|
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Former military members often work as civilian employees at military bases across the United States and the world.
At Travis Air Force Base, California, 1,420 appropriated funds civilian employees work in a variety of positions, and more than half of them, 763, are veterans.
Six of these veteran employees work in the 60th CPTS and according to the unit’s commander, Lt. Col. Michelle Gombar, the mission is not possible without them.
“We could not do the job without their expertise and commitment,” said Gombar. “Their willingness to do the job with excellence and constant drive to go above and beyond is amazing. They provide insight, experience and vital continuity.”
Carolyn Bullock is a retired senior master sergeant with 24 years of experience in the financial field, serving more than a decade at Travis. During her time on active-duty, she served at seven bases. Today, she serves as a 60th CPTS budget analyst overseeing approximately $16 million annually.
“I’m in charge of reimbursements,” said Bullock. “As our utility bills come in, we pay those bills and bill our customers so we can be reimbursed. We then apply those funds to other projects as needed.”
Bullock, a native of San Francisco, accepted her position in June 2014. She manages a program that supports 52 organizations at Travis including the 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Unified School District and U.S. Transportation Command.
She said she enjoys knowing her work has a positive impact every day.
“When this opportunity became available at Travis I took it because I wanted to come back to the Air Force,” she said. “The mission of the Air Force is visible. The flightline is right outside my window and I see the planes take-off and land every day. It feels good knowing what I’m doing is a part of that.”
Jeffrey Seiwell, 60th CPTS budget analyst and six-year Air Force veteran from White Cloud, Michigan, joined Team Travis as a civilian employee in July 2015 and oversees a nearly $55 million budget for the 60th Civil Engineer Squadron.
“I balance the CE budget,” said Seiwell. “I also review every CE project and funding document prior to it being awarded on a contract. Additionally, I have oversight on the CE travel and government purchase card programs.”
In fiscal year ’16, the 60th CES, an organization responsible for providing a variety of services to Travis, including installation management and fire emergency services, received funding for 78 projects totaling $30.6 million including road repairs for Burgan Avenue and heating, ventilation and air conditioning installation.
“It’s gratifying to support such an important mission,” said Seiwell.
“Jobs in the civilian sector don’t have the same reach or impact that the one I do today does,” he said. “Every project I work on helps create jobs for the local economy and improves the quality of life at Travis. Here, I contribute to the Air Force mission and continue to serve my country. That’s far more rewarding than turning a profit for a civilian corporation.”
When Bullock and Seiwell aren’t advancing the Travis mission, they said they enjoy mentoring today’s Airmen.
“I volunteer with the United Service Organization on my off time,” said Bullock. “Their mission is all about taking care of service members and when I volunteer there, I see Airmen who may be here on temporary duty completing training, or they may be getting settled in at Travis as their first base.
“Many of them want information on how to do things like buy a car, establish credit or go to college and those were challenges I had when I was an Airman,” said Bullock. “I share with them how to best do those things and help them understand that things will take time.”
Seiwell focuses on education and said he helps Airmen understand educational opportunities available to them.
“I want to help people plan for their future after they serve whether that be four or 30 years,” he said.
The former staff sergeant briefs Airmen regularly on the importance of following a degree plan and the benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
“I sit Airmen down and go over their plan, ask them questions and walk them through the process,” said Seiwell. “We all eventually move on to other things and it is important to be as prepared as possible for that time when it comes.”
|