Warrior of the Week: Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Lowder

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Derek VanHorn
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  When it came to making a career decision, Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Lowder had two options - architecture or free-falling thousands of feet from the sky.

"I was one semester away from my degree in architecture when I realized it wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life," said Lowder - the most recent Grand Forks Warrior of the Week. "A desk job behind a computer wasn't something that excited me, but I opted to finish my degree and join the Air Force afterwards. I joined to take advantage of their opportunities in careers that skydive."

Things didn't exactly go as planned, as Lowder's initial assignment as a pararescueman was replaced with his current pay technician position. But Lowder refuses to let the twist in plans slow him down.

"Everything has worked out for me," he said. "I can look at financial documents and records without getting a headache now. I also pay closer attention to my personal finances and have become much better at money management skills.

"I was getting into stocks anyway so dealing with money has helped with that," he said. "I'm going to get into investing in the future."

The finance training also comes in handy when Lowder works his volunteer position as the treasurer of the Airman's Activity Council, a position he filled after being voted in by Airmen across base.

Lowder works with the 319th Comptroller Squadron, where his main duties include processing all military pay documents and ensuring Airmen are properly paid on base for different situations like deployments or temporary duties. It's a job made easier by the support of those working around him.

"The best part of the job is the willingness of my co-workers to help out with any situation that comes up," he said "Being new to the Air Force and to finance I have many questions throughout the day. No matter what time or what the question, they're there to help out."

The transition to the Air Force was also made an easy one thanks to shared beliefs.

"The core values of the Air Force - "Integrity First, Service before Self and Excellence in All We Do" - line right up with my personal beliefs in life," he said.

Born and raised in Camden, S.C., Lowder attended Clemson University following high school where he obtained his bachelor's degree in architecture.

He said the move to the North has been a "definite adjustment," but has also brought about opportunities he might not have experienced before, such as cross country skiing and outdoor hockey.

The hands-on, go-getter attitude Lowder approaches life with can't keep him grounded long enough to avoid chasing his dreams.

"I will jump out of airplanes someday, there's no doubt about it," he said.