HELP WANTED: Flight Attendants!

  • Published
  • By Capt Stan Paregien
  • 932nd Airlift Wing
Scott AFB, Ill --  More flight attendant jobs
are waiting to be filled on
two different Reserve airframes.
 
When the country's top military
and civilian leaders fly on missions
around America and the world, Illinois
Air Force reservists are on hand to make
sure they receive the best care in the air. 

The Air Force Command Reservists are part of a select
group of military flight attendants who
are members of the 73rd Airlift Squadron,
932nd Airlift Wing. 

The wing flies VIP airlift missions
on the C-9C aircraft and the new C-40C. 

The wing already had three of the C-9C
models in use and then received two new
C-40C planes in 2007. A third C-40C
will come straight from the assembly
line in November. 

With the same paint
scheme as Air Force One, they are shining
jewels in the crown of this small Ilinois wing of 945 people. 

"We are currently manned with 18
flight attendants and our future goal is
41. Some are fulltime and some are traditional
reserve slots. 

They love this job and work hard, but enjoy worldwide
travel, and we are now requested by
name by higher level Department of
Defense leaders," said Col. Tom
Kirkendall, the operations group commander.
It takes a special person to make service
for high-level passengers -- to include
the chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, the First Lady of the United
States, the secretary of State, secretary
of the Interior, the CIA director and the
speaker of the House, just to name a few
the top priority at 28,000 feet while also
juggling many other duties. 

Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Wszalek just
celebrated her one year anniversary as a
932nd AW flight attendant. She didn't always
have food preparation skills. 

"I used to do the bare minimum
cooking at home and was an experimental
salad girl in high school. I then transferred
from the Mission Support Flight
and went to flight attendant training, and
now I cook all the time.
"The biggest challenge for me is
making contact with the head of the VIP
party we are dealing with to make sure
they select the menu items in a timely
manner so we (flight attendants) can
grocery shop for the mission. 

This involves mission prep, checking ice requirements
at each stop, getting enough
pillows and blankets, and checking air
stairs availability. We do a lot more than
basic airline attendants. We even load
luggage, cook full meals and are responsible
for emergency procedures," she
said. 

Tech. Sgt. Tom Otten is another one
of those special flight attendants. 

"I love being a flight attendant because it gives me the
opportunity to truly live the motto of service before self,"
Sergeant Otten said. "Our entire job revolves around putting
others first and caring for their needs above our own. The
amount of planning, flexibility and hard work that it takes to
fly a mission is something that I find very challenging and
very rewarding." 

When he first began, there was one aspect of the job the
sergeant had very little experience with: recipes and meal
preparation. 

"I had no cooking background," Sergeant Otten said.
"However, the Flight Attendant School was able to turn me
into a very good cook. I had no prior flying experience, and,
therefore, I found all of the aircraft training very interesting. 

"The job also has its share of benefits to include a great
opportunity to travel both nationally and internationally."
The schooling required of flight attendants involves a lot
more than just learning how to cook and is not easy by a long
shot. 

Attendants are trained and tested in many aspects of the
flying portion of the mission including conducting a pre-flight
inspection, handling in-flight emergencies and evacuating passengers
in an emergency landing. All of the training is centered
on customer service, which flight attendants are expected
to deliver at all times to the highest degree possible. 

"We ensure that those leading and directing our warriors
are able to do their jobs," Sergeant Otten said. "If we can get
our policy makers where they need to be and have them arrive
refreshed and happy, then they will be better equipped to
handle their obligations." 

As it prepares to receive
its third C-40C aircraft next month, the 73rd AS
is looking to add more
flight attendants. 

"All of the challenges
facing our great nation
around the world have
placed a greater demand
for our country's leaders to
be present at more places
throughout the world," Sergeant
Otten said. 

"The U.S. Air Force ensures that the
most powerful people in the world get safely where they need to be."
Training also includes the basic flight attendant course
taught at Lackland AFB, Texas; the combat and water survival
course taught at Fairchild AFB, Wash.; the enlisted aircrew
undergraduate course, which is currently taught at
Lackland AFB; and egress simulator training, which is taught
by a major airline. 

Staff Sgt. April Tarbill grew up in Kent, Wash., and wanted
to be a pilot since she was little. 

"Unfortunately, I didn't have the eyesight to be one," she
said. "I joined the Air Force late because I had no direction in
my life back then. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my
life or what I wanted to be when I grew up. Joining the military
gave me the opportunity to give back to all those who
have served before me. 

"I went through these flight attendant schools when I was
on active duty. EAUC, which usually includes training in the
altitude chamber, is a 17-day course that all flyers must attend.
This class is an overview of becoming a crew member. 

"The basic flight attendant course is a five-week course
covering such things as becoming a flyer, how to evacuate
the airplane in an emergency, getting to know your emergency
equipment on the airplane and, of course, the culinary
part, which is the cooking." 

The extensive training requirement is one reason military
members who want to cross-train into the flight attendant
program must have at least a five-level in their current
career field. It takes a lot of time to get to the five-level to
begin with, so this requirement helps the 73rd AS by ensuring
it is hiring people who are already experienced in Air
Force business. 

Combat survival training teaches flight attendants and
other crew members how to survive in
the outdoor elements, how to evade the
enemy and what to do if they are captured. 

Water survival class teaches them
how to survive if the pilot is forced to
ditch the plane in water somewhere. 

Egress simulator training shows
flight attendants how to evacuate an airplane
in different scenarios. It also covers
ditching procedures. 

All the training adds up to produce
well-rounded, professional flight attendants. 

"The hardest part so far about being
a flight attendant is the hours," Sergeant
Tarbill said. "It is not necessarily
the hours that you have to work, like
long flight hours, but the actual hour of
the day that you have to get up and prepare
for a flight. 

"There is a lot that goes into just the
prep work before the mission even
leaves the ground. But if you are willing
to do the work, this is the job for
you." 

Col. Maryanne Miller, 932nd Airlift Wing 
commander, said that despite all of the
demands and training requirements, she
understands why Air Force Reservists
choose to become flight attendants.
"It's an exciting time in our wing's
history," Colonel Miller said. "We represent
the only wing in Air Force Reserve
Command that provides executive
airlift support for our nation's senior
leaders. Supporting our nation with superior
service is a mission we understand
and enjoy doing. Every evaluation that
comes back from the customers after our
flights is outstanding."
 
Colonel Miller has more than 4,400
flying hours in a variety of Air Force
aircraft, including the C-141, C-5, C-9C
and now the C-40C. 

"From our maintainers to our pilots
and flight attendants, I can truly say we
have engaged this mission with the customer
in mind," she said. "I have dedicated
professionals doing this mission
day to day, and I am extremely proud of
their service and commitment." 

The colonel pointed out that the
932nd AW has worked closely with the
active Air Force's 89th Airlift Wing at
Andrews AFB, Md., to ensure synergy
of resources and smart operations while
standing up this new mission. 

"In addition, the 201st AS at
Andrews has been integral in assisting
with our pilot currency until our new C-
40C aircraft arrives," she said. "It is truly
an integrated operational approach to
operational support airlift and our distinguished
visitor mission." 

Lt. Col. Barry Rutledge, director of
operations for the 73rd AS, is proud of
the men and women who cater to the
needs of a wide range of people on the
flights. 

"The job these flight attendants do
is incredible," Colonel Rutledge said.
"They perform at an outstanding level,
not just for one flight of one mission,
but on every leg of every mission. That
level of service and dedication is unparalleled
in my opinion. I stand in awe of
these folks. We need more of these dedicated
professionals in order to continue
to grow this outstanding flight attendant
section to enable it to meet its tasking." 

One of the squadron's newest flight
attendants is Staff Sgt. Danielle "Dani"
Long, who was previously an air reserve
technician at the 419th Communications
Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah. One day in
Utah, she and a co-worker were discussing
their future plans. 

"I told my friend I had always
worked for other people who got to see
the world, and I wanted to do the same
and be a flight attendant," Sergeant Long
said. 

"The very next day, I got an electronic
mail message about it, and I sent
my package and was accepted." 

She sold almost all her belongings,
hopped in her car and headed east on
the highway from Utah to Illinois.
"Now, I'm part of the 932nd Airlift
Wing," the sergeant said. "Not only do
we share the same passion for serving
the passengers, but while most people
are watching the Travel Channel, we are
out there living it." 

The 932nd continues to recruit and
fill the demanding flight attendant slots. 

Anyone interested in applying must qualify for a topsecret
security clearance, be available to
fly a 10-day trip every three months and
be within the Air Force fit-to-fight standards. 

The commander of the airlift squadron,
pilot Lt. Col. Bud Johnson, pointed
out that the "932nd flight attendants are
exceeding everyone's expectations, and
we are proud that our wing is becoming
the place to represent the Air Force Reserve
to the leaders of the country. 

They are the main people the customer sees
and they must be courteous, kind and
friendly," said the colonel.

Information is available by
calling 618-229-7173.