Air Force Reserve recruiter a lone ranger roaming at Fairchild AFB

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Anna Sullivan
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  On his first visit to the 446th Airlift Wing since his assignment to the in-service recruiting position at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Wash., Master Sgt. Charles Gillespie was pretty impressed.

"Everyone is so nice here," said the seven-year veteran of the recruiting service. "I am the only Air Force Reservist at Fairchild and because of sequestration I haven't been able to travel. It is great to meet all the members of my team - they are like a family."

Gillespie, who lives with his wife and three children on Fairchild AFB, has experience as a line recruiter and an officer accessions recruiter, all at the 932nd Airlift Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. So he feels prepared to take on the singular nature of his position.

"It is a challenge, as one individual, to develop a relationship with the active duty here," he said. "But I really enjoy letting young Airmen know about the opportunities the Reserve has to offer when they are making the decision to leave active duty."

Gillespie offers bi-monthly briefings on Air Force Reserve careers to transitioning Airmen. He also said he participates in "every group possible," such as Air Force Sergeant's Association, and the Top 3 so people know who he is and what he does.

Gillespie also enjoys the opportunity to mentor young Airmen.

"I remember when I was on active duty (as a heavy equipment operator) and what it was like to make career decisions," he said. "I encourage them to take advantage of all their benefits and to not give up on opportunities such as extending their service to the Air Force by joining the Air Force Reserve. They've worked too hard to give it up now."

For the Charleston, Mo., native, his decision to leave the active duty and make the jump to become an Air Force Reserve recruiter had a lot to do with chance. He'd always thought he would enjoy the career field, but when he was in-processing to the Air Force Reserve at Scott AFB, the flight chief looked at him and said, "Hey, you, you think you want to be a recruiter?"

Gillespie doesn't know why he was posed the question, but he is glad he went to hear what the guy had to say.

Gillespie is the 446th Airlift Wing's recruiting point of contact for Eastern Washington and the Spokane area which includes Fairchild AFB. He, along with all of the wing's recruiting team can take applications for enlisted positions nationwide as well as McChord Field. If you know someone in that region who is interested in making the Air Force Reserve a career, please contact Gillespie at 509-247-2976 or e-mail him at charles.gillespie.2@us.af.mil.