ART Recruiting Blitz Week launches at wing

  • Published
  • By By Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. --  As many Americans brace for continued economic and job market turbulence, Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service sent a team here for an unprecedented job placement effort today. 

AFRC/RS selected the 459th Air Refueling Wing as the site for an Air Reserve Technician Recruiting Blitz Week, in hopes of creating program awareness and expediting job applications for interested Airmen. 

"The blitz week is a new "one-stop shopping" approach to answer applicants' questions, and go above and beyond in customer service to help connect qualified people with the right jobs," said Master Sgt. Jo Ann Shaw, AFRC/RS, Langley Air Force Base, Va. "We want people to be able to associate names and faces with this program to ease the job search and hiring process." 

An ART is a full time federal civil service employee who serves in a position that requires an active Reserve assignment in a Reserve unit. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and be willing and eligible to join or remain in the Air Force Reserve. As a condition of employment, ARTs must be ready Reservists assigned to and training with the unit in which they are employed and must occupy an equivalent Reserve military position with a comparable military rank or grade. 

Sergeant Shaw said success from this week brings the possibility of additional blitz weeks around the country. 

"Ideally we'd like to increase the names in the pool of qualified applicants," Sergeant Shaw said. "Don't wait for a job listing to occur because our outreach efforts to group commanders, superintendents and first sergeants could reveal vacancies at any time."
In addition to low-cost health care and life insurance benefits, civilian benefits include travel, educational and promotion opportunities and recognition through cash or honorary awards for special contributions. 

Career fields for enlisted and officers include, among others, aircrew maintenance, safety, medical, supply, personnel, and education. Though the program is new, the team of professionals who comprise the ART recruiting program represents many years of experience. 

"At just less than three years old, the ART recruiting program has created avenues for people to market their knowledge, skills and abilities," Sergeant Shaw said. "Our team is truly a pioneer crew of recruiters." 

The ART recruiting team consists of Sergeant Shaw, Master Sgt. James Dock, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.; Master Sgt. Bill Hose, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.; Master Sgt. Scott Soucie, Homestead Air Force Base, Fla.; and team leader Senior Master Sgt. Henry Lewis, AFRC/RS, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.. 

To apply for a position or for more information, e-mail joann.shaw@afrc.af.mil or call 757-788-9617.