MALTA, N.Y. — The United States Air Force (USAF) recently celebrated the opening of its newest location, the Saratoga Springs Air and Space Force Recruiting Center, with a ribbon cutting.
The new office, which serves both the Air Force and the Space Force, is located in Malta’s Armed Forces Career Center on Route 9. The USAF joins other branches of the military such as the Marines and the Army that already have offices there. The Career Center has high visibility and is appropriately located across the street from the town’s Veterans’ Memorial Park.
The Malta Recruiting Center will be under the leadership of Technical Sergeant Jonathan Davis.
“Our temporary office was about one quarter the size of this one, so it’s much better,” Davis commented. “It’s more visibility and better resources.”
The ribbon cutting to celebrate the new Recruiting Center was attended by representatives for the Town of Malta, representatives for the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, representatives of the USAF, and state Sen. Jim Tedisco. Tedisco presented a commendation to Davis and gave a passionate talk about the importance of the armed forces.
Recalling his father, who had served and then returned to a civilian career, Tedisco called the gathered members of the USAF “the most compassionate and courageous.”
“Members of the armed forces serve, they come back, and they build our nation,” he said. “We get to live our freedom and liberty because of you.”
Davis was presented with a piece of the cut ribbon, which according to Chamber tradition, will bring good luck if it’s hung up for the next year.
Davis and Lt. Col. Sean Fazande described the new location as a valuable location for recruitment efforts. About 30 civilians are recruited annually from the local community, and the Recruitment Center will have access to important tools for promotion.
“Promotion is the key,” Fazande explained. “A lot of people don’t fully understand what it means to sign up for the armed forces and all the opportunities it comes with. When we go into the schools and talk to the students, we’ll be able to explain it to them. In the Air Force especially, people have lots of opportunities to learn a skill, serve, and then come home and apply that skill to their community.”
Individuals in the Malta community who are interested in a career in the Air Force or Space Force can contact Davis at the Recruiting Center by email at jonathan.davis.25@us.af.mil, by phone at (518) 859-0297, or by visiting the Recruiting Center’s Instagram page via the QR code attached to this article.
Members of the US Air Force inside the new Malta office. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)
Senator Jim Tedisco sits in the driver’s seat of a US Air Force vehicle with Technical Sergeant Jonathan Davis, who is in charge of the new Malta office. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)
Cutting the ribbon for the US Air Force office inside the Armed Forces Career Center. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)
US Air Force vehicles are lined up outside the new Malta office. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)
The Armed Forces Career Center in Malta sports a new sign. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)
Technical Sergeant Jonathan Davis receives a commendation from Senator Jim Tedisco for the US Air Force’s new Malta office. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)
Members of the US Air Force show off the ribbon that they will keep in their new Malta office for good luck. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)
Members of the US Air Force stand with Senator Jim Tedisco and representatives for the Town of Malta and the County Chamber in front of Air Force vehicles. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)
Senator Jim Tedisco presents a commendation to members of the US Air Force. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)
Scan this QR code to go to the Instagram page for Saratoga Springs US Air Force recruiting. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)