October 24, 2013 • JET OBSERVER 9
Education: Seven CNATTU staff completed degree programs in past year — Continued from page 1 classes, Ammons finished his Master’s Iadonisi completed his Bachelor’s in in Aviation Education through Trident Technical Management from EmbryUniversity in 17 months. Ammons said Riddle Aeronautical University earlier one of his goals has been to finish the this year. He began his degree through educational programs he had begun the Navy College Program for Afloat before enlisting 17 years ago. Before College Education (NCPACE) in 2002 completing his master’s, Ammons also — one class a semester. He continued earned both his associate and bachethroughout two sea duty tours and his lor’s degrees through Embry-Riddle. shore time. All but one of his courses “I believe that earning my degrees were completed in a classroom setting. have helped tremendously. Personal “Originally I wanted to become a piprofessional development is key in the lot but then my overall goal was to bedevelopment of senior leaders as we come an officer, an easier life for myself endeavor into our mid-level and upperin the military and for my family,” said level management,” said Ammons. Iadonisi. Because of age restrictions, Senior Chief Aviation Maintenance he has switched his goal to becomAdministrationman William Spittle ing an aeronautical maintenance duty completed his Bachelor’s in Business officer, applying to earn his commisAdministration from Saint Leo Universion through Officer Candidate School sity and Logistics Specialist 1st Class (OCS). Kamisha Huffin earned her Bachelor’s Photo by MC2(SW) Alysia Hernandez Grant was motivated by a little in Business Administration from the Five of the seven staff and instructors at CNATTU pose for a photo Oct. 21 in building 340. LEFT: RIGHT: friendly competition with his wife, University of La Verne but were unGunnery Sgt. Shoji Harris earned a Master’s in Business Administration from National University; who had her bachelor’s degree.While it available for the interview. AT1(AW) Daniel Iadonisi earned a Bachelor’s in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle; Lt. David Crochet took him nine years, a sea tour and four Motivated by personal and profesearned a Master’s in Science and Management from Thomas Edison State College; AD1(AW/SW) schools, Grant completed a four-year Gregory Grant earned a Bachelor’s in Technical Management from Embry-Riddle; and ATC(AW/SW) sional goals, Lt. David Crochet exdegree in technical management from Gary Ammons earned a Master’s in Aviation Education from Trident University. Not present for the plained he “always wanted his masEmbry-Riddle. But by then, his wife had photo are AZCS William Spittle who completed a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Saint Leo ter’s,” so in October 2010, began his earned her master’s, so Grant joked “I University and LS1 Kamisha Huffin who earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the advanced degree through online classguess I’m not done yet!” es in science and management through University of La Verne. But beyond the competition with his Thomas Edison State College, finishing wife, Grant saw earning his degree as a way to “better his completed his education “before, during and after deploy- up this past spring. Crochet admits he could have finished faster“but I wantfamily and himself and a desire to be an officer.” Like Iad- ments.” onisi, he’s applying to OCS. With 15 years in the Marine Corps, Harris said his mo- ed to enjoy shore duty.” Crochet, who has been CNATTU’s administrative officer Gunnery Sgt. Shoji Harris, lead instructor at CNATTU, tivation to earn his master’s was to be competitive for used a combination of online and traditional classroom advancement as well as employment options following since December 2011,prefers online classes because“I can control how fast I get things done.” setting to earn a Master of Business Administration in two military service. Enlisting in the Navy more than 10 years ago, Crochet years. Harris had also earned a Bachelor’s in Management Also completing his master’s degree was Chief Air Traffrom National University in the spring of 2011, following fic Controller (AW/SW) Gary Ammons, who has been at has taken advantage of the educational opportunities to three and one-half years of coursework. Harris said he CNATTU for more than two years. By doubling up on not only earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees but also advance through the ranks, commissioned as a Limited Duty Officer. Grant explained that earning the degrees provides more credibility with the students going through the schoolhouse at CNATTU.“They already see you as a professional, someone they should be learning from and they also hear you’ve already obtained a degree or done something else to better yourself,I think it makes them listen to you a little — Continued from page 1 appearances, port visits, service weeks, and nonprofit more,” he said, as the others agreed. power,demonstrate readiness to defend the nation,and and corporate leader outreach.” “It also shows them that it is possible to get a degree help to preserve the all-volunteer force,” Hagel wrote. The connections between U.S. service members and “It is unfortunate that sequestration restrictions have the civilians they defend are important to active and reeven while you’re at sea and also while at shore duty, like kept us from connecting with nearly a half-billion peo- serve service members, their families and veterans, the we are,” added Crochet. ple worldwide over the last six months, and required secretary said in his memo. When students at CNATTU express interest in off duty us to withdraw support from more than 2,800 events “Community and public outreach is a crucial Departeducation, Iadonisi said instructors direct the students to throughout the country,” the secretary wrote. mental activity that reinforces trust and confidence in the Education Services Center at Oceana.“Everyone’s afraid A senior defense official noted that this plan rein- the United States Military and in its most important asto actually start.They’re afraid it’s going to interfere with states at a 45 percent reduced capacity:the jet and para- set — people,” Hagel asserted. “It is our obligation to their family or take away from their free time or they’re gochute demonstration teams, band and ceremonial unit sustain that trust well into the future.” ing on deployment. Hopefully, we can show them it’s not as difficult as they thought,” he said.
Community outreach: Blue Angels to resume air show schedule for fiscal year 2014