BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Pulling into the parking lot of the Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, I heard sounds that dredged up memories of Basic Training some 14 years ago. The school’s instructors were encouraging the new officer trainees to move with a sense of urgency. The barking voices that carried across the parking lot brought me back to my first days in uniform. I thought to myself, here we go again.
When I initially enlisted in the military in 2005, the plan was always to get my commission. I already had two years of college which allowed me to enlist as an Airman 1st Class. I used the Montgomery GI Bill to earn my bachelor’s degree, so when the opportunity to commission was presented I was ready.
Serving as a non-commissioned officer helped to prepare me for the next phase. I learned to build resilience and balance commitments between military and civilian life as a Reserve Citizen Airman. Resilience was critical during OTS and in transitioning to life as an officer.
The hardest part of OTS was not academics or physical fitness, it was being away from my wife, Whitney, and my two children, Zackary and Lorelai for two months. As much as I enjoy the Air Force and the job I do, the main reason for continually progressing is to provide for my family. Just knowing I had their support provided the extra motivation I needed to succeed.
Another difficult aspect of training was juggling life as a business owner and my military commitments. Fortunately, my company’s team is strong. We definitely had to rely on flexibility to make it work. Not being there to answer questions on the spot was tough, but careful preparation eased the burden. Working closely with my manager, Jason, ensured he had the tools needed to succeed in my absence.
Of course, OTS certainly held challenges of its own. A ton of information was thrown at us on a daily basis, so our full attention was required. It was like drinking from a fire hose. The workload, coupled with the compressed time schedule, made the process somewhat chaotic. Looking back now, the speed and format of OTS helped me gain a better understanding of strategic thinking and how it is incorporated in the Air Force.
I have always enjoyed a challenge. Though OTS is behind me, I know my greatest challenges as an officer still lie ahead. In some ways it is like starting over. My focus has always been to execute the mission, but now my focus has shifted to taking care of Airmen to ensure mission success. This is my ultimate responsibility as an officer.
I would encourage anyone who has the desire to become an officer to go for it. Just remember, planning, resiliency, and building readiness are key components of the journey. OTS is not easy, but it is worth it.