ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command is celebrating Public Service Recognition Week May 3 – 9.
The week is set aside to inform the nation about what public employees do, why they do it and how well they perform. Throughout the week, AFRC is recognizing some of its approximately 13,000 public employees.
Today's featured employee is Bonnie Bast
1) What is your job?
I'm the Aerial Port Functional Area Manager for the 2T2 career field working in the Logistic Readiness Cell at HQ AFRC. In a nutshell, I am responsible for the readiness and AEF planning/deployment of 37 Reserve Aerial Ports, approx. 5000+ Airmen in a critical career field. I have many other roles that have me working in coordination with other AFRC HQ civilians and military personnel in the same field to make decisions that will assist the Combatant Commands in getting the best trained personnel as possible.
2) Why did you decide on a government job?
I feel like the job chose me, rather than a conscious decision to take a government job. I came here to HQ AFRC from the 22nd NAF as a reservist in the same career field to help when this position was undermanned and Aerial Port support was in high demand. While I was here on 6 month orders as a reservist, it was clear that the job was a good fit and it was a way for me to serve in my career field and the Air Force Reserve to make a difference. It was an easy decision to move to Georgia from Wisconsin knowing that I was taking a position with the government that I would enjoy doing every day.
3) What is your favorite thing about your job?
When I was a reservist at a unit I always looked for a way to do more in my career. I wanted to deploy and gain all the experience I could, I loved the job and wanted to learn and do everything, I wanted to get out there to “do the job”. Now I’m able to share those opportunities with other Airmen. I know that there are Airmen in the Reserve just like myself who want to do their part for their country and do what they have been trained to do. I can show them how to do that from this position, by finding and sharing opportunities, deployments, volunteer positions, and humanitarian missions, giving them a chance to show what a Reservist is capable of. I also have the ability to mentor young Airmen in the Reserve and help them to grow into future leaders. I enjoy coming into work every day for that reason, it really doesn’t feel like work.
4) How do you think your job impacts the organization?
I am only a small part of a much bigger team in the Logistic Readiness Cell, here at AFRC Robins Air Force Base. Each of us at HQ plays an important role in supporting the war fighter. It’s our job to look out for the Airmen who put themselves in harm’s way every day. My impacts are small compared to the Airmen who are getting the job done and deploying all over the world. I’m proud to be working for them.
5) What are some of your personal and professional?
I would like to continue to look for even more opportunities for Reservists to serve in missions that help them feel like they are impacting and making a difference in the world, not just supporting the Area Of Responsibility but also humanitarian efforts like Operation United Assistance in Africa. Another goal for me is streamlining the training time for a traditional reservist, it’s shrinking with all the administrative requirements; which are important, but allow for less actually hands on. I want to be a part of the effort to help make the time a Reservist has count, so we can keep supporting the mission with trained and proficient Airmen.
6) Any additional information you would like to share.
I’m a Reservist as well as a DOD civilian employee; I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve in both ways. I never dreamt that I would be here at this level and have the chance to impact so many other Reservists, but now I am here, and want to do it the best I can.