Recruiters, advisors have profound impact

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James M. Hodgman
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  Special duty assignments throughout the Air Force offer Airmen a variety of opportunities and experiences. Yet, few positions allow Airmen to have the impact that being a recruiter or career assistance advisor does.

Air Force recruiters are responsible for finding people who meet the high standards of the Air Force and recruiting them into the service. With every recruit, they help the Air Force maintain its force strength levels.

Once in the military, career assistance advisors provide those recruits with essential information regarding their careers ranging from reenlistment or separation options, to information about joining the Air Force Reserve or National Guard and retirement.
Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Saunders, an enlisted accessions recruiter with the 343rd Recruiting Squadron, is one of two Air Force recruiters in Omaha.

From her office at 7634 Dodge St. and through numerous community engagements, she introduces potential recruits to what the Air Force has to offer.

"I love being an Air Force recruiter, especially in Omaha," Sergeant Saunders said. "It's extremely rewarding to see Airmen return from basic training with pride and it feels good to help people achieve their goals and serve their country.

"Just knowing that you're helping someone is a great feeling," she said.

As part of the 343rd RCS, Sergeant Saunders is one of 55 recruiters serving seven states from Nebraska to Minnesota.

The Clarksville, Tenn., native said her mission is to find people who will make the best Airmen and work to secure freedom for future generations; a mission, the sergeant explained, never takes a break.

Unlike most recruiters, Sergeant Saunders' office is located near an Air Force installation. Most recruiters are located several hours away from the nearest base and serve as the public's sole source of first-hand exposure to the Air Force.

But, whether recruiting out of Omaha or Bismarck, N.D., Sergeant Saunders is quick to point out that "recruiting doesn't stop when you leave your office at the end of each day. The Air Force is always looking for qualified applicants, which means whenever recruiters are out, whether it's after work or on the weekends, we're still looking for applicants wherever we go," she said.

Sergeant Saunders visits about two schools in theOmaha area every week and has taken the Air Force message to special events including a professional bull riding event and an Omaha Lancer's military appreciation game.

Part of being a recruiter is raising awareness about the Air Force whenever possible, Sergeant Saunders said.

"Being a recruiter is a lifestyle, not a job, you have to be dedicated and there will be days when you work (really) long hours."

One of the best things about being a recruiter, Sergeant Saunders said, is no two days are the same.

"We get to meet and speak to new people every day and every day is different," she said. "One day (I) might be at a school talking to students and the next day (I) might be at a public event."

Career assistance advisors, like recruiters, can also have a profound impact on today's Airmen.

Offutt's career assistance advisor is Master Sgt. Donald J. Reynolds, a senior NCO with more than 20 years of active military service.

Before becoming the career assistance advisor, he worked as a fitness specialist for nearly a decade and has deployed numerous times.

The sergeant said guiding Offutt's warriors through difficult career decisions has been one of the best experiences of his career.

"I have been blessed with the opportunity of helping (people) reach their goals," Sergeant Reynolds said.

Sometimes this means lending an ear to Airmen who may be upset about something that happened during their careers, while other times Airmen just want to make a change, he said.

Since July 2008, Sergeant Reynolds has assisted thousands of Airmen.
Whether it's mentoring a first term Airman or informing an NCO how he or she can apply for special duties or other positions rather than separate, the job is quite a thrill, Sergeant Reynolds said.

"That's why I love my job, seeing and hearing those successes and watching our Air Force grow because we have people that are getting a chance to do more than they expected," he said.

Along with advising members of Team Offutt about career options, Sergeant Reynolds also plays a key role with professional military education as the section chief of the Offutt Professional Development Center.

The PDC includes the First Term Airman Center and professional enhancement seminars designed to further develop enlisted Airmen and officers.

A typical day for Sergeant Reynolds can range from speaking at unit commander's calls and counseling retraining clients to teaching FTAC classes or enhancement seminars.
Despite being extremely busy, the master sergeant said the job has been the highlight of his career.

"This job is the best I've ever been permitted to do," he said.

Sergeants Saunders and Reynolds encourage anyone interested in special duty assignments to apply, especially NCOs.

"As NCOs, we can sway our younger Airmen with our experiences, advice, charisma and confidence. We can help Airmen make (good) decisions," Sergeant Reynolds said, and that only benefits the Air Force.

For more information or to apply for recruiter duty, click here.

To learn more about special duty assignments and requirements, visit the Air Force Personnel Center's assignment management section website here.

(Editor's Note: This is the second story in a three-part series on special duty assignments.)