188th leaders, Fort Smith Chamber promote employment initiative with local companies
By Maj. Heath Allen, 188th Wing
/ Published March 14, 2016
FORT SMITH, Ark. -- Leaders from the 188th Wing spoke to area company human resource professionals at the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce March 10 as part of a local employment initiative. The objective of the meeting was to educate local companies on a partnership between the 188th and the Chamber of Commerce.
The strategy focuses on linking drill-status Guardsmen from the 188th with full-time employment opportunities in the River Valley. The meeting educated local employers on specific training and education 188th drill-status members receive and how military discipline along with those specialties can benefit the local civilian workforce by helping to supply a quality pool of candidates.
Col. Bobbi Doorenbos, 188th Wing commander, also discussed how the Flying Razorbacks' vision of "Innovation Destination" matches the City of Fort Smith's on-going effort to bring diverse jobs to the River Valley.
"This is win-win initiative for both the Chamber of Commerce and the 188th," Doorenbos said. "Our drill-status Guardsmen receive outstanding specialize training in a number of areas that could also be valuable to the civilian workforce. Our goal is to link our civilian employers with these highly trained and capable unit members. This will bridge that communication channel and will help ensure our personnel are aware of these opportunities. It also helps civilian employers remedy skill gaps in areas of concern."
Local employers also received an update on the 188th's on-going mission conversion. The meeting featured a capabilities briefing on the wing's new primary mission sets: Remotely Piloted Aircraft (MQ-9 Reaper); Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (Distributed Ground Station-Arkansas); and Targeting (space-focused).
The mission of the 188th is to provide decision advantage through ISR and execute strike capability across the full spectrum of conflict, while cultivating ready, responsive, and highly skilled Airmen. During times of emergency or natural disaster, the 188th protects life and property, and preserve the peace, order, and public safety. Through its state partnership, the 188th supports defense security goals and build partner capacity through military-to-military engagement.