BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
When the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended Beale's KC-135 Stratotankers leave in 2008, Tech. Sgt. Melissa Broussard didn't know what would happen after her job went away with the aircraft.
"I was a little freaked out. It's discouraging to find out you're loosing a job you like," said the Air Reserve Technician.
But after attending the 940th Air Refueling Wing's BRAC job fair April 15, she discovered there were many Air Force units seeking her skills.
Sergeant Broussard, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 314th Air Refueling Squadron commander's support staff, met face-to-face with representatives from more than 14 different Guard and Reserve organizations, all whom are looking to hire skilled, motivated Airmen.
"The job fair was a really good thing. I think I'm going to Lackland (Air Force Base, Texas). There are several jobs there and I like San Antonio," Sergeant Broussard said.
While full-time ARTs can choose to relocate for the job, traditional Reservists usually need to find a drill position close to home. Fortunately, there were Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units in California eager to hire Beale's displaced citizen warriors.
For example, Capt. Michael Sampognaro, commander of the 129th Maintenance Operations Flight, Moffett Federal Airfield, Santa Clara County, Calif., talked to a number of Beale Reservists who live near San Francisco.
"Some of the 940th members who live in the Bay Area may find serving at Moffett field might be a good fit," he said.
For Reservists in the Sacramento area, the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., has the advantage of a commute similar to the one to Beale.
"We met a lot of good prospects interested in Travis," said Chief Master Sgt. Victor Camacho, accessories superintendent for the 349th Component Maintenance Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
But it wasn't just maintainers who are looking at Travis. The proximity of the 349th to Sacramento is also important to many Reserve aviators, such as Senior Airman Lindy Sutton. She's now a KC-135 boom operator with the 314th Air Refueling Squadron and is planning to interview for a KC-10 Extender boom-operator position at Travis.
"I'm having a good time flying at Beale and I want to keep flying. I learned a lot of good information (at the job fair) today about interviewing for boom positions. It's really good they have so many different places represented here, especially the units that are close by, like Travis," Airman Sutton said.
Many Reservists were also looking at the 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., the other large AFRC Wing in California.
Senior Master Sgt. Chuck Jepson, avionics flight chief for the 452nd Maintenance Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., said that was in part because the two units have a decades long association with one another, and many members have moved between the two units over the years.
"We also had a lot of interest in the hiring bonus for air reserve technicians moving to March," he said.
Qualified ARTs willing to relocate to March Field may qualify for a hiring bonus of up to $12,000.
Not all the Airmen now supporting the KC-135 mission will leave when the tankers depart. A few will cross-train into positions in the 940th Mission Support Group or join the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron, the programmed Reserve Associate piece of Beale's emerging Global Hawk mission.
Lt. Col. Jon Ellis, Commander of the 13th RS said there is not yet a firm schedule for hiring traditional reservists and ARTs into the Global Hawk program, but the job fair was productive for him as well.
"It was a terrific opportunity to interact on a one-on-one basis with a number of people," he said.
One thing that's likely to be in the future of many 940th operators and maintainers, an aircraft other than the Stratotankers the unit has flown for three decades. Both the 349th and 452nd Air Mobility Wings brought C-17 Globemasters to the job fair for people to touch and see in person.
"I liked being able to see the aircraft and talk to the people about it," said Senior Airman Nick St. Thomas, an aircraft hydraulic systems specialist with the 940th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
"The C-17 is kind of cool. I think I'd like working on it," he said.