Guard arrives at ARPC

  • Published
  • By Mike Molina
  • Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs
DENVER --  Staff Sgt. Javier Castro loves being in the military. So much so, that when the opportunity came to leave his job as a bank manager and home of more than 12 years in Sioux Falls, S.D., the Air National Guardsman jumped at the chance. 

"I like the structure of the military," he said. "You control your future." 

Sergeant Castro is one of 15 Guardsmen who have recently begun working at the Air Reserve Personnel Center here, as a result of ARPC's taking on Guard personnel services and increasing the Center's workload to nearly 1 million customers.  Another 39 Guardsmen have been selected for positions and are expected to report in soon.

"I heard about the military personnel flights changing (at the Guard units)," Sergeant Castro said. "I wanted to advance in my military career, and there are all kinds of opportunities here." 

Most of the positions being filled at ARPC are in the contact center, but in an effort to support the Air Force's Total Force concept, Guard members are being placed throughout the organization. 

"This will be the largest group of Air National Guard personnelists in the United States working together to support the total air reserve component," said Lt. Col. Donald Johnson, Air National Guard adviser to the commander at ARPC. Colonel Johnson is helping spearhead the transition of Guardsmen in the field to their new jobs at ARPC. "ARPC is going to be a totally integrated organization," he said. 

The new positions have provided an opportunity for ARPC's Guard customers to become part of the team delivering personnel services to the ARC. 

"At the Guard level, we're in the military," Sergeant Castro said. "But sometimes we don't always get to see the big picture. That's what this experience allows -- now I get to see the whole picture."