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AFSA executive visits Kirtland

  • Published
  • By Kendahl Johnson
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  When quality of life benefits for active duty military members need to be protected or enhanced, the Air Force Sergeants Association presents those matters to Congress for consideration.

Retired Chief Master Sgt. James Lokovic, vice chairman of the AFSA's International Legislation Committee, is influential in the process. He was at Kirtland Jan. 23-24 to educate Airmen here about how that's done and how they can stay involved.

"People have a lot of clout and influence over their own careers if they understand how everything fits together," Lokovic said. "I try to help people get a clearer understanding of the Department of Defense's mission and role, why decisions are being made, how the chain of command works, how the government works, and how this affects benefits and what they can do about it and what they can't do about it."

He said he tries to stay abreast of rumors so he can provide correct information to Airmen, so they don't make decisions they may regret later.

The AFSA is a non-profit organization representing the professional and personal interests of nearly 111,000 active, retired and veteran enlisted members of the Air Force and their families. It promotes enlisted concerns to enhance their quality of life, assures the preservation of entitlements earned through service and sacrifice, and maintains a vigilant presence on Capitol Hill.

"We determine the targets to take up to Capitol Hill based on what people at Kirtland or other bases are telling us," Lokovic said.

Lokovic joined the AFSA in 1994 after a 25-year Air Force career. He is no longer a paid AFSA employee, he continues to travel to bases in his free time because he feels it is important Airmen are educated. He said although the AFSA is able to communicate on behalf of enlisted Airmen in ways individuals cannot themselves, it's still important they understand how they can voice concerns.

"I teach people how to properly communicate with Congress," he said. "Politics has an incredible impact on people's careers, so it's important they understand how it can affect them."