403rd Wing hosts recruiting event for Airmen impacted by proposed deactivations

  • Published
  • By Maj. Lisa L. Kostellic
  • 3rd Mission Support Group
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Approximately 120 403rd Wing personnel, leadership and recruiters from Alabama and Mississippi participated in a recruiting event here Sept. 13.

In March, the 403rd Civil Engineer Squadron was one of several Air Force Reserve Command units identified in the President's 2015 Proposed Budget to deactivate.

Although the audience was primarily made up of CES personnel, the event was open to the wing, especially those in maintenance and operations career fields affected by the proposed deactivations of the 345th and 815th Airlift Squadrons.

"We stand to lose about 500 personnel from the 403rd Wing in the near future. It's imperative we do everything we can to help these trained Citizen Airmen find a place where they can continue to participate in the national defense of our country," said Col. Frank L. Amodeo, 403rd Wing Commander.

Tech. Sgt. Charles L. King, Jr. was the event coordinator. His efforts resulted in 20 Guard and Reserve recruiters converging at Keesler Air Force Base to provide a multitude of choices for Airmen, who have to make life- and career-changing decisions based upon the decisions made by the Air Force and AFRC.

"It was a surprising blow for us (CES), finding out we'd be deactivating. Once we got over the initial shock, we started working on ways to help our civil engineers transition. We hope this recruiting event was a significant help to everyone who attended," said King.

Of the many guest recruiters, Col. David M. Kennard, the mission support group commander from the 186th Air Refueling Wing, Mississippi Air National Guard, drove to Keesler from Meridian to share his wing's experience to higher headquarters-driven changes and show support for the 403rd Wing's present and future challenges.

"We understand what you are going through. We've been through four types of airframes in the past five years. Recently, we got the message for our Detachment 1 to stand down. In the end, we were able to retain about 120 out of 250 members," said Kennard.

The 186th MSG commander and the rest of the recruiters briefed their missions, vacancies, and transfer requirements. After their remarks, the audience was free to move about and talk to recruiters, on-on-one.

"This a difficult situation for everyone involved. As a senior leader in an affected wing, we have to play the hand we are dealt," said Amodeo. "We want to do everything we can to support our Airmen and their families; that means offering options. This recruiting event today does that. We will continue to provide ways to help our Airmen make the most informed decision possible.".

Recruiters in attendance:

Alabama Air National Guard
5187 Selma Highway
Montgomery, AL 36108
Tech. Sgt. Marcus Milford, Cell: 334-221-8690, marcus.milford@ang.af.mil
187th Fighter Wing Recruiters, Comm: 334-517-1871/1872, DSN: 358-1871/1872

Alabama Army National Guard
301 Sage Ave
Mobile, AL 36606
Army Sgt. Shane Sparks, Comm: 251-476-2128, Cell: 251-401-9437, shane.e.sparks.mil@mail.mil
Army Sgt. Joshua Springsdorf, Cell: 251-281-4874, joshua.f.springsdorf.mil@mail.mil

Alabama Army National Guard
1842 Third Ave
Dothan, AL 36301
Army Spc. Hector Rivera, Comm: 334-793-9508

Mississippi Air National Guard
6117 Hwy 98 Suite 30
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Tech. Sgt. Warren Clay, Comm: 601-336-4954, Cell: 601-692-4713, warren.clay@ang.af.mil

Mississippi Air National Guard, Combat Readiness Training Center, 209th Civil Engineer Squadron & 255th Air Control Squadron
4715 Hewes Ave, Bldg 12
Gulfport, MS 39507
Master Sgt. Anna Ghrigsby, Comm: 228-214-6017, DSN: 363-6017, anna.ghrigsby@ang.af.mil

Mississippi Air National Guard, 186th Air Refueling Wing
Recruiting Officer, Comm: 601-484-9213, DSN: 778-9213, recruiting@msmeri.ang.af.mil

Mississippi Air National Guard, 172nd Airlift Wing, 172nd Civil Engineer Squadron
141 Military Dr
Jackson, MS 39232
Comm: 601-624-4471
Chief Master Sgt. Eugene Brunson, Comm: 601-405-8313, DSN: 828-8313, eugene.brunson@us.af.mil
Senior Master Sgt. Ira Turner, Comm: 601-405-8370, DSN: 828-8370, ira.turner@us.af.mil
Senior Airman Jacob Courtney, Comm: 601-405-8358, DSN: 828-8370, jacob.courtney@us.af.mil

Mississippi Army National Guard
7104 McCann Rd
Biloxi, MS 39532
Army Staff Sgt. Joe Whelchel, Comm: 228-392-9195, Cell: 228-861-6203, joseph.whelchel@us.army.mil

Mississippi Army National Guard
Hanger #1 Hewes Ave
Gulfport, MS 39507
Army Sgt. Gordon Gros, Cell 228-236-6430, gordon.p.gros.mil@mail.mil

Mississippi Army National Guard
6026 Hwy 98 West
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Army Spc. Nicholas Campo, Comm: 601-264-1103, Cell: 601-214-0894, nicholas.j.campo.mil@mail.mil

Mississippi Army National Guard
471 South Gate Road
Camp Shelby, MS 39470
Army Capt. Gerald Young, Comm: 601-558-4956, Cell: 601-572-4466, gerald.young@us.army.mil

AFRC, 908th Air Refueling Wing, 908th Civil Engineer Squadron
401 W. Maxwell Blvd.
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112
Senior Master Sgt. Herbert K. Pfeiffer, Comm: 334-953-3342, DSN: 493-3342, herbert.pfeiffer@us.af.mil