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Tinker career assistance advisors work for Airmen

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  They directly assist more than 5,000 on-base and deployed Tinker Airmen. They offer advice, suggest options, recommend resources and seek job opportunities for enlisted Airmen. Senior Master Sgt. Bethann Fleming and Master Sgt. Bernard Anderson are Team Tinker's career assistance advisors.

Stationed within the career field for a combined four-and-a-half years, the sergeants assist enlisted members one-on-one with questions regarding specialty codes, reenlistment and retraining opportunities, force-shaping concerns, retention issues, benefits and entitlements. Indirectly, the sergeants help enlisted members by overseeing several programs, briefings and informing senior leaders, officers and civilians about enlisted members' career issues.

"We're not here to try and convince Airmen to stay in the Air Force. We give them their options," said Sergeant Fleming, who is assigned to the 552nd Air Control Wing. "It's their decision what they want to do."

Oftentimes, when Airmen come to see the sergeants, they're concerned about their future. Sometimes they want to leave the military, and other times, they want to retrain due to force shaping.

Before rash decisions are made, Sergeants Fleming and Anderson will provide Airmen with necessary resources so they can research options. The sergeants will also see what's available to the Airmen and work within the guidelines of Air Force Instruction and the Air Force Personnel Center's regulations to accommodate the Airmen.

"If they want to stay in the Air Force, even if the odds are against them, we will fight for them in order to secure their career," said Sergeant Anderson, who is assigned to the 72nd Force Support Squadron. "We have been successful quite a few times where folks who would have been separated from the Air Force, we were able to retain them, find them jobs and keep them as a valid resource."

As a general rule, Airmen are introduced to the career assistance advisors at base newcomers meetings. Within a 10 to 15-minute briefing, the sergeants give a brief description of their responsibilities.

If an Airman wants to meet with an advisor, a first meeting usually lasts 30 minutes. The sergeants will offer counseling over the phone, at an in-person appointment or to a walk-in visitor. Follow-up meetings will be made according to what an Airman needs.

Outside of one-on-one sessions, the sergeants also address concerns at other programs. They host at least 13 programs including "Informed Decision," a monthly briefing for technical sergeants 13 months from their date of separation, commanders' calls, and civilian-military management courses, an overview for new civilians who supervise military.

"A lot of people think we're just there for the Airmen, but we tell the officers that they need to send their Airmen to us," Sergeant Fleming said. "They need to be aware of how we support the Airmen."

For more information, call 734-9809 or 734-9810.