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My educational journey: Practice what you preach

  • Published
  • By Technical Sgt. Randy McKenzie
  • 88th Medical Group
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Growing up in a small town near Dayton, Ohio, I never dreamed of going to college. My goals were quite simple: play sports and graduate high school. Once those goals were met, I did think briefly about college, but I had no idea what to study -- and that lead me my local recruiter. In May 2000, I enlisted in the Air Force and my journey began.

I was so excited to join the military; I got a great job and steady pay check. My first job was as an aerospace structural maintenance technician stationed at Hurlburt Field, Fla. As a maintainer, I was told early on that "your hands are what make the aircraft fly, not a college degree." I can honestly say, no one pushed or pressured me into pursuing my Community College of the Air Force degree. As I think back, I wish someone would have guided me toward education.

After six years on the flight line, my hands told my body to make a change and I cross-trained into the medical field as an aerospace medical service technician. Once I graduated from my second technical training course, my family and I moved here to Wright-Patt. It was awesome to be near family and my hometown. It did not take long to realize, though, that many of my peers were taking college courses and working toward their CCAFs and higher. I knew it was time to start my own educational pursuit, especially since I pushed my own troops toward their education and CCAF completion. However, my education journey was quickly halted after being assigned to twelve hour shifts on an inpatient ward. Working these shifts made school difficult; I simply could not find the time to balance work, family and school. I rationalized to myself that no one in my family had ever been to college, so why should I? So once again, I put my hands ahead of my education and worked those long shifts without going to school.

After working twelve hours shifts for two years, an opportunity became available for instructor duty here. That meant I would be teaching medical technicians the valuable skills needed to succeed. I immediately began the application process but felt embarrassed during the interview when the NCO in charge asked me if I had my CCAF. Dropping my head, I realized that I had been in the military for eight years and did not even take one college course -- let alone pursue my CCAF degree. However, I was selected and knocked out my first CCAF within one year.

In earning my associates degree in Allied Health Science, I became the first member of my family to graduate from college. My family was so proud and something inside me changed; I am now hungry for education. Since that day, I have earned my second CCAF in Airframe Technology and am pursing my third CCAF in Instructor of Technology and Military Science.

I credit my educational success to my first CCAF degree and all the individuals who pushed me. I'm eager to promote education to my subordinates and peers, and my degrees have helped me practice what I preach ... education!