TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Oklahoma --
Some might consider a jump from mechanical engineering to civil engineering an interesting career move. Others might say another jump from the suit-and-tie industry of civilian information technology to the rough-and-tumble profession of a military combat
rescue officer, or CRO, is, to put it nicely, unusual.
Yet 2nd Lt. Jon Nicolas says his decision to become a CRO might be unusual, but it is also a calling.
"There is no mission, in my opinion, of a higher calling than that of saving lives and rescuing people," says Nicolas, adding that is what drew him to this unique field.
This 29-year-old graduate of Texas A&M's Corps of Cadets majored in mechanical engineering. He joined the Air Force Reserve in 2007, becoming a CE officer with the 507th Civil Engineer Squadron.
He has done global information technology consulting for IBM for the past five years, but a five-month-long deployment to Iraq in 2008 changed his outlook on life and his career.
"After my deployment, I knew I wanted to make the Air Force my full-time occupation," says Nicolas. "I learned about the CRO program while in Iraq and made becoming a CRO my ultimate goal."
Although Nicolas has been accepted to enter the selective CRO training program, he is awaiting the transition to active duty to begin training. But once that happens, one of the longest and most mentally and physically demanding training programs in the Department of Defense awaits him.
The CRO training program is nearly two years long, and includes courses like parachute water survival; the Army's Airborne, Combat Divers, and Free fall Parachutist Schools; regular and advanced SERE (Search, Evade, Rescue, and Escape) training; and personnel recovery training.
Needless to say, CRO is not a job for the faint of heart (or body). But Nicolas is getting himself ready for that by working out five to six days a week by swimming, running, and
doing CrossFit training courses.
He says the training is "pretty physically demanding," and that the wash-out rate for this training is very high.
Regardless, Nicolas is "excited to have the opportunity to chase this dream," and has the utmost support from his family, IBM, and his CE leadership.
Nicolas says, "Without the leadership's support, this dream would not be possible."
So while Lieutenant Nicolas' choice to become a CRO is indeed unusual, those whose lives he will save will be grateful for his choice.