Career Assistance Advisors pave the road to professional success

  • Published
  • By Ashley Palacios
  • 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --  Career Assistance Advisors are an often under-utilized resource available to Airmen. In addition to answering career and retirement questions, they can also assist Airmen with finding which professional development classes they can most benefit from.

Advisors can answer questions related to retraining options, retirement and issues with Air Force forms. If they don’t know the answer, they can connect you with the people who do.

“The primary goals of career assistance advisors are professional development and providing career guidance to help Airmen make informed decisions,” said Senior Master Sgt. Sarah Sullivan, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland career assistance advisor. “We’re here to help. These are people’s lives we’re dealing with. If there’s a gap in the process, we fill it.”

Career assistance advisors can also help Airmen find developmental courses which would be the most beneficial to their careers.

Developmental courses are taught by volunteers across JBSA who want to have a positive impact on the lives and careers of Airmen, said Master Sgt. Elliott Velez, JBSA-Randolph career assistance advisor.

The volunteer system not only empowers Airmen to bring their ideas forward and use their skills to teach others, but also encourages other Airmen to follow in their footsteps.

“The Career Assistance Advisor Program is the roadway to professional development, however, the car is driven by the Airmen,” said Velez.

Sullivan and Velez encourage Airmen to take advantage of professional development courses. A variety of topics are covered in the courses, but focus on helping Airmen understand Air Force processes such as the Airmen Retraining Program, Palace Chase and the Enlisted Commissioning processes.

“True success comes from learning the process,” said Sullivan. “You can then use the process to your advantage.”

Some of the upcoming courses being offered across JBSA include a strategic writing seminar, senior non-commissioned officer leadership development, flight chief course, creating a successful organization, John Maxwell’s 21 indispensable qualities of a leader and first term airman center profession of arms center of excellence briefer training, just to name a few.

“If Airmen come with an open and trainable mind, they’ll get something they can add to their toolbox every time,” said Velez.

Airmen of all ranks should take it upon themselves to seek opportunities for growth, continued Velez.

One of Velez’s favorite John Maxwell quotes is “change is inevitable but growth is optional.”

Velez feels this statement is important because he believes “by stepping outside your comfort zone and being momentarily uncomfortable, you can become a stronger person and a stronger Airman.”

Rank-specific courses will be designated as such. Civilians are welcome to attend classes based on availability.

For more information on the professional development courses being offered at JBSA, contact your installation CAA at one of the following locations: 59th Medical Wing at 292-4308, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 808-6428, JBSA-Lackland at 671-3815 or the JBSA-Randolph at 652-2525.