FEATURE: ERO field office director, nominated by ICE employee in Utah National Guard, participates in military aerial refueling mission

On the morning of June 17, Field Office Director Thomas E. Feeley of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Salt Lake City Field Office, was given a briefing and breakfast before he boarded a KC-135 Stratotanker that took off from the Utah National Air Guard base in Utah.

Feeley and 21 other passengers took a four-hour flight over the blue skies of Idaho with the 151st Air Refueling Wing, Air National Guard, Salt Lake City, Utah. The crew's mission: aerial refueling A-10 Warthogs from the 124th Fighter Wing, Idaho Air National Guard.

ERO Immigration Enforcement Agent (IEA) Tyson Craythorne, a KC-135 pilot serving with the 151st Air Refueling Wing of the Utah National Guard, nominated Feeley to participate in the program known as Bosslift. Craythorne is assigned to ERO's Criminal Alien Program and is currently serving active duty in Guam.

"It was an amazing day and a great opportunity to spend time with some of America's finest," said Feeley. "I am honored and humbled to have been able to participate and be nominated by Major Craythorne. The professional manner in which he carries himself both during his military time and when he is back working with us makes me proud to be a veteran."

Bosslift is sponsored by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), the lead Department of Defense agency that promotes cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and their National Guard and reserve employees.

Employers from government agencies and the private sector, from mom and pop stores to huge corporations, are invited to participate in Bosslift operations with about 30 people on board each flight.

"It's fun for us," said Christopher Willden, administrative support technician with ESGR. "When we call to tell selected employers that they've been chosen to participate in Bosslift, their response is overwhelming. I like to hear the reaction in their voice. Sometimes they think someone is playing a prank on them."

"Once an employer participates in one of these missions, they see the bigger picture and increase their support for their employee's military service," said Willden. "After participating in Bosslift and witnessing the responsibilities of our men and women in uniform, there isn't enough the employer can do for his or her military member. It's not unusual for a service member to return to their civilian job from a military deployment and immediately be given a promotion and a raise."

Even though the Bosslift in June was Feeley's first, as a U.S. Marine, he has always had an appreciation for the responsibilities and contributions of America's veterans.

"Being a veteran myself, I think ICE has a strong history and a long tradition of having veterans serve among its ranks," said Feeley. "Veterans have unique talents and skills that they bring to their duties in ICE. They are disciplined and skilled workers who display pride, leadership, responsibility and professionalism in what they do. ICE – Integrity, Courage and Excellence – is the perfect home for our veterans and those currently serving."