MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The professional development center at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida hosted an in-service recruiter from Hurlburt Field, Fla., July 12, 2016. The recruiter discussed retraining opportunities in currently undermanned Special Tactics career fields.
Retraining is used to shape and balance the force by allowing Airmen opportunities to retrain in undermanned career fields.
“There are a lot of people interested in battlefield Airmen career fields. This helps get the word out and answer questions individuals might have about applying and what to expect,” said Master Sgt. Byron Hayes, career assistance advisor assigned to the 6th Force Support Squadron.
In-services recruiters prepare and inform Airmen of the high-intensity nature of Special Tactics career fields. Special Tactics Airmen are the Air Force’s ground special operations forces, and U.S. Special Operations Command’s premier tactical air-to-ground integration force.
Special Tactics covers a broad spectrum of Air Force specialty codes, which include special tactics officers, combat controllers, pararescuemen, special operations weather Airmen, tactical air control party operators, special operations surgical team members and a number of combat support Airmen.
Thirty-three Airmen attended the briefing to better understand the retraining process and program requirements.
“The goal today is to make sure the folks who want to join the Special Tactics team know the right path to take and receive correct information,” said the in-service recruiter. “There can be a lot of misinformation out there and I want to clear that up.”
According to the recruiter, in order to be successful, Special Tactics retrainees must be physically fit, self-motivated, mature, and enjoy challenges.
“If you’re not the person that would say ‘Hey, I think it would be fun to go climb that mountain,’ this probably is not the right job for you,” said the recruiter. “Most of the time, the mission is going to be climbing a mountain and then doing a bunch of things on top of it.”
The recruiters within the Recruiting, Assessment and Selection team at Hurlburt Field look for Airmen who sport the whole Airmen concept, assessing physical and mental fortitude and stability.
For more information on retraining opportunities, contact the in-service recruiter at 850-884-1109, or send an e-mail to 24SOW.RAS.org@us.af.mil.
(Editor’s note: The in-service recruiter’s name has been withheld for security reasons.)