BRAC getting you down? Career assistance advosors will pick you up

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeff Williams
  • 934th Airlift Wing
Minneapolis St. Paul IAP ARS --  Now that the migration of newcomers due to the Base Realignment and Closing Commission is near completion, members gained as Overage Status: Code 8 have two years from the date of assignment in order to find a non-overage slot. 

For wing members in Code 8 status or for those who desire additional career advice there is a little known program at their disposal to help make the proper career choices - the Career Assistance Advisor program.
Currently, the wing has 20 members trained in helping members with career-related issues. 

"We simply counsel members regarding their career opportunities," said Master Sgt. Louis Herbes, 934th Airlift Wing career assistance advisor. "We look at avenues like retraining, reenlisting, school extension, bonus pay and incentives for certain AFSCs."
For BRAC, he said cross-training issues, car-pooling and finding jobs at other Air Force Reserve units, are issues he deals with most often. 

Typically, career advisors see around 20 people per unit training assembly. He sees first-term Airmen and NCOs with 15-19 years of service, Sergeant Herbes said.
Master Sgt. Kaija Slautkstins-Byrkit and Master Sgt. Glen Dahn are the career advisors for the 934th Maintenance Group, and they work hard to ensure their personnel know what options they have about their careers. 

"We need to make sure that nobody gets overlooked or lost in the shuffle," said Sergeant Slautkstins-Byrkit, formerly a career advisor in Milwaukee. "We try to help resolve problems people may be having before they become huge problems."
Sergeant Dahn said, "We look at the career progression of our folks. If it doesn't work out here in Minneapolis, there are still some other options. We hate to lose anybody, but if there is nothing here, especially as the BRAC window closes, perhaps we need to look elsewhere." 

Sergeant Herbes said there are more issues he deals with than just BRAC.
"We deal with people who no longer want to drill with us," he said. "We try to come up with possible solutions to underlying problem areas like work conflicts, family obligations and school commitments. We have ample sources of information as far as benefits and reasons to stay in the military. It depends on what you want to make the best of your career." 

Airman wishing to speak with a career advisor are requested to meet with their supervisor and the unit career advisor before going to the group or wing advisor.