Airman to lieutenant: Dream becomes reality for AES reservist

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  After spending three years as a personnel journeyman assigned to the 445th Maintenance Squadron, 1st Lt. Alex Bilchak, a health services administrator for the 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron is learning not only a new career field but his new role as an Air Force officer.

Commissioned April 6, 2014 through the Medical Services Corps commissioning program, Bilchak is still in awe of how his Reserve career has taken a new direction.

The road to becoming an officer didn't take place overnight. Bilchak's Air Force career started after he completed college. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Youngstown State University and a Master of Business Administration degree and a Master of Applied Politics degree from the University of Akron under his belt, his mind was now focused on his long-term career goal.

"I always wanted to serve my country in the armed forces. But I never did anything about it when I was younger. I finished college and immediately began my career. I eventually completed graduate school. At this point, I just turned 30 and I was still thinking about joining the military so I met with an Air Force recruiter [in 2010] and decided to join the Air Force Reserve."

The college graduate was told there were no officer positions available for him and the recruiter suggested he go the enlisted route. Bilchak concurred and was sent to Air Force basic military training in 2011.

"Basic training was a great experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I was 32 and older than most of my fellow trainees. At the time, I never thought about pursuing a commission."

But in 2012, Bilchak heard about the Deserving Airmen Board and applied.

"The board was a disaster. This was the first time that I've ever met any type of board. It was rough. I stumbled over my words and constantly repeated myself. But it was a great learning experience, and I'll never regret it. I learned about posture, military bearing and more. It was a teachable moment for me."

Bilchak was disappointed when he found out he didn't make the cut. He said the person who won was a master sergeant and deserved it. "He truly deserved this opportunity because he was a master sergeant and had so much experience so it made sense he got it over a senior airman like me. I couldn't be happier for that individual."

His perseverance to be an officer didn't stop there. Soon after the board, his stop into the military personnel flight changed his life.

"Master Sgt. Victoria Errett, 445th Force Support Squadron chief of career development, told me she felt badly that I didn't make the board and asked if I knew about the other officer commissioning programs that are available. She told me about the Medical Services Corps commissioning program. She knew there were potential openings in AES. I was told it was a long process and I would have to take the GRE again. But if I qualified and the paperwork went through, I would be working on the medical services administrator side. Another unique element associated with this position is that it is a direct commission, meaning I would be commissioned before going to commissioned officer training."

It took Bilchak 15 months by the time he started the package for the program until the day he was commissioned. "I got notified April 4 and was commissioned April 6. I didn't want to assume anything until I got the letter so I continued to pursue my enlisted career track. The enlisted part of my career was equally important and I wanted to focus on it until it the commission came through."

Bilchak officially began working in AES in May. He will eventually attend commissioned officer training followed by an 11-week health services administrator course.

"The whole process of getting my commission would not have been possible but for the support I received from members of both AES, who guided me through the application process, and the senior leadership within MXS, who helped push my application through the different phases of approval. The support was second to none. So many people here at the 445th helped me along the way. I want to thank them all for giving me this opportunity."