U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Juan Jordan, 20th Components Maintenance Squadron electronic tactician, speaks to Laura Moriarty, senior military education liaison for DeVry University, about possible employment during a job fair at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., June 22, 2012. Thirty eight vendors set up booths at the fair with potential job positions and education opportunities for the attendees. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Krystal M. Jeffers/ Released)
Sanette Holder, associate director of academics support for Embrey-Riddle, enlightens U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Elias Santiago, 20th Maintenance Group crew chief, and answers his questions about education opportunities. A total of 38 vendors set up booths at the fair. They consisted of many different universities, and corporate and government businesses. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Krystal M. Jeffers/ Released)
The Airmen and Family Readiness Center arranged a job fair for military members, their spouses and dependents at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., June 22, 2012. Businesses possessing open job positions, like Scana, a natural energy provider, set up booths at the fair. Universities also arrived with information for a total of 38 vendors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Krystal M. Jeffers/ Released)
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dominique Lee, Third Army/AECENT communication technician, speaks with Dennis Dobbs, Department of Corrections lieutenant recruiter, about potential job opportunities during a job fair at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., June 22, 2012. The Department of Corrections was one of 38 businesses and universities that set up booths. The fair is geared for retiring military members, their spouses and their dependents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Krystal M. Jeffers/ Released)
by Airman 1st Class Krystal Jeffers
20th Fighter Wing
6/26/2012 - SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- A job fair for retiring or separating service members, military spouses and dependents was held at Carolina Skies here, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 22, 2012.
The Airman and Family Readiness Center arranged a job fair to assist men and women transitioning from active duty service to a civilian career.
"We are trying to give our military members, spouses and dependents a chance to talk to different vendors without having to compete with the civilian population," said Master Sgt. (Ret.) Arlyne Rzepecki, 20th Force Support Squadron community readiness specialist in charge of the job fair.
Arriving with job positions and education opportunities, 38 vendors set up booths at Carolina Skies including: educational, truck and industry, construction, law enforcement, insurance and medical vendors. There were also agencies from here on base like the Exchange and Nonappropriated Funds
"We try to cover the whole spectrum of what they may be looking for. Many people who are transitioning out of the military try to get a government job but there are others that might want to go corporate," Rzepecki said.
The personnel manning each booth were available to speak to about open job positions during lunch. The fair was arranged during lunch so that military members could take a few minutes during their break to come and drop off a resume instead of having to take time off of work to go downtown or to drive all the way to Columbia, S.C., for a job fair.
More than 300 people took advantage of this opportunity. One of the people that arrived was U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Micheal Singleton, Naval Mine Anti-Submarine Warfare Command operation specialist.
"I have completed 25 years of active duty military service and ... I want to make the transition from a military career to a civilian career," he said, "This is a very helpful event to support that process."
Singleton spent the afternoon speaking to each of the business representatives about being potentially employed.
A few companies expressed interest, Singleton said. He left feeling very optimistic.
