members continue to receive the support they need both on the job and while answering the call to serve.
At Fort McCoy, Derek met up with Kevin and about 30 other civilian employers from Wisconsin. In total, five Black Hawks arrived from across the state. Participants attended a welcome ceremony, met military leaders, signed a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve, toured military equipment, dined in the mess hall, and learned about the installation’s history.
Around 2 p.m., they boarded the helicopters again for the trip home. “As we left, all the helicopters flew in formation while hugging the terrain before breaking off and heading to their destinations,” Derek says.
Kevin enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard in March 2025 as a Combat Engineer with the 173rd BEB in Rhinelander. Previously, he served eight years in the Army Reserves as a Cargo Specialist and deployed to Afghanistan from 2013-2014.
Thankful to Kevin for the opportunity—and his military service—Derek says, “This was a once in a lifetime experience that far exceeded any of my expectations. Kevin’s decision to reenlist in our military for a second time demonstrates his commitment to serve. Supporting his military service is a way to recognize that commitment and the leadership skills he brings to FVTC.”
