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Local pilot takes ride of his life by BRIAN KOELLER Editor, Northwest Signal, Napoleon, Ohio December 23, 2008 Used with permission. Although he's flown planes for years, long-time pilot Corky Heitman was so impressed with his recent flight he joined an aid group for the National Guard and Reserves. Heitman recently took part in a Boss Lift, in which 28 employers load onto a KC135 air refueling tanker and watch the refueling F-16 fighters in midair. Heitman and the rest of the crew, including Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) representative Jerry Cameron, loaded onto the plane at Richenbacher Air Force Base in Columbus. After flying to 25,000 feet, Heitman and the other employers took turns crawling down next to the boom operator to peer out the back of the plane and watch the F-16s refuel. "It was the most exhilarating experience of my life," Heitman said. "It was just the most unbelievable thing I've ever done." All aboard were able to take pictures and video of the experience, and a box lunch was provided. Heitman said he and Cameron frequently have coffee, and one day they began talking about the ESGR missions. Cameron has taken several area residents on the flights, including Northwest Signal Senior Editor Moe Brubaker. "I didn't know he belonged, and then we got to talking about it," Heitman said. "I didn't know what type of clearance you needed, Jerry put in the application, they did a background check and I was cleared." Corky's Corner Columns   • Summer 2004   • Fall 2004   • Winter 2004   • Spring 2005   • Summer 2005   • Fall 2005   • Winter 2005   • Spring 2006   • Summer 2006   • Fall 2006   • Winter 2006   • Spring 2007   • Summer 2007   • Fall 2007   • Local pilot takes ride of his life   • Summer 2009   • Fall 2009 Neither Heitman nor Cameron served in the military, and now both see aprticipating in the ESGR as a way to give back to the community and honor veterans. Cameron said the ESGR was formed in 1972 and is designed to try to settle disputes between Guard and Reserve members and their employers. "We try to intercede if there's a problem," Cameron said. "I'm a trained ombudsman and so we try to solve any problems that come up." He said if a solution can't be reached, the situation is turned over to the Labor Department. Heitman enjoyed his refueling mission so much he decided to join ESGR. "I will do my best to serve the employers of northwest Ohio and the service members of our great military," Heitmen said. Heitman is also the founder and long-time sponsor of the Thistledown radio controlled airplane flyers of Napoleon. Web site by DeTray Associates www.DeTray.com