Alaska Airlines Honoring Those Who Serve

Today is Veteran’s Day, a day we should take the time to say thank you to all of those serving in uniform or have served this country. Many of this Country’s best have paid the ultimate price. Please take the time to offer a warm handshake and thanks to those in uniform that you meet today. It will mean a lot to them.

a man walking next to a plane — The third Alaska Airlines Honor jet. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

Hiring Those Who Serve

A few of the hundreds of employees at Alaska Airlines that wear two uniforms.

a woman holding a magazine — Alaska Airlines Magazine. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines has known for a long time what makes hiring a veteran or reservist such an asset. Military experience gives our servicemen and servicewomen key assets:

How to work as a team
Management skills
Organizational skills
Doing what it takes to get the job done

Alaska Airlines makes it a point to include reservists as part of their professional recruitment. This means that Alaska is willing to modify work schedules to accommodate reservists during deployment or annual training.

Let’s Meet Some of the Military Faces at Alaska

a woman walking by a plane — Lt. Col. Jennifer Kelsey – Air Force Reserve. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a woman in uniform smiling at camera — Alaska Airlines 737 Captain Jennifer Kelsey. Photo Credit: Alaska Airlines.

a man in military uniform reading a book — Tech Sgt Jacob Suppa – Air Force Reserve. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a man working on an airplane — Alaska Airlines aircraft technician Jacob Suppa. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a man in a pilot's seat — Lt. Col Jon Ma – Hawaii Air National Guard. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a man in uniform standing in the doorway of an airplane — Alaska Airlines First Officer Jon Ma. Photo Credit: Alaska Airlines.

a woman playing a flute — Specialist Clair Michaels – Army Reserve. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a woman serving a drink to a man in an airplane — Horizon Air flight attendant Claire Michaels. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a group of people in uniform — Lt. Col. Ryan Sather – Marine Corps Reserve. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a group of men looking at a computer screen — Horizon Air Managing Director Ryan Sather. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

Alaska Airlines Honor Flights

Every year, Alaska Airlines operates special charter flights to take World War II veterans to Washington D.C. Alaska flys these very special veterans and their escorts at no cost to them.

a sign with balloons in the background — Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a woman helping a man in a wheelchair — Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a group of people sitting in a plane with flags — Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a jet plane on a runway — Fire Dept. water cannon salute on arrival at DCA. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

Bringing the Fallen Home with Dignity and Respect

Alaska Airlines is one of the first airlines to develop a respectful protocol when they are called on to return a fallen soldier home. The staff at their Seattle maintenance base, many of them veterans wanted to give these soldiers the honor that they deserve. They developed a “hearse to hearse” protocol and made special baggage carts that are only used for these fallen heroes.

a blue container with badges on it — Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a man working on a sign — Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a man standing next to a blue container — Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

a man working on a blue trailer — Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

Alaska Airlines Fallen Soldier Program Video

My Request to You

Again, please take the time to extend a warm handshake and thank you to those soldiers, sailors and airmen that you meet today. Tell them how much you appreciate their commitment to defending this great country. The price of freedom is not free. All gave some, some gave all.