CEA expo gives in-theater servicemembers a glimpse of a great career field

Published Jan. 22, 2008
By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing is scheduled to hold a Career Enlisted Aviator job fair Jan. 25 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. to inform junior enlisted servicemembers of opportunities available in CEA career fields.

Some CEA jobs the Air Force needs include in-flight refueling specialist, loadmaster, flight engineer, airborne mission systems specialist, airborne cryptologic linguist, and flight attendant.

"We're trying to get the word out that CEA jobs exist and give people an idea of what we do," said Master Sgt. Jarrod Sebastian, 40th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron loadmaster.

In addition to raising awareness about the career fields, the fair offers the opportunity for people who are interested in cross training to get more information on how to do so, he said.

"About half of the people in (these) career field(s) are re-trainees," Sergeant Sebastian said. "We've got folks who were firefighters, security forces, medical logistics ... you name it. Anyone who meets retraining requirements, from Airman to senior master sergeant, can join."

Airman 1st Class Robert Gantz, also a 40th EAS loadmaster, didn't retrain into the career field but joined the Air Force because he wanted to fly and see the world. Being a loadmaster gave him the chance to do both, he said.

"I love this job," Airman Gantz said. "It's a great feeling knowing we are getting people and supplies to where they need to be."

It's one job that will always be in demand, he said.

"There are a lot of other military personnel who can't do their jobs if we can't do ours," Airman Gantz said.

Additionally, the fact that he doesn't have a wife and family makes it easy for him to keep up with the operations tempo.

Conversely, Sergeant Sebastian, who has a wife and three small sons, said the job satisfaction far outweighs any drawbacks.

"I wouldn't have exposure to these kinds of missions if I didn't have this job," he said. Landing and flying over and in the Horn of Africa and being part of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom is an experience he wouldn't trade for anything, he said.

Because people in theater often become excited about the operations of a deployed environment and a diverse wing, the expo is something the flying squadrons here try to host every month or two, Sergeant Sebastian said.

"Last November, about 40 folks signed up to get more information and become potential career enlisted aviators," he said.

For more information about the CEA expo, call Sergeant Sebastian at 437-4100.