Structural maintenance career training sharpens Airman’s skills in, out of the military

Photo By Randall Burlingame | Airman 1st Class Jose Lozada Jr., 104th Maintenance Group structural maintainer, performs maintenance on a F-15 Eagle tail cone March 3, 2019, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. Lozada joined the Air National Guard as a way to bring his maintenance career to the next level. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Randy Burlingame)  

WESTFIELD, MA, UNITED STATES

03.02.2019

Story by Airman 1st Class Randall Burlingame 

104th Fighter Wing

Airman 1st Class Jose Lozada Jr., 104th Maintenance Group structural maintainer, is one of many Airmen benefitting from the extensive on the job training in the Air National Guard.

Lozada is currently going through Mission Essential Skills Training at the 104th Fighter Wing, ensuring his proficiency and excellence in his work.

The training opportunities Lozada has taken advantage of have helped to hone his craft in and out of the military.

“I was looking to further my career,” said Lozada. “I was doing it as a hobby before.”

Many of the tasks he performs in the structural maintenance shop directly translate to the work he performs as a civilian, he said. He has been doing collision repair and auto body work for about eight years, and started working out of his own shop two years ago.

“I do maintenance work that kind of ties in to what I’m doing,” said Lozada. “It helps me out even more on the civilian side because it gives me a different aspect of what I already know.”

Lozada said his goal is to keep pursuing a career at the 104 FW, and he is enjoying the ride so far.

“I love it,” said Lozada. “I enjoy doing what I do.”

• Date Taken: 03.02.2019
• Date Posted: 03.02.2019 15:56
• Story ID: 312624
• Location: WESTFIELD, MA, US