Your career is what you make it: Be proud of your accomplishments

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Aaron J. Jenne
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  I turned 26 during Air Force Basic Military Training. I'm not from a military family and haven't had a lot of experience with Service members. I have a relatively new view of the military, but what I have seen so far is true for any career ... It is what you make of it.

I firmly believe if you go to work just to go to work, at the very least you aren't going to enjoy what you do. If you try to find something you enjoy about your job and focus on that, your day is going to be much better.

As a photojournalist, the thing that keeps me excited about my career is the ability to see how everyone works together for one goal. I get to take the time to focus on each individual piece of the puzzle and see how they all fit together to form the world's greatest Air Force.

When my supervisor asked if I would be interested in going through the security forces augmentee training, I jumped at the opportunity, and then asked what an augmentee does. Perhaps I leapt blindly, but I was rewarded with an amazing experience that allowed me to see security forces members through a new lens.

I anxiously awaited the training feeling both excitement and nervousness. I heard from a fellow coworker that as part of the training I would participate in oleoresin capsicum (OC) training and would experience 50,000 volts of electricity from a Taser stun gun.

The first day we learned law enforcement rules and principles. We interacted with a simulator, defending our decisions concerning the amount of force we decided to use in each scenario.

The next day we learned how to search and apprehend suspects and how to strike and block with a baton. We were then able to volunteer for the OC course and experience the effects of a Taser. This would allow us to understand the effects of these nonlethal weapons and to prevent misuse by law enforcement officials.

At this point, my supervisor and another coworker came to photograph my training along with my wife who came for moral support. Col. Jeannie Leavitt, 4th Fighter Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Craver, 4th FW command chief, also stopped by for the demonstration.

I volunteered to go first, and I'm glad I did. If I watched someone else go first, I really don't think I would have been able to go through with it. Electrodes were attached to my left shoulder blade and right calf just above my boot. My heart was pounding like I just sprinted a mile, my hands were sweaty, my knees shaking and I was practically holding my breath. With an instructor holding my arms on either side, I stood facing my peers, the wing commander, the command chief and my wife.

"You are about to receive a voluntary exposure to the Taser," the instructor said. "Do you have any questions?"

I replied, no, and before I could think, breathe or do anything my whole body went rigid accompanied by an awful sound. I wouldn't describe it as pain, but it was excruciating, like an intense spasm. I knew the shock would only last five seconds, so I counted. I passed five, and I was still immobile; the pulsing current kept passing through my body. I wanted so badly to scream at the top of my lungs to stop, but all that came out was a groan. It went on for what seemed to be an eternity, then there was nothing. When I stood, I felt as light as a feather.

That was hands down the longest five seconds of my life.

Next, I volunteered to go through the OC course and watched a video discussing the process. I don't remember much of the video because I was so nervous, but the part that still sticks with me is some photos of horribly blood shot eyes and one phrase that the narrator said.

"Although it is unlikely to cause death ..."

I didn't hear anything he said after that, my mind was too preoccupied. "Unlikely?" Really? This course could kill me? In hindsight, these thoughts were pretty foolish, but at the time they were particularly unsettling.

The same instructor, who just minutes before held the Taser, now held a bottle of OC spray.

After checking for wind direction and explaining some rules, with my eyes closed, he sprayed it all over my face, counted to two and set me free. It burned, but it wasn't terrible. I didn't really have any difficulty keeping my eyes open, but I wasn't really happy about my face being on fire.

I ran through an obstacle course using the baton and apprehension skills I learned earlier that day. The spray burned my face, but the most annoying thing was having to yell "get back" with every strike of my baton. After a few minutes I was quite winded, but the OC seeping into my eyes kept me motivated to finish the course.

While completing the obstacles, I didn't really have much time to focus on the burning chemical, but when I finished the course, I started to feel the burn. I could still open my eyes and it wasn't unbearable, but it still felt like my face was melting.

Then I washed my face. The water felt amazing. It was so cold, but the soothing affect of the water only lasted a few moments before the burning sensation returned with more intensity. I tried soaking my face in milk and it was even better than the water, for about a minute, but it ultimately failed to relieve the intense burn. I could no longer open my eyes without a searing pain. My face may have felt like it was on fire, but my eyes felt like the coals feeding the flames. I was led by an instructor to a fan to help ease the pain.

About 45 minutes after the ordeal, I thanked the instructor and prepared to leave. He was shocked because I was the first person to ever thank him for the OC spray and exposure to the Taser, but I was glad to have the opportunity to go through this training.

Periodically that night, random patches of my neck and face would erupt in pain and turn bright red. I felt kind of funny out to dinner with my wife when my neck and forehead kept turning beat red, but I wore it as a badge of honor.

In reflection, I don't know which was worse, the shock I experienced as a result of the Taser, or the chemical burn of the OC spray. One lasted only five seconds but was the most intense sensation I can remember. The other was less painful, but lasted much longer. After a couple minutes of thought, I decided that I liked neither of them, but I was proud of them both.

I think that's what it means to be an Airman. You may not like everything you do, but you can be proud of everything you accomplish.