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U.S. Air Force in Wilkes-Barre Looking For More Recruits

WILKES-BARRE — The United State Air Force in our area needs more people to recruit. “The Air Force has bumped up its numbers, we need more manning,” said ...

WILKES-BARRE -- The United State Air Force in our area needs more people to recruit.

“The Air Force has bumped up its numbers, we need more manning,” said U.S. Air Force MSgt. Michael Halbrook.

Halbrook is in charge of recruitment in Schuylkill, Carbon, Luzerne, and Monroe Counties. For each of them, the Air Force may not meet its recruitment goal this year.

“It's been kind of difficult, recruiting's been difficult in the area,” he said.

There might be a few reasons for that, including this year's presidential election.

“With anything new coming up, people are kind of hesitant about the future to see what's coming up,” he adds.

Shawn Earles is a new recruit. He's heard friends worry about joining the force because of today's politics.

“I heard a few kids say that,” he said. “Personally, I don't really care, because, at the end of the day, we're all American. So either way, I'm serving whoever, and I have to respect that.”

Brian Kimmel, an Airman First Class, joined almost a year ago after working in construction. He now works with computers and says joining the U.S. Air Force was the best decision he's made.

“The military's not all about fighting. There are so many other jobs, so many other opportunities you can do,” he said.

“We've got new jets, new equipment that needs mechanics and people that can work electronics, and of course our special ops field needs to be filled as well,” added Halbrook.

The U.S. Air Force has a new Armed Forces Career Center, just off of Business Route 309 near Wilkes-Barre.  For more information, check out its Facebook Page. 

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