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Fairchild Airman selected for commission

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicolo J. Daniello
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE, Wash --  A Fairchild Airman was 1 of 10 candidates selected for commission Nov. 10 as part of the Biomedical Science Corp Direct Accession Program. 

Tech. Sgt. Vikas Kumar, the 92nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron aerospace and physiology flight NCO in charge, competed against enlisted, line officers and cadets for this opportunity.

Kumar submitted his package in 2012 and 2013 before being selected this year. 

"It became my challenge. That I have to do this, that I need to do this for myself, that was the biggest motivator," Kumar said. "That I cannot accept failure; I need to get my paperwork and my package stronger."

After each rejection, Kumar worked to make his package stronger. He earned; a Bachelor of Science  with a minor in science, joined the base honor guard, earned senior airman below the zone, made staff sergeant his first time; earned technical sergeant through the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program; and won numerous squadron awards. 

"His impeccable work ethic and dedication to always better himself, both professionally and academically, is what led to his selection," said Lt. Col. Matthew Albright, 92nd AMDS aerospace and operational physiology flight commander. "There is no doubt that Tech. Sgt. Kumar will be an immediate leader in the officer ranks of our career field."

Kumar will be attending the five-week Commissioned Officers Training course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

This course is for people who received direct commissions like doctors, physiologists and chaplains. These individuals have a career-relevant degree or postgraduate degree and are licensed and eligible to practice in their field. 

The COT is split up into four phases, which teaches inbound trainees teamwork, discipline, standardization, applying leadership skills and managing a team through assigned missions. 

Kumar's major goal for the past few years has been met, but he said his goals don't stop there.

"I will learn all the new responsibilities that come with the rank and apply all the knowledge that I have gained so far to make the aerospace and physiology career field better and more efficient," Kumar said. "That is my primary goal."

For more information on BSC education and commissioning opportunities, including additional eligibility criteria and application instructions, Airmen who work in medical career fields can log in with a common access card to the Air Force Medical Service Knowledge Exchange at https://kx2.afms.mil/kj/kx3/afbsceducation or https://kx2.afms.mil/kj/kx4/afbscutilization.