NCO trades stripes for first lieutenant bars

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores --  A technical sergeant from the 65th Civil Engineer Squadron was commissioned Sept. 20 and will move on to accept higher responsibilities in the U.S. Air Force as a medical entomologist.

Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Foley, 65th CES Pest Management, became 1st Lt. Elizabeth Foley within less than an hour of notification from her squadron commander that she would be commissioned.

As she exited her car to assist with a Lajes High School cross country race, Foley received a phone call from Lt. Col. Teri French, 65th CES commander. She was directed to report to the squadron within 30 minutes for a very important occasion, along with her family.

"I knew we were waiting to see if I got selected into (a commissioning program), but I didn't think that was it," said Foley. "(Then, Colonel French) stated, 'At 1545 you are going to be commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.'"

Foley screamed and jumped ecstatically in the middle of the parking lot.

At the same time, her supervisor, Master Sgt. Jamie Scaggs, 65th CES Unaccompanied Housing superintendent, who happened to be walking by, went over to check on her.

"He walked over and asked if I was okay," Foley said. "I was speechless, but I ran up to him and almost knocked him down with my hug."

As soon as she got off the phone with her commander, she apologized to the cross country team for having to leave the race for her commissioning ceremony.

When she found her husband and children working in the Parent Teacher Organization office, Foley ran to the door and shouted, "Baby, I'm getting commissioned in 30 minutes!"

"He was in disbelief and I almost knocked him over with a hug, too," she said. "Both of my kids were super excited even though I don't think they knew why."

Foley's children are four and six years old.

"My husband was totally and completely proud," she said. "I had enough time to call my mom before the ceremony, and she started crying. We were all so excited."

During the ceremony, Foley's commander and family members pinned on her first lieutenant bars. Her technical sergeant stripes were ripped off.

"The back of my head hurt from smiling so much," she said. "I couldn't believe it. I still don't know if I believe it."

Foley, a native of Kronenwetter, Wis., served as an enlisted member of the Air Force for 11 years. She started as an airman basic with one semester of college under her belt. As soon as she finished her Career Development Course, she enrolled into college classes while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. After moving to Buckley AFB, Colo., she attended night classes at a community college and earned her Community College of the Air Force degree as a senior airman. She continued on to finish her bachelor's degree.

"It took me four years to finish up those last two years of school," she said. "I took classes one or two at a time and took online courses whenever they were available."

Foley said one thing that changed her life was receiving acceptance into the Air Force Educational Leave of Absence Program, which allows Air Force members to attend college full-time in order to complete a degree program while remaining on active duty.

"Completing college has been a lifelong goal of mine," said Foley. "I was getting my degree in biology and chemistry, and once I hit the senior level courses, they were all only offered during the day. With this program, I was able to take one year off from work to finish my degree. I remained on active duty and accrued leave. When I returned, I stayed enlisted, but had my bachelor's in hand by December 2010."

In 2006, Foley attended the Operational Entomology Course in order to upgrade to a 7-level within her career field.

"This course was taught by two Air Force medical entomologists," Foley said. "This was the first time I'd ever heard of this career field, and I was amazed. Medical entomologists are concerned with pests that vector diseases such as malaria and West Nile virus."

It was during this course Foley decided she wanted to commission as an Air Force medical entomologist. She continued her education to complete a master's degree in entomology. Foley then applied to the Biomedical Sciences Corps commissioning program.

"I had to submit a lot of paperwork - letters of recommendation, a personal letter, enlisted performance reports, transcripts," she said. "I also had a telephone interview with the colonel who runs the career field."

There are 15 positions in the medical entomology career field. Foley was the second newest lieutenant to be accepted by the commissioning program in 2013. She will go through Commissioned Officer's Training at Maxwell AFB, Ala.

Foley is now relocating from Lajes Field to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, to be an Aerospace Medicine instructor. In fact, she will teach the same Operational Entomology Course which changed her life.

She attributes her success to both her husband and the Air Force.

"My husband continues to be my rock throughout the entire process," Foley said. "Also, the Air Force paid for most of my school and allowed me to take off an entire year to pursue my undergraduate educational goals. The Air Force encouraged and supported me throughout my educational experience. Where else can you find support like that?"

Scaggs, Foley's supervisor, said he is very proud of her accomplishments.

"She took the Air Force's tools to further her education and earn a commission through hard work and dedication," he said. "She is one of the most energetic NCO's I've worked with throughout my career. She currently holds the wing's fastest run time in physical fitness, and she has also won off-base marathons. She has not only distinguished herself through education, work and physical fitness, but she's a good wingman to have on your side at any given moment."

This wingman encourages Airmen to stay focused and dedicated to pursuing their life's goals.

"Nothing is out of reach," she said. "I ran into many roadblocks throughout my journey. Keep pushing. Set small goals. My first goal was my CCAF, then an associate's in science, then a bachelor's degree and, finally, a master's degree. I remember thinking five years ago that my goal was so far away, but you have to keep moving... slow and steady."