New member joins CAA team Published June 5, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Master Sgt. Dana Reynolds is here for Tinker's Airmen. He is the newest addition to Tinker's Career Assistance Advisor team. Replacing Master Sgt. Bernard Anderson and assigned to the 72nd Force Support Squadron, Sergeant Reynolds will offer advice, recommend resources and seek job opportunities for enlisted Airmen. He said his past experience as a first sergeant and his dedication to the CAA mission makes him the right person for the job. "I'm very personable and I like to get out and talk to people," said Sergeant Reynolds, who came to the position from the 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron, where he was an additional-duty first sergeant. "As a first sergeant, I took care of a specific group of Airmen in a squadron and it gave me some good first-hand experience at being able to help Airmen in their careers." Chief Master Sgt. Jennifer Blease agreed. The chief is a reservist who sat in for 72nd Air Base Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Eric Harmon and Chief Master Sgt. Phyllis Atkins-Johnson of the 72nd FSS. "Master Sgt. Reynolds' professional and military experience will make his transition seamless," Chief Blease said. "He is very focused on the career progression of our Airmen and has the passion to guide and lead them. He brings the talent to the CAA team we need to continue the great work already in progress." Sergeant Reynolds first arrived at Tinker in February 1992. He worked in the 552nd Air Control Wing until his next installation, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., called him to duty in December 1995. The sergeant returned to the air control wing in May 2000. He applied for the CAA slot in February of this year after learning the only way he could remain a first sergeant is if he changed duty stations. "In order to still be able to help Airmen coming after me, this was the best route to take," the sergeant said. Sergeant Reynolds said he learned he got the job in March. While he admits, he doesn't know all of the answers he will do what he can to provide an Airman with the right tools to make an informed decision. "If Airmen don't know the options they have, then typically they will make a rash and poor decision," he said. "You can only make as good of a decision with the information you are given." Sergeant Anderson agreed. "Sergeant Reynolds is more than capable of ensuring our Airmen have the information needed to make solid career decisions," Sergeant Anderson said. "Sergeant Reynolds is passionate about taking care of Tinker's Airmen and I'm eager to see his impact." The sergeant said as part of his job, he will do his best to be innovative in his efforts to get information out to the Airmen. "We want to reach the largest audience that we can," Sergeant Reynolds said. "They don't have to listen, however, in my position I get a lot of first-hand information of different changes in policy, new incentives or programs that the Air Force is introducing to help retain Airmen. Also, folks who don't want to stay in the Air Force, this is also to help them for when they leave the Air Force because the Air Force wants to be successful on the outside as well." Sergeant Reynolds enlisted upon graduating high school and has been in the Air Force for 17 years.