From CCAF to doctor, Edwards optometrist’s educational journey pays off

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  When Oscar Corredor was a young Airman serving at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., he was on top of the world serving as an optometry technician. He had a job and potentially a long Air Force career in front of him. He had no desire to pursue higher education.

"I had my high school diploma and that's all that was required for me to complete. Am I wrong?" said Corredor. "I was invincible and there was no way I was going to devote any more of my time to going to college, and hence, why I didn't buy into the GI Bill."

Corredor said with a little mentorship and some "pushing" from his supervisor and officer in charge, he went to the base education center.

"So I signed up for a couple of classes at the Ed Center to get them off my back."

He found that the more he learned about his career field, the more he wanted to get involved with patient care. What's more, he began to enjoy going to college.

"In fact, I liked it so much that it made me contemplate the possibility that I could be an eye doctor like Capt. (Dr.) Nicolas (his supervisor) and thus get to see and do more stuff with patients."

Corredor became a full-time student with a full-time job. He would go to school after work from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. two to three days a week.

He had to juggle his work and school schedule along with coaching soccer and playing for the base team.

"I had myself a full plate to deal with, but it kept me busy and focused on what I needed to do. The Air Force paid 75 percent of my tuition, so I was responsible for 25 percent plus my books, which is a lot to pay out of pocket on an E-2 salary," Corredor said.

"Well, time and classes went along and before I knew it I had enough credits to earn my Community College of the Air Force degree in Applied Science Optometric Technician while I was stationed at Dyess AFB, Texas."

Corredor had to make a decision following his CCAF graduation. Should he continue on with his military career and test for technical sergeant, or finish a four-year degree and one day become an eye doctor?

He chose the latter and went to University of Texas at Arlington where he completed a Bachelor's Degree in Pre-health Sciences.

Corredor then moved to Oklahoma to attend optometry school at Northeastern State University.

"Carrying a load of 24-27 semester hours at NSU College of Optometry was a challenge, and I thought I had it hard during my under-grad years when I was taking 17 hours per semester. At times I wondered 'What the hell am I doing here? Can I really do this for another four years?'"

Since Corredor was going to school full time he did not work, and money was tight so he looked back to the Air Force for financial aid.

"The Air Force didn't have funds available at the time for optometry but the Army did. So I thought to myself, 'How much different can the Army be than the Air Force?'"

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve in May 2000 and three years later graduated with honors as an optometry doctor.

After three years of active duty and a stint in Afghanistan, Corredor transferred to the Army Reserve in 2006 and went into private practice.

"While in Afghanistan I once again contacted the Air Force to see if they had room for me to do a lateral transfer and the answer was, 'No, too many optometrists on active duty, too many captains and better luck next time.'"

"At some point in February of last year, a little bird told me that the Air Force was looking for eye docs. Once again I'm facing a fork in the road - stay in private practice and do my own thing or answer the call of duty," said Corredor.

He filled out what seemed like a mountain of paperwork, passed a physical exam and made phone calls. Seven months later the former staff sergeant and civilian eye doctor is now Maj. (Dr.) Oscar Corredor, 95th Medical Group optometrist.

"It has now been 14 years and 16 days since I left the Air Force and I must say I was incredibly excited to put the blue uniform back on. Unchanged is the great sense of camaraderie and the value the Air Force places on its people, their accomplishments and the need to have better trained, better prepared folks to fly, fight and win. I guess I didn't realize how much I've missed being part of this team until I came back."

"What's the value of a CCAF degree and an education? Come by my office and talk to me. My door is open!"