From law school to survival school
After graduating in 1998 with a law degree from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., Senior Airman Travis Pierce worked on and off for three years in general practice in Oregon. He then felt the urge for a more active lifestyle and joined the Air Force to become a pararescueman.
“I’m really interested in the aspect of helping people,” he said.
Plus there’s the age factor, the 30-year-old added. “I can do this and still be a lawyer but not vice-versa.”
However, his plans changed when he was unable to complete the water portion of the grueling PJ pipeline training encompassing more than a year. Instead, he became an instructor at the survival, evasion, resistance and escape school at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. So far, so good.
“I absolutely love it and plan to make it a career,” Airman Pierce said of Air Force life. “When I’m in front of students, I love every minute. You never know who is going to need it. It might be your guy who needs it,” he said of the training aimed at helping aircrews survive if their aircraft goes down in remote or hostile areas.
But he’s known not just as an instructor around Fairchild. “Around the unit I’m known as the guy with the law degree,” he said, but noted he receives “nothing but respect for it” from officers and fellow enlisted.
“I really don’t see how it could be a disadvantage,” he responded to how an enlisted Airman fits in today’s Air Force with a professional degree. However, he said he’ll consider the possibility of a commission in a similar career field such as combat rescue officer as long as it’s “out doing things.”
A chief and a doctor
Chief Master Sgt. Mark Williams is putting his thesis to work, literally. He earned a doctorate of musical arts in trombone performance and is a trombone player and band manager for the Air Force Band at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.
However, an enlisted Airman with a Ph.D. doesn’t stand out as much in the Air Force music world. Eleven bandsmen can claim doctorate degrees throughout the Air Force’s 13 bands.
Chief Williams was pursuing a doctorate degree when he auditioned for the band in 1985. He credits the discipline of his doctorate program with helping him land a position in the band. He competed among 60 hopefuls in the grueling audition process and said a single mistake could have washed him out. Since then, the chief said his academic background continues to pay big dividends.
His boss, Col. Dennis Layendecker, agrees from his standpoint as a band commander. “I can imagine the benefits of Ph.D.s across our Air Force enlisted corps would reap similar benefits to those we enjoy in the band career field,” he said. “Namely, seasoned, competent professionals who are immediately able to perform at world-class levels in an extraordinarily sophisticated business. They walk in the door already masters of their craft with very little upfront investment by the Air Force.”
Doctors on the horizon
Sergeant Thomas used tuition assistance to help pay the cost of his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He’s now in his final year of doctorate studies with the University of Nebraska, but must pay out-of-pocket for his third academic diploma because tuition assistance can’t be used toward a doctorate’s degree. However, financial assistance can come from other sources such as the G.I. Bill.
The maintenance scheduler with the 7th Maintenance Operations Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, preaches education to younger troops and advises them to “not miss this opportunity.”
“The Air Force is paying for it,” he said. “Even if you don’t know what you want to do, (get a degree).”
Sergeant Davis isn’t in a doctorate program yet, but seems certain to include it in her well-marked career path. After entering the Air Force four years ago with two years of college under her belt, she’ll earn her bachelor’s degree in sociology this summer, immediately begin work on a master’s degree, and “seriously” plan to complete a Ph.D. in sociology within six years. “I’m going all the way with my education,” said a determined 27-year-old aerospace ground equipment instructor at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.
She’s realized one of the key elements Dr. Colangelo said is necessary — family support. She describes her husband, Brad, a former Marine, as a “Mr. Mom” who worries his wife is taking on too much too fast, but has held down the home front in recent years by cooking dinner and putting their three kids, Cory, Donovan and Kirstin, to bed each night.
“I’ve missed out on a lot of things, but I know there’s going to be payback. My family has been put on hold for me,” she said. After receiving her Ph.D., she intends to finish her military career as enlisted because she likes being part of the mission.
“I don’t want to be in charge,” she said. “I like getting dirty.”
After the Air Force, she sees a possible career in teaching or field work.
