I Am A DEFENDER!

On May 25, 2017, I received my shield and beret as I graduated the Security Forces Officer Course and officially--and finally!--became a DEFENDER!

I say "finally" because gosh--that 4.5 month tech school sure seemed to be a long one... not now that I look back on the experience, but during Week 11 when we were running missions while camo-painted up, carrying a 35-pound ruck on our backs and slinging the M240b through miles of dense, wooded terrain and dripping with sweat, completely exhausted from sleeping maybe 3-4 hours the night before... that's when it felt like it would never end. And then all of a sudden, here I am on the other side. Man, it feels good.

I have another post coming about my Security Forces Officer Course (SFOC) week-by-week breakdown, but until then, this is just to say, "Hello! I'm alive and made it through!" And to be honest, enduring the last 4.5-months and earning the privilege to don the beret, sew the shield onto my uniform, and serve proudly as a Security Forces Defender is by far the greatest honor of my career.

When I think about the fact that three short years ago this week, I graduated Basic Military Training as an Airman First Class and since joining have spent an entire year away from home between my Personnel Tech School, Officer Training School and now SFOC, I'm so grateful for the path that my career has taken me on. I'm truly working my dream job every single day and can't wait to see what the future as a Defender and my base's Security Forces Operations Officer will hold.

Our class motto was "Upon the Shoulders of Giants" and as I move forward into my career, I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of some amazing Defenders who served before me, who gave their lives to protect our country, and who continue to exhibit our second Core Value of Service Before Self every single day. I hope to do each of them justice and not only grow as an Officer, but also empower, enable, and learn from my own troops that I'll get to work with back home.

As we said at SFOC, "74 pounds... no excuses!" and as I look back at the photo below and take my next step forward, you guys better bet that no excuses will be given. Ruck this! 

BONUS! One of my classmates put together a GoPro video of many of our training experiences while at SFOC. Watch it below... it's just the tip of the iceberg but a very cool glimpse into some of our incredible training we received... You can spot me at 3:29 if you look quickly!



Stay tuned for my SFOC week-by-week breakdown post coming soon. HOOAH!