AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- For the last eight years, it’s been quite a challenge for applicants to join the U.S. Air Force while living in Italy. However, this has recently changed as Aviano now has its own enlisted active duty recruiter.
“Reopening this office makes it easier for applicants to get in touch with a recruiter, which provides better access to reach the applicants and get more people into the Air Force,” said Tech. Sgt. Jeremy McManus, 319th Recruiting Squadron European operations program manager.
Originally, if an applicant wanted to join the U.S. Air Force from Italy, they have to contact recruiters from different parts of Europe, which required much more time.
“I am in a centralized location because the other recruiters are in Germany and England,” said McManus. “Recruiters were stretched pretty thin as they had to recruit all the way down to the bottom of Italy.”
McManus recruits from all the DoD schools in Italy and the process is still very similar to the recruiting process stateside.
“First, we would go through the prequalification to make sure you are eligible for service, and then we determine further eligibility after the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test,” said McManus. “You would then go through the medical facility, where you would get medically cleared. Once that’s completed, you will be provided with a list of job opportunities. Once the job draft comes down and you are selected, the Air Force will send you from [Aviano] to basic training in JBSA-Lackland, Texas.”
One of the main differences applicants will face is the medical portion of the recruiting process.
Instead of going to a Military Entrance Processing Station, applicants will be required to reach out to Aviano’s Military Treatment Facility.
“The MTF will reach out to the applicant with a checklist, such as getting their eyes checked, their hearing and their laboratory work done,” said McManus. “After that, they are scheduled to meet with the doctor to sit down and get a full evaluation.”
Although this process requires an applicant to put in a little more work, it only demonstrates the true commitment of a future Airman.
“Airmen are the most important part of the Air Force,” said McManus. “Without the Airmen, the assets are just going to sit on the runway. So without Airmen, the Air Force doesn’t happen.”
If you or someone you know is interested in joining the U.S. Air Force, please contact Aviano’s local recruiter, Tech Sgt. Jeremy McManus at DSN 632-1309, email jeremy.mcmanus.2@us.af.mil or text +49 162 425 4742 to schedule an appointment on Area F, Bldg. 1467, 2nd floor, Rm. 202.