NWC command chief reenlists

  • Published
  • By Sheila Rupp
  • Nucleus Journalist
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  Chief Master Sgt. Paul A. Sikora Jr., command chief of the Nuclear Weapons Center here, reenlisted April 4. Chief Sikora enlisted in the Air Force in 1981 as a 17-year-old looking to get out of this hometown and see the world. 

In his 26 years in the Air Force, he has done exactly that, serving in locations such as Guam, Italy, Qatar and various stateside bases. 

"I wanted to travel and visit places around the world, but I also wanted to become my own guy," Chief Sikora said. 

Though the chief said that the decision was an easy one to make because of the opporunities the Air Force life has given him, he believes reenlistments should be family decisions and said he had the support of his family behind him. He said the opportunities the Air Force has provided have extended to his family as well. 

"My kids have been given the opportunity to see the world and different ways of live. They have been given a breadth of opportunities and first-hand education about other cultures," he said. 

This reenlistment will take Chief Sikora to serving in the Air Force for 30 years, the maximum a chief can remain in service. 

Aside from his different duty stations and the ability to travel the globe, the Air Force also enabled Chief Sikora to earn his bachelor's degree and he will be finishing his master's degree by the end of the month. 

In mid-May, Chief Sikora will leave Kirtland to serve as the command chief of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. 

Of his time at Kirtland, Chief Sikora said that he will look back fondly of the successes in building teamwork in the community here. He said he will remember the enlisted dining in, the positive things done in professional organizations to help and improve the quality of life for Airmen and the strides made in standing up a successful Nuclear Weapons Center. 

The decision to reenlist this time around was an easy one for him to make but is an important decision, he said. For those that are eligible to reenlist, Chief Sikora recommends discussing the decision with family and looking at what the Air Force gives you each day - experience, education, camaraderie, financial stability and many other opportunities before deciding. 

"I decided a long time ago that as long as I was having fun and still had a passion for my job and the Air Force that I would stay in as long as they would have me," he said.