Off I Go

After more than fifteen years, yesterday I took off my uniform for the last time. I joined the Air Force through the Air Force Academy in June of 2010, commissioned in May of 2014, and spent the last decade in service to my country. Over the past several years, a few factors have converged to make continued service untenable. Please do not misconstrue my separation as distaste for the service, as a political statement, or a desire for a “simpler” life. My decision to leave was made by looking at all the relevant details, then making the best decision I could for both me and my wife.

When Jenny and I started dating, we realized that we were going to need to get incredibly lucky with our Air Force assignments in order to stay stationed together and keep both of our careers on an upward trajectory. We got lucky with our assignments to Hanscom Air Force Base near Boston. We got lucky again with our assignments in Hawai’i, her at Pacific Air Forces and me at Air Force ROTC Detachment 175 at the University of Hawai’i Manoa.

About six years ago, I woke up after a workout and could not move without severe pain at the hips and in my left ankle. I ended up going to physical therapy more times than I can count, having X-Rays and MRIs done on both my hips and ankles, getting shoe inserts, and doing more physical therapy. There were many theories, but the doctors all seemed to agree that they suspected the amount of running I did as a cadet and young officer destroyed the soft tissue in my ankle, although all the imagery done on my ankle didn’t show anything conclusive. An eventual series of X-Rays and MRIs showed bone spurs on each femur were causing the hip pain.

Promoting to Major in April of 2024, and working with the Air Force’s next generation of Lieutenants really had “re-blued” me. While I had spent the previous ten years waffling back and forth on whether I was going to stick it out in the Air Force or not, my promotion and time working with the Cadets of 175 helped me decide to make it to retirement. The next step was either a Squadron Command or staff officer position, and Jenny and I looked forward to our next assignments after Hawai’i.

But our assignment luck ran out. The pain in my hips and ankles increased to a point where I could not stand, let alone run a full mile-and-a-half for my Air Force fitness test, without severe pain. I tried everything the doctor’s recommended: physical therapy, steroid shots, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory regimens, physical therapy, and finally surgery (which necessitated more physical therapy). To add onto that, there were no projected assignments that kept Jenny and I at the same base, and only a couple where Jenny and I were stationed somewhat close.

While Jenny and I contemplated the results of my surgery and our options for future assignments, I was offered a job in the private sector. After talking with our Air Force career field managers, we confirmed that if one of us separated from the Air Force, the other would have a much wider range of options for assignments. With all these factors in mind, Jenny and I discussed our options briefly, came to a decision, and I pressed the button to separate.

Serving in the U.S. Military has been a huge honor for me, despite the many frustrations that I have faced. The Air Force paid for my undergraduate and two masters degrees, sent me to exciting places, and allowed me to serve my country alongside some of the finest individuals I’ve ever met. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with, celebrating, and watching the Airmen I served with as they progress through their Air Force careers or take paths out into the private sector.

For me, the greatest honor of my career was my last tour. Working as an AFROTC Detachment Cadre was a responsibility that I did not take lightly, as the cadets I mentored will go on to serve in the Air Force and lead Airmen. I approached that responsibility mindful that if I failed in my duties to properly train these soon-to-be Lieutenants, I wasn’t just failing them, I was failing their future Airmen as well. Luckily, I think they are all off to a good start.

The last meaningful thing that I did on Active Duty was officiating the commissioning ceremony for five of my Cadets-turned-Lieutenants. Normally officiating the commissioning ceremony is reserved for the Detachment Commander, but our Commander had additional responsibilities thrust upon him. He had to be in Alabama this entire summer, so I had the honor of stepping up and officiating.

I made it most of the way through my speech (one of my best ones, too), before my eyes got a little sweaty and a frog jumped into my throat. I wrestled through it, and at the end of the day, we put five new Lieutenant’s into the Air Force, including one Contracting Officer who gets to take my place.

It was an honor to serve, and I am looking forward to my next chapter in life. Hopefully, this next chapter will include more time to work on my writing, making Veteran’s Day (and Military Spouse Appreciation Day) all about me, growing out my hair and my beard, and spending more time pursuing hobbies and passions.

Here ends the last update of my Military Career. Keep following the blog for stories, “war” or otherwise,” and other fun content. Check out the shop for ways to support the blog!