Recruiter retains Airmen, receives award Published Nov. 5, 2009 By Diane Betzler EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Master Sgt. Jeffrey Ossman is an Airman who believes in the Air Force -- enough so to convince others to re-enlist after their enlistment is up. Sergeant Ossman is the Top in Service/Line Recruiter at Edwards for the Air Force Reserve and says encouraging Airmen to stay in makes a lot of sense because both parties benefit. "The guy who re-enlists maintains his military benefits and by retaining the Airman, the Air Force holds on to its assets," he said. Air Force personnel go through a lot of training while serving, Sergeant Ossman explained. He said it seems a shame to lose airmen so soon after completing specialized training. The sergeant is good at his job and this year walked away with the Top in Service/Line Air Force Reserve award. "My goal was to recruit 30 enlistments for fiscal year 2009, but so far I've signed up 68 Airmen for the Air Force Reserve," he said, pleased with those numbers. At the end of each Airman's enlistment they go through an out processing checklist and that's when they meet Sergeant Ossman. "I'm the guy that handles the out processing paperwork and I use that opportunity to present the Air Force Reserve as an option," Sergeant Ossman said. An Air Force career man himself, Sergeant Ossman, an Active Guard Reserve, heads two base-wide programs at Edwards; Palace Chase and Palace Front, and many Airmen stationed at Edwards will be interested in one or the other during his or her U.S. Air Force career. "The Palace Chase program is for Airman who might opt to get out early," Sergeant Ossman explained. He said to be eligible for this program; an airman has to have served a minimum of 50 percent of his or her term. "If accepted they can serve a specified amount of time the Air Force Reserve." The Palace Front program comes into play when the Airman's enlistment is up. This program offers the airman the opportunity to serve in the Air Force Reserve at the end of their active duty term. The Palace Front program offers the Airman Air Force retirement benefits plus they have the option of joining TRICARE Reserve Select, a medical insurance plan. Sergeant Ossman is modest about his award and says he has an advantage over other recruiters because his area of responsibility is very large. "I cover the entire Antelope Valley plus Santa Clarita," he said, adding that he also has the opportunity to meet Airmen whose enlistments are up and are about to separate from the Air Force. "Those are the guys we like to hold on to because they are fully qualified in their particular fields," he said. The sergeant said he is able to offer re-enlisting Airmen a retirement plan plus a medical plan. The re-enlistment works well for them because it gives them the opportunity to stay current in their training and are able to maintain their skill level. Sergeant Ossman was presented the Top in Service/Line Recruiter Award from Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner, commander of the Air Force Reserve Command.