ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE – Officials at Robins Air Force Base have ramped up quickly to meet what has been described as the “largest hiring surge in a decade” at the sprawling installation.

At the beginning of the base’s fiscal year last fall, officials said they would add up to a thousand, largely blue-collar aircraft mechanics to its already sizeable workforce. A few days ago, they added another five hundred due to increasing aircraft maintenance demands. Again, the jobs are largely blue collar but with a number of engineering positions in the mix.

The surge has ignited a sizeable publicity campaign, according to Max Wyche, the deputy director of personnel for the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. The center is the host unit on base and the employer of some 15,000 largely blue-collar workers. The agency is responsible for support, overhaul, modification and repair of the Air Force’s fleet of cargo aircraft, the F-15 fighter and a vast array of avionics and software-driven components.

“We have posted vacancy announcements on the official government Web site, USAJobs.OPM.Gov.” Wyche related, “and we are also aggressively pursuing a number of recruitment avenues to include career fairs in Macon, Warner Robins and other locations in the Southeast. In addition, we are networking with other installations to get the word out to military who are separating or retiring.”

The effort includes expanding various co-operative programs with local colleges, universities and technical schools. The agreements allow students to be paid for part time work on base while they complete schooling. After obtaining a degree or skill certification, they then have an inside track to permanent base employment.

Wyche said co-op hiring had picked up this fiscal year, particularly among technical school graduates.

“In fiscal year 2009, we hired a total of 161 co-ops,” he said. “To date in fiscal year 2010, we have already hired 182. So you can see the impact it has on local schools and the community.”

That focus is continuing, the deputy director emphasized. “We have recruiting teams out right now talking to colleges and universities to bring onboard qualified applicants and we have several other trips planned throughout the year.”

Wyche said the recruiting effort also includes working closer with the Georgia Department of Labor and implementing an aircraft maintenance apprentice program.

On the engineering side, a recent drawdown in funding for the nation’s space program has perked interest in displaced NASA workers. Apparently NASA may cut hundreds of engineers in the near future.

“We have maintenance subject matter experts and human resources recruiters going to NASA next week,” Wyche confirmed. “The trip was planned when we heard that NASA has upcoming lay-offs.”

The senior personnelist sees no immediate let up in the hiring surge. “As we have indicated, we will continue an aggressive stance on recruiting until all positions are filled,” Wyche said.