DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Senior Airman Brandon Jackson, 94th Maintenance Group data analyst, addressed a few hundred of the thousands of students attending the SkillsUSA conference in downtown Atlanta, Ga over their summer break. SkillsUSA is a workforce development organization for students, founded in 1965, and is one of the eight career and technical student organizations authorized by the U.S. Department of Education.
“I had the opportunity to speak to high school and college-aged students at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference about the importance of optimizing opportunities and the mindset they should have when approaching life's challenges,” Jackson said.
Joining the military was something Jackson knew he wanted to do as far back as he could remember.
“From my grandpa to my aunts, uncles and cousins serving in the various branches of the Armed Forces, I always understood it was an honorable thing to do, and I wanted to continue the family legacy,” said Jackson. “I joined the Air Force specifically for the principles it stands for: Integrity, Service, and Excellence. My career path within the Air force is similar to some roles I have held in my civilian career. My passion for analytics and process improvement made it an easy decision.”
According to Jackson, a typical day consists of gathering, reviewing and presenting data and statistics to senior leaders, and through his work, he’s been able to impact the Air Force in many ways.
“I am responsible for analyzing deficiencies in areas such as equipment performance and material consumption, and I also help users with database account questions or issues,” Jackson said. “With that, I’ve been able to interpret findings from data, identify threats and provide recommendations to senior leadership.”
The Air Force has shaped Jackson’s personal and professional development, challenging him to be excellent in all that he does, according to Jackson.
“Joining the Air Force should not be looked at as a last career option, instead it should be looked at as a top option,’ said Jackson. “The Air Force has many opportunities and benefits that a typical civilian career will not have.”