Career Moves
For Senior Airman Wyatt Holmen, a chance encounter during his senior year of high school changed the course of his life.
Holmen had already mapped out his future; he planned to attend technical college and pursue a degree in information technology. Then, while adjusting his class schedule one day, he crossed paths with an Air Force recruiter and the spark of an idea.
“I ended up talking to him and getting more information,” Holmen said. “I backed out of technical college and ended up joining the military at age 18.”
Nearly nine years later, Holmen serves in the 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, where he helps ensure military aircraft, vehicles and mission-essential equipment remain fueled, ready to operate and up to standard at a moment’s notice.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Holmen grew up in a military family. Both his father and grandfather served in the Air Force, making him the third generation to wear the uniform.
“It’s a very proud and honorable thing,” he said. “I’ve always had a passion for serving my country.”
However, like many young service members, Holmen entered the military without knowing exactly what to expect. After completing basic training and technical school, Holmen received orders to Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, where he spent four years. From there, he moved to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, completed a deployment and eventually requested a transfer to Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville.
What started as another assignment soon became something much more personal. During his time in Arkansas, Holmen met his wife and found a community that made the Natural State feel like home.
“I wouldn’t have been so happy here if it wasn’t for meeting my wife and meeting people in the area around here,” Holmen said. “Everyone’s been nice, and the base has been fantastic.”
Today, Holmen works in fuels management, a critical component of military operations that often goes unnoticed by those outside the service. As a member of the fuels team, Holmen’s work helps support everything from aircraft operations to government vehicles across the installation.
“We’re essentially the military gas station,” he added. “Whenever a plane needs to go up in the air, we get the call. We make sure those tanks stay full so everyone can get their fuel and help support other missions.”
The mission is far more complex than simply filling tanks. Holmen and his team are responsible for ensuring aircraft and vehicles receive the fuel they need whenever duty calls. Operating as a 24-hour shop, the fuels section supports missions often responding on short notice to keep operations moving.
While the work is essential, Holmen believes people are what make the mission successful.
“I try to be a good motivator,” he said. “Everyone’s going through similar struggles, being away from family and things like that. I want people to know they don’t have to go through it alone.”
That emphasis on teamwork extends beyond the workplace. Holmen credits Jacksonville’s close-knit relationship with Little Rock Air Force Base for helping him feel welcome from the moment he arrived.
(Photo provided by LRAFB)
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