By Sherry Larson
People’s Defender
Technical Sergeant Vincent Foulk of the Air Force and Targeting Analyst Taylor Gast of the Space Force recently spoke to juniors and seniors at West Union High School.
Foulk presented the benefits of joining the Air Force. He introduced Gast, a member of the U.S. Space Force established on December 20, 2019, when the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law.
Gast, formerly of Seaman, Ohio and a graduate of North Adams High School, started in the Air Force at age 26 and was picked up by the Space Force as an Imagery Analyst. She said, “I would get satellite pictures – normally sites of Russia and China.” She gave information to generals so they could decide how to use that site. She said of her Targeting Analyst position, “I make little packages laying it all out of what we can and can’t target – what components on a satellite we can target, such as imagery components on satellite signals.”
Gast explained that she started in the military a little later than most enlisted people, she was struggling to decide on a college major after obtaining three associate degrees and increasing in debt. She joined the Air Force intending to get her top-secret clearance. Gast realized that many companies require top-secret clearance, and if they must pay for it, the cost is extensive. Having that clearance makes her an asset. Joining the Space Force allowed Gast to be a part of something new. Gast has served almost two years, stationed in Colorado Springs, and is working towards her Homeland Security degree.
When asked about the physical training required for the Air Force, Gast explained that it wasn’t difficult. She said the 18- and 19-year-old recruits had no problem, and even though she was older, she found it to be a good assessment.
Gast explained a common misconception about the Space Force is that they fight aliens and space monsters. She said she has a “cool job” in intelligence but emphasized, “It’s not like shooting lasers into space.”
Foulk and Gast both communicated the prospects of joining the Air Force, especially highlighting the educational opportunities in several programs. Foulk said, “We want to set you up for success.”