Recruiters demystify military life

  • Published
  • By By: Staff Sgt. Rachelle Blake
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The 343rd Recruiting Squadron hosted eight educators from across the region for a base tour March 13, with the farthest attendees coming from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

This was the squadron's first time hosting a function of this nature.

"We invited educators from all over the local area to take the tour," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Zachary Atkinson, 343rd RCS marketing and logistics NCO. "Our goal was to better educate them on what the Air Force is really about."

The tour included a 55th Security Forces Squadron K-9 demonstration, a walk-through of the Offutt Field House and Health Promotion office, a tour of the 55th Operations Support Squadron Air Traffic Control tower, a driving tour of the base and a special lunch with a guest speaker.

But before the tour began, the attendees shared breakfast with the recruiters and their commander, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Stephen Phillips. Phillips is a weatherman by trade, but has been leading the recruiting squadron for nearly two years.

"Today we want to demystify military life and introduce you to what our Airmen do," he said. "We also want to arm you with information because you are the people our young men and women turn to."

Phillips took the opportunity to highlight some of the different paths offered within the military by having the service members in the room speak about their original career fields and their proudest moments.

"The best thing that I have done is deploy," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hoffman, originally a security forces Airman who is now a recruiter in Bellevue, Nebraska. "Most people wouldn't say that, but it was a great experience. I was able to go out into the villages in Afghanistan, handing out blankets and water."

The teachers were also interested to hear about the caliber of men and women the Air Force is looking to recruit, the process of signing-up to arriving at the first duty station, and what makes the Air Force different from other branches.

But, it was meeting the Airmen around base and the talk of higher level education that won several over.

"I am big on education, obviously, and it was very interesting when they started talking about how much emphasis is put on the Community College of the Air Force," said John Stanton, Plattview High School counselor. "It really impressed me. I have a sophomore son, and after today, this is definitely something I will expose him to."

After lunch, the visitors had the distinct pleasure of hearing from and interacting with the 55th Wing's Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Grengs, who was also celebrating the 26th anniversary of his enlistment.

"What I want our high school students and hopefully our future Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and Marines to know is that this is more than a job," Grengs said. "Serving is going to give them incredible opportunities while in uniform and beyond."

The attendees all gave positive feedback about the event and the squadron hopes to continue giving similar tours in the future.

"We believe it is important for civilian educators to know what the Air Force is really about and to educate them on the Air Force mission," said Atkinson. "Hopefully, it helped the participants to gain a new outlook on what the Air Force does on a day-to-day basis."