MARGATE, Fla. – When Gertrude “Trudy” Kulikamp began working for the Air Force in 1967, America was in the height of the Vietnam War and Lyndon B. Johnson was president. She was recently honored for 50 years of distinguished service.
Kulikamp, 333rd Recruiting Squadron B-Flight administrative assistant, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, received her 50-year certificate of service and pin while on a video teleconference Sept. 27 with Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, Air Force Recruiting Service commander. Lt. Col. Marcus Stevenson, 333rd RCS commander, was there in person to present her with her certificate and pin.
After a three-year break in service from 1972 - 1975, Kulikamp began working in recruiting where she has spent the last 45 years.
“Fifty years, wow, of incredible service to the United States government … from the Selective Service Office to the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to being part of Air Force Recruiting Service since 1975,” Thomas said. “She has seen the evolution of recruiting. She’s seen generations of recruiters and Airmen coming into our Air Force and now our Space Force. We could not be more privileged to be able to have people like Trudy who represent the very best of us and our civilian recruiting staff across the Air Force.”
Kulikamp said she was honored the general took the time to reach out to her.
“It made me feel good that he would take time out of his busy schedule to call and congratulate me,” she said.
Over the years, Kulikamp has seen so many things change, not only in the work place, but with people’s attitude toward service.
“I’ve gone from manual typewriters to electric typewriters to computers,” she said. “But one of the biggest changes is in people’s attitude about joining the military – from it’s a bad idea to join to how much the military can help with a career, education and stability. I never thought I would stay in one position for so long, but it makes me feel proud to know I could do the job this long and contribute to the protection of our country.”
Now working in her sixth decade, Kulikamp has seen many Airmen come and go. She said this is one of the things she loves most about her job.
“It’s interesting for several reasons,” she said. “I get to meet and work with new people all the time. The job is interesting because things are constantly changing. I continue because I like keeping busy and I like my job.”
She also relishes the fact that she is serving her country.
“I love that I am doing a small part in the defense of our nation,” she said. “I like working for the military because of the discipline and respect they have and show.”
Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett surprised Kulikamp with a personal call in July.
“My flight chief called and asked me to come into the office the next day,” she said. “When I got there, he told me the secretary was going to call and I was surprised. I told her I appreciated her taking time out of her busy day to call me. She was very personable and asked about the job and congratulated me on reaching 50 years and some of the other awards I have gotten over the years. I thought it would be a short call so I was kind of surprised when she asked questions and stayed on the line for about 15 to 20 minutes.”
Over the years, Kulikamp has earned numerous civilian of the quarter awards, several commander’s achievement awards, a civilian of the year award and certificates of service for every 10 years served.
She has a wealth of historical knowledge and provides her office with tremendous continuity.
“She is an incredible, caring person who is a recruiting legend here in Shark Nation,” said Master Sgt. David Albanese, 333rd RCS Operations Flight Chief. “A testament to her own personal resilience, she has endured generations of change in AFRS, and has some really cool stories about our heritage that she has experienced first-hand.
“She was in the office when the very first computer arrived. Not knowing what to do with it, she put it in the storage room. A few months later, she decided to open the box and plug it in. She witnessed the very beginnings of our digital Air Force and hasn’t stopped innovating since.”
Although she’s been on the job for half a century, Kulikamp said she isn’t planning on slowing down just yet.
“I have no immediate plans to retire,” she said. “I like my job and it is something I can continue to do. I would miss meeting new people and having something worthwhile to do.”