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Advisors help Airmen make career choices

  • Published
  • By SrA. Chris Bolen
  • 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., --  Managing an Air Force career can be a daunting task, however there is help.  At Grissom that help comes from the 21 career advisors led by Master Sgt. Juanita Withrow, chief of career enhancement. 

While retention is a major goal of the Grissom advisors, a large part of this effort involves educating Airmen on their career options, as well as other opportunities. 

"We have three group advisors and every squadron has an advisor," explains Sergeant. Withrow. "Grissom personnel are barely more than a few feet away from a career advisor," she continued. 

"One of our main objectives is to provide individuals with information so they can make smart choices," she emphasized. "We maintain a dynamic career program, so we can retain the best," she continued. 

The advisors are available to clarify and provide advice to Airmen of every level. 

As one part of this process, she and her staff are developing career planning books or binders to be distributed to the squadrons. The book covers a wide range of subjects aimed at reservists and covers advancements, promotions, education programs, and even entitlements for retirees, she said. 

"Our advisors are also on watch for career opportunities that people do not know about," she noted. "We can educate people on other career fields, and how to achieve their goals." 

The chaplain field and even the Air Force Reserve band are opportunities few people are aware of, she continued. 

One recent example Sergeant Withrow notes is a Grissom Airman, who was selected to attend the Air Force Academy. "When the opportunity arose, my office contacted the commanders with a list of those individuals who met the requirements," she explained. 

"Our career advisors have a wide breadth of experience, and we have a good pool of knowledge," she notes. A career advisor has to be a minimum of a technical sergeant, and possess a 7-level. 

"Our advisors have been around for a while," she adds. "We can provide a wide range of support. However, ultimately it is up to the service member to take the information we provide and run with it," stated Sergeant Withrow.

Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer