A trifecta of Citizen Airman – scoring high at home, work and school

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andre Bowser
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  One Citizen Airman of the 944th Fighter Wing has scored high in the trifecta of family, work and school.

So high she's nearly completed a degree in the medical field and received a scholarship to aid her in that effort.

Standing nearly 5 feet 5 inches, the diminutive size of one Tech. Sgt. Nichole Emler of the 944th Services Flight barely captures the heights to which she has soared as a civilian medical assistant, military services trainer, and in her successful family life as a wife and mother -- all hats she has worn deliberately and with care.

As a medical assistant in her civilian life at John C. Lincoln Health Network, Serteant Emler has balanced a five-year career with full-time school. She will have completed her associates degree in nursing in December.

Adding that she was elevated to the rank of technical sergeant in April, the increasing responsibilities might for many citizens be viewed as overwhelming.

But the training manager for the 944th Services Flight said she has remained in the Air Force Reserve for one reason: "I love my unit, and being part of the military is something to be proud of."

Sergeant Emler has been a member of the 944th Fighter Wing for six years after serving two and a half years on active duty. She said she transferred to the Reserve to fulfill a palace chase commitment and has since remained a member of the 944th FW.

Sergeant Emler said she is responsible for handling training in her 23-member unit; similarly, she's responsible for helping maintain her burgeoning family.

She met her husband, Eric, a John Deere mechanic, while they were in the second grade. "We've known each other about 20 years," said Sergeant Emler, who has been married for six years and has a 5-year-old son, James.

The New River family might live 25 miles north of Phoenix, but the lion share of her life outside of the family setting is spent closer to the city with her work in a doctor's office and school. The medical assistant attends school full-time for nursing at Paradise Valley Community College.

As a medical assistant, Sergeant Emler handles patient care such as giving shots, taking vital signs and facilitating the needs of her doctor in shepherding patients through the various stages of care.

Sergeant Emler has taken her education very seriously; recently, she received her Community College of the Air Force degree and participated in the graduation ceremony in May. As a service craftsman, her degree was an associate's of applied science in restaurant, hotel and fitness management.

"I do plan to get my bachelor's degree in nursing, but not right away," said the studious Sergeant Emler, who received the Pitsenbarger Scholarship to assist in her nursing education. 

Sergeant Emler, a Phoenix native, said she has worked for John C. Lincoln nearly five years. Her civilian supervisor recently came out to the base's annual Bosses Day and was amazed at the duties a reservist has.

"They're very flexible with my school schedule," she said, adding an extra perk that makes her boss a particularly exemplarily employer. "They're paying for my school."

In return for footing the fee her education, Sergeant Emler said she is duty-bound to give her civilian employer two years of employment after she graduates -- shouldering the increased responsibility of nursing duties.

While Sergeant Emler is diminutive in size, she said she's big enough to shoulder the responsibilities of home, school, as well civilian medicine and military services career fields -- and with an unassuming confidence.

"I'm pretty quiet at first, and then once I'm comfortable, I'm pretty outspoken and outgoing," she said.