USAF conducting regional recruitment in specialized fields

OSBURN — The United States Air Force has developed a squadron with the sole purpose of recruiting the best people the Inland Northwest region has to offer.

The Air Force's 330th Special Operations Recruiting Squadron is recruiting individuals aged 17 to 39 who are looking for a challenging job while also serving their country.

Right now they are recruiting for six career fields, including Combat Control, Pararescue, Special Operations Weather, Tactical Air Control Party, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Instructors, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians.

These Air Force careers are not your typical jobs and may include training in, but not limited to, Special Tactics training, AF Combat Dive, EMT-B/ EMT-P, Airborne school, Military Free Fall, SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) Course.

Technical Sergeant Matthew Leal, a recruiter for these programs who covers the Inland Northwest and all of Montana is looking for people who want to serve and are interested in one of the many cutting-edge fields the USAF has to offer.

What makes this different from previous recruiting is that this isn’t just recruiting for the sake of enlistment, but they are scouring the region to find people for those specific jobs.

“The reason our squadron was created was to help find the right people for the right job,” Tech. Sgt. Leal said. “In addition to the special training you receive there is a course designed for each career field and their specialty they bring to the battlefield.”

While this may sound exciting to the average citizen, there is also a physical and mental strength needed for any service in the United States military and it is not for the faint of heart.

Recruits will be tested both physically and mentally to be considered for any of these career fields.

“You cannot simply enlist and go do one of these jobs,” Leal said. “You must qualify for basic Air Force enlistment plus complete and pass a physical tests required to qualify for one of these jobs before receiving a contract and leaving for basic training.”

Recruits will also given the privilege of working with someone who has retired from the Air Force Special Operations community to help guide and mentor them into the career they have chosen.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Technical Sergeant Matthew Leal, please contact him at 509-922-4124.