The 2018 State of the Base address in Warner Robins was all about jobs.
“We hope to grow our work force through that and hope to grow the next generation of artisans that work at the ALC. So, hiring is a challenge, but it's a good challenge to have. And together, working with you, I know we can accomplish that,” Brigadier General John Kubinec said at State of the Base.
At Central Georgia Technical College, they know the base is hiring. That's why they want students in their aerospace and industry programs.
Jentsen Wilson is one of those students. He's a 20-year-old Houston County High School grad in his second year here at the college.
“I would like to get a job on Base just for a little while for experience and hopefully get out to Delta, making my way up there, getting my resume bigger, larger, you know,” Wilson said.
He's in the aviation maintenance program, which he first saw in high school.
“I came here and toured it my senior year, that's one of the things they do here, I saw these jacks and saw the airplanes and saw the engines they had, it just stuck out to me you know. That's why I chose it,” Wilson said.
Wilson had heard about the program about three or four years ago.
CGTC knows it provides a pipeline to the Base.
Aerospace Dean Mike Engel says their programs of airframe powerplant licensing, aircraft sheet metal and avionics are crucial for Robins.
“Those three programs have been the meat and potatoes, if you will, of how the Base has staffed their mechanic and electrician needs for thirty years probably,” Engel said.
At State of the Base, General Kubinec said they have 255 jobs open and when expanded C-130 work comes to the Base over the next few years it'll bring 400 more.
Kubinec also announced that he's bringing back the apprenticeship program at the Air Logistics Complex, which would allow entry level employees to come in and gain valuable hands-on experience.
He also urged educators at every level in the local area to continue focusing on STEM education.
Engel says if you want the jobs, they're waiting.
“Whenever the Base says, 'We're hiring!' we'll have an influx of people that come into those programs and we have a very very high placement rate for all of those,” Engel said.
The pay’s not bad either. Most new employees start at a federal WG8 or WG10 pay rate, according to Engel.
The programs at CGTC usually last one to two years and tuition assistance from Georgia career grants can help lower the cost.
But jobs weren’t the only topics of discussion at State of the Base.
Kubinec said the additional C-130 work and new Global Hawk workload would continue Robins’ important role in the United States Air Force.
The General called the Global Hawk workload, which started last year, the most significant new workload at Robins in several years.
Robins leadership also assured the crowd of hundreds of business owners and political leaders that the JSTARS mission would continue normal operations through at least the mid 2020s, as 13 WMAZ has reported in the past.