Q. What is the highlight of your career?

A. I have served as a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force and now the Air National Guard for 11 years. This path has led me through some of the most unique and rewarding experiences of my life. The military as a whole assures some trials and tribulations but overall the benefits I have obtained from serving far outweigh the negatives. I have deployed 3 times have been sent out on multiple shorter trips all over the USA and multiple countries including England, Germany, Spain, Scotland, Japan, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Qatar.

Q. What are challenges you encounter in your career?

A. The majority of veterans you talk to will probably say service “is what you make of it.”  I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. However, the vast bureaucracy and changing politics will always be the most challenging part of the military.  Sometimes, you are sent places you don’t want to go or you are forced to work in conditions regular people might scoff at.  One of the biggest takeaways I have from the military is being flexible.  Plans can change almost faster than you can keep up with and it’s easy to develop a bad attitude.  Remaining resilient in the face of change will always land you on top.  

Q. How did you get to this career?

A. Before graduating high school, I knew I had zero interest in going to college.  I wanted to do something that would get me out of Wyoming and let me find my own path rather than follow the one laid out for me.  I enlisted in 2013 and once I completed basic training, attempted Explosive Ordinance Disposal training.  That didn’t pan out for me and the Air Force decided I should be sent to the Aerospace Propulsion technical school.  I had never heard of that career field and thought I was going to be working on rockets!  Obviously this was not the case.  After technical training in Texas, I was stationed in Dover, Delaware for a little over 3 years before separating and joining the Air National Guard in Washington State.  Once there, I continued working full time as a technician with the Guard.

Q. What is something unique about your career most people might not know or understand about what you do?

A. The US Air Force and the Air National Guard are two separate services. One is federally funded and supports national missions (USAF) and the other is funded by the state (ANG) and along with the national mission can also be used domestically. When I was in Washington State, I was introduced to wildland firefighting. The Air and Army Guard can be tasked with wildfire suppression when the governor declares a state of emergency. I could be a jet engine mechanic one day and the next be helping dig fire line or assist with evacuations.

Q. Are there scholarship or internship opportunities available with your career? If so, where can more information about those be found?

A. The military is unique in that it pays for your whole existence as well as a steady paycheck.  The USAF fronts the cost for your training, pays for your food, housing and healthcare.  Once you are in, there are countless educational opportunities.  One of the main benefits of military service is the GI Bill which pays for %100 your college once you complete an enlistment and receive and honorable discharge.    I’ve known people that finished their bachelors while serving and didn’t even touch their GI Bill after they separated and instead, transferred it to their spouses or children so they could get an education.   The Air National Guard can also get you the GI Bill but it’s a slower process and the other education benefits vary state to state.

Learn more about Air Force Education Programs

Learn more about GI Bill Benefits

Learn more about State Veteran Education Benefits