Exercise Pitch Black shows employers the benefit of Reserve service

Twenty employers will get a taste of military life this week when they head to the Northern Territory for the Australian Defence Force’s Boss Lift to Exercise Pitch Black.

Exercise Pitch Black is the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest and most complex air exercise that enables the ADF to train with international air forces in the Northern Territory once every two years.

With 2200 participants coming from across Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, New Zealand and the United States, Exercise Pitch Black will be held from RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal.

Exercise Boss Lift is designed to show employers the vital contribution Reservists are making to the ADF’s operational commitments.

The employers come from a wide range of industries. There will be participants from Aspen Medical, Victoria Police, and Tamworth Council to name a few.

Amanda Fracaro, Human Resources Manager from Aspen Medical was pleased to be attending this year’s Boss Lift to the NT.

“It gives me a real opportunity to see how Aspen’s support helps our employees to make their contributions to the Defence Reserves,” she said.

Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Senator David Feeney said he believed the participants would gain a valuable insight into the benefits that Reservists can bring back to the civilian workplace.

“Without the support of employers it would be very difficult for Navy, Army and Air Force Reservists to make such an important contribution to the defence of the nation,” said Senator Feeney.

“Boss Lift gives employers the chance to see first hand the contribution Reservists make when released from their workplaces.”

For more information on Exercise Boss Lift go to: www.defencereservessupport.gov.au

Media contact: Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999