Staff Sergeant Michael Nudo (left) is an Active Duty Air Force Recruiter in Florence. He is originally from Youngwood, PA and joined the Air Force in February 2007. He has a wife, Sabrina, and one daughter, Summer (1). He has been a recruiter for 7 months. Before recruiting, he was a Fuels Technician (POL) for the 43rd Air Base Squadron on Pope Field NC. The 43rd Air Base Squadron supported the Army Golden Knights, Global Response Force on Ft. Bragg. The Global Response Force (GRF) is built for rapid response to unforeseen or, more specifically, unplanned operations.
Staff Sergeant Aaron Cutchins (right) is an Active Duty Air Force Recruiter in Florence. He is originally from Port St. Joe, FL and joined the Air Force in December of 2006. He has a wife, Beth, and two kids Addison (5) and Kyler (4). Prior to his current career he was a Heavy Equipment Mechanic for the 823rd REDHORSE Squadron in Hurlburt Field, FL, which was a special Civil Engineering unit in the Air Force with a mission to construct bases in locations around the world from the ground up. Staff Sergeant Cutchins worked with all branches of the Military to get the mission accomplished. He shares, “Most people don’t realize the Air Force even has these capabilities!”
Tell us about your start with the Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Cutchins: “Before I joined the Air Force, I was working at a sewing factory in Florida. I waited until I was 21 years old to join because I wanted to experience the workforce for myself. I chose the Air Force over the other branches because I knew it would be a better fit for my type of personality. We look for the best and brightest of our young men and women because our main mission is to put multi-million-dollar pieces of equipment (jets) in the air!”
Staff Sergeant Nudo: “Prior to joining the Air Force I worked at UPS loading trucks. I really wanted to wrestle in college but having no money and poor grades I realized this was not an option. I joined a year after I graduated high school because a friend told me about the Air Force and how it works.”
Explain the impact the Air Force has had on your life.
Staff Sergeant Cutchins: “I have had some amazing times in the Air Force! I grew up in a single wide trailer in lower Alabama. My family struggled to say the least. I never realized how much until I actually left and looked back at my childhood. Since joining, the Air Force has sent me to over 10 different countries to include places like Germany, Ireland, Dubai, Kuwait, Qatar, and Afghanistan. I have been able to go to college absolutely free, see some of the most awesome places on the planet, and have my family completely taken care of all while making a pretty decent living! I can’t say enough good things about how the Air Force has treated me over the years. I could not imagine doing anything else with my life and I want to share it with everybody I can. The main reason I like being a recruiter is that I get to see how other people’s lives are changed for the better just like mine was and I love being part of that!”
Staff Sergeant Nudo: “My time in the Air Force has expanded my idea of the world in many ways. I have been to places I would have never been if not for the Air Force. I have deployed 6 times, traveled to 10+ countries, and went to technical schools all over the United States. My biggest accomplishment would be the education I received while in the Air Force. I currently have 2 associates (Logistics, Human Relations) degrees and am three classes away from my Bachelors in Transportation and Logistics. Without the Air Force none of this would have been possible. I have also received tons of hands on training in leadership, and Fuels operations. The benefits of the United States Air Force are unmatched in my opinion and I would do it all over again if I could.”
How can someone learn more about the Air Force?
Staff Sergeant Cutchins: “If someone is considering the Air Force as a career option, the first thing they need to do is give us a call to set up an appointment or go to www.airforce.com. We will go over the requirements to join and discuss options available to them. We have over 150 careers in the Air Force to include things like Avionics, Fire Protection, Special Forces, Intelligence, Security Forces, Cyber Security, In-Flight Refueling, Nuclear Weapons, Aircraft Crew Chiefs, Tactical Aircraft Maintenance, Missile and Space Facilities, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Careers, and many more. If any of these sound like something you may be interested in, then you’re literally just one phone call away from changing your life forever!”