Photo By Staff Sgt. Timi Jones | Airman 1st Class Noah Lockie, left, 270th Engineering Installation Squadron radar...... read more read more
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Tech. Sgt. Alissa VandeBunte, 270th Engineering Installation Squadron engineering technician, is the squadron’s Unit Career Advisor. Responsible for aiding Airmen in exploring their military and civilian career goals, VandeBunte helps Airmen understand the benefits, resources and opportunities available to all servicemembers.
“Two other Airmen in the 270EIS and I have all leveraged the Air National Guard benefits to pursue higher education and compete in college athletics,” said VandeBunte. “It’s an incredible testament to the opportunities the Guard provides.”
Staff Sgt. Bryce Gable, 270EIS cable antenna systems, attended West Chester University graduating with his degree in economics and finance. While there he also participated in cross country and track and field along with VandeBunte.
“I did a year of college before meeting Tech. Sgt VandeBunte on the track team,” said Gable. “We started talking about the Air Force and I actually enlisted after my second year. I took a gap year and finished my last two [years of college] as an enlisted member of the Air National Guard.”
The decision to enlist ultimately allowed Gable the opportunity to fully pay for his last two years of school and set him on track for his civilian career.
“The education benefits really got me through the last two years of school, paying for courses and housing,” said Gable. “Now I have the best of both worlds — I work at an accounting firm full time but still get to come on base for the weekends, work outside in manholes and be a ‘cable dawg.'"
Airman 1st Class Noah Lockie, 270EIS radar airfield and weather systems, shares a similar sentiment and experience. Before joining the Guard, he was also a college athlete competing in cross country and track and field at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned a degree in natural science with a concentration in pre-physical therapy. Lockie returned to school and is now earning his degree in physical therapy using his education benefits from the military.
“I graduated a semester early to attend basic training,” said Lockie. “While attending basic, not paying for housing, meals or any bills, I was able to save that money to pay off a huge portion of my undergrad loans, and now I’m using the education benefits to pay for grad school.”
Lockie values the balance between military and civilian life, just like VandeBunte, Gable and many other Guardsmen who share the unique experience of being a part of both worlds.
“I have the freedom to pursue my own civilian career while also having the benefits of being in the military and being able to say I’m in the World’s greatest Air Force,” said Lockie. “I still get to travel and do TDYs, but after, I get to come home to where I want to be.”
Education benefits and travel are just a couple of many opportunities the Air National Guard offers. Anyone interested in joining or learning more is encouraged to reach out to their local recruiting office.
111th Attack Wing Recruiting Office can be reached at (215) 323-7400.
| Date Taken: | 05.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.06.2025 08:13 |
| Story ID: | 496946 |
| Location: | BIDDLE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 121 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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