Ohio Air National Guard offers
a variety of high-tech career paths
By Stephanie Beougher
Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Emily Wolf takes a break between classes recently at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Wolf also is an Airman first class at the 178th Wing in Springfield, Ohio, and is enrolled in the student flight program that helps new enlistees prepare for Basic Military Training, which Wolf is scheduled to attend later this year. (Photos by Airman 1st Class Ross Henderson, U.S. Air Force)
 (2017) — Emily Wolf is nearly finished with her junior year at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Once Wolf, an accounting major, has taken her last exam for the semester, she’ll trade her books for a military uniform and report for basic training.
Wolf is an Airman first class, or A1C, in the Ohio Air National Guard and is enrolled in the student flight program that helps new enlistees prepare for Basic Military Training. She drills with other student flight members at the 178th Wing in Springfield, Ohio and has been preparing to embark on her Guard career.
“The military has been something I have always wanted to do,” Wolf said. “It wasn’t until about the second semester of my freshman year of college that I decided to look into it again. I checked out the Ohio Air National Guard, saw that they would pay my tuition for schooling and it was a done deal and I joined.”
When she told her parents about the decision, her mom was uneasy at first.
“After I really got to talking to them about it, they opened up to the idea. They have always been firm believers in supporting me and my three older brothers with whatever decisions we make in life.”
Wolf will be assigned to the 178th when she finishes basic training and school. Col. John F. Knabel is the commander, and said there are more than a dozen opportunities in high-tech careers.
“The 178th has a wide variety of career paths that include intelligence to Remote Pilot Aircraft operations. Many of our career fields directly translate into civilian careers,” Knabel said. “The civilian employers in our community have come to expect highly skilled Airmen from the 178th, who have been trained on cutting edge technology and have a strong sense of leading people, managing time and resources.”
The incentives, aside from paid college tuition through the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program and federal resources, include the Air National Guard’s Enlisted Incentive Program that offers a $20,000 bonus to attract and retain drill status members in identified critical specialties. There are also travel opportunities. Ohio National Guard members are deployed around the world and serve alongside their active-duty Air Force and Army counterparts.
“All of our Airmen are a part of something bigger than themselves and they are an integral part of the Air Force’s global mission,” Knabel said. “Second, virtually every Airman will learn leadership skills and be required to set goals and accomplish a mission.”
Wolf is ready for the challenge.
“I am looking forward to meeting a variety of different people, serving my country, and most importantly the times that we can deploy,” she said. “I love going to different states and countries, so I’m excited for the chance to do so.”
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Visit the Ohio National Guard Education & Incentives web page to discover what options are available to further your career! |
