COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- If you attended the 14th Flying Training Wing’s Annual Awards Banquet, you had the pleasure of hearing the guest speaker, Maj. Gen. Garrett Harencak, Commander, Air Force Recruiting Service, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.
While speaking about the world’s greatest Air Force, he mentioned we all essentially joined the Air Force for the same reason, to achieve or acquire something more.
I grew up in a small town in Ohio and there were not a whole lot of viable job options there, so I also found myself trying to figure out my future. Luckily I was steered toward the Air Force. So here I am, 26 years later. Best decision I ever made, I truly love meeting new people, taking care of Airmen and helping out whenever I can.
As luck would have it, I was assigned to the physical therapy career field where I was able to help people overcome their injuries and resume normal activities. I loved my job, but I wanted to serve in another capacity. Subsequently I was selected to be a first sergeant. It was in this special duty I was able to make a difference and impact people’s lives, something I hope to continue in my current role as the 14th Medical Group Superintendent.
As a first sergeant, I learned a lot about a whole host of different Air Force services offered to military members and their families and utilized them on a regular basis. These services included education and commissioning programs; Airman and Family Readiness Center; Transition Assistance Program; Personal Financial Management; Air Force Aid; Casualty Assistance; legal services such as notaries, Power of Attorneys, Last Will and Testaments, and general legal assistance; Exceptional Family Member Program; Youth Programs; Outdoor Recreation and the list goes on.
As Air Force members, we have several resources available to help out in just about any situation. If you ever find yourself in a tough spot where you are unsure of what to do or where to turn, reaching out to an available Air Force helping agency could alleviate many of the worries or anxieties you might be experiencing. If you don’t know where to start, a first sergeant could definitely point you in the right direction.
We all run into situations and issues along the way and it is nice knowing our Air Force family is there to help with whatever we may need. These are more reasons I love the Air Force, serving with the people I’ve had the opportunity to meet and the camaraderie associated within the world’s greatest Air Force.