My educational journey: Don’t wait ... just do it! Published March 5, 2012 By Capt. Neil Ocampo Air Force Materiel Command Promotions and Evaluations WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- I joined the Air Force for the fantastic education benefits. Believe it or not, the road to my degree was not as easy as I thought it would be. My journey started in Miami, Fla., in 1992. My recruiter told me all the training I would accomplish for the United States Air Force was accredited by the Community College of the Air Force. That was good enough for me -- sign me up! One month later I was in San Antonio, Tex., with drill sergeants screaming at me. Question: What college credit did I get for saying "Airmen Ocampo reports as ordered" before I talked to a superior? Answer: I found out later I got physical education credit for basic training! So with a lot of screaming by the Military Training Instructors, my college career had begun. Upon graduation from basic training I was bused to Sheppard Air Force Base, Tex., were I received vocational college credit for Technical Training. Then I was off to my first assignment at Travis AFB, Calif. Unfortunately, I didn't get to go to school because I was in upgrade training. Hmmm, don't remember the recruiter saying anything about that! My next assignment was to Aviano Air Base, Italy, where I met my wonderful wife Sabrina. We decided school was our priority, so we took evening and weekend classes together. At the end of my first term, we decided that I was getting out and we were going to Reserve Officer Training School. Instead, we ended up moving to Howard AFB, Panama. Sabrina and I took the same night and weekend classes, and by the end of the assignment we had accumulated a large number of credits. This time Sabrina said we were going to the States so she could finish her degree in ROTC. I did what any good husband would do and complied. At this time, I also decided to become an Air Force recruiter, and after I completed tech school we found ourselves in Yakima, Washington. During a visit from the First Sergeant, he asked me if I was going to ROTC to become an officer like my wife. I said I wasn't sure, that I thought I wanted to be a chief. He asked me if I had my degree, and I said no. He told me to get my degree and then answer that question. Decision point: This one statement from the First Sergeant kept running around in my head. After our next PCS to San Antonio, Tex., I spoke with Ms. Mayakawa at the education center. She told me the road to my degree is like following the yellow brick road from the Wizard of Oz. She found a great program for me, but I would not have time to apply for any Air Force sponsored programs due to my age. I realized it may be too late because my 35th birthday was fast approaching, and the cut off age for commissioning into the Air Force is 35! So if I wanted to get my degree and become an Air Force officer I would need to do it the hard way, separate from the Air Force and pay out of pocket. Guess what I did? I separated from the Air Force and joined the ROTC detachment at Texas State University in 2005. Thank goodness for the GI Bill! The degree helped me to receive my commission in 2007 and I landed great jobs such as section commander for a Maintenance Squadron, Executive Officer, and now Chief of Command Promotions for Air Force Materiel Command! I now have two CCAF degrees and my bachelor's degree. I am getting ready to start my master's. I have been blessed to be mentored by awesome chiefs, colonels, and general officers from many different backgrounds. My wife and children have been my greatest inspiration for getting my degrees, and I have no regrets about the path I took to get to where I am today. I will offer one piece of advice to those thinking about getting a degree and seeking a commission: Life moves pretty fast -- Don't wait ... just do it!