AIR FORCE RESERVE COMMAND, 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 Lynn Hickam.
1) What is your job?
I am the logistics training manager, I have all the units out in the field that are part of the logistics community and I help them. Most of them are traditional Reserve members so they’re only in their offices one weekend a month. It kind of makes it hard but I come in once a month, every other month, on a weekend for a few hours so that I can reach out to them. I get them situated for school; get their paperwork submitted to the proper people. Also, I make sure everyone is compliant with their training and I assisted with manning, as well.
2) Why did you decide on a government job?
I worked for the government when my family and I lived overseas. When my husband retired we moved back to Warner Robins because this is where we are from. When my youngest child was around four, I just decided it was time to go back to work. I just got lucky, I interviewed for a job on base and I got it. I started working April 2005 and have been working ever since.
3) What is your favorite thing about your job?
I love what I do; I enjoy the people I work with. They make it fun. You can have a bad day but then you can talk to your counterparts and then your day is not so bad anymore. I enjoy watching and being a part of a program starting from the very bottom and watching it grow into something that makes a huge difference, not just for the Air Force but for all the other services.
4) How do you think your job impacts the organization?
Logistics has a lot of different pieces to it and you have to all the pieces for the rest of the military to work. When you talk about logistics you talk about moving things or ordering parts and without good logistics you wouldn’t have a military that runs as smooth as it does. For instance, if there is a plane that is broken down and they get a part they ordered in a timely manner that could impact the mission greatly or put them behind. So, when you have the logistics personnel, they all have different jobs, and they have to work together to make it happen.
5) What are some of your personal and professional goals?
I’m always up for change; I like learning and trying new things. I would like to move up in my career because I enjoy what I do.
6) Any additional information you would like to share.
I’m part of a group called Rolling Thunder; it’s a POW/MIA awareness group. We go to the VA homes and visit with prior military members and that does my heart good, I enjoy things like that. I enjoy helping out in the community, and with my kids being in school, I’ve done a lot with the schools here. Particularly, I enjoy giving back to those who have already served. I’ve met people who have been POWs in the Korean War and Vietnam War and when I hear stories from the veterans, it makes me grateful for everything they did for us. It also makes you grateful for what’s being done for us today; I don’t think service members get enough recognition. Especially those who go into harm’s way and they’re out there all the time, so if I can give a little bit back to them then I’m happy.