Airman aces medical logistics technical training

  • Published
  • By Mike Joseph
  • JBSA-Lackland, Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas --  A technical training student in the medical logistics program recently recorded a perfect score in the course for the first time in 10 years.

Airman 1st Class Jamie Cushman achieved 100 percent test scores during the six-week course, which she completed June 3. The course's last perfect score came when medical education training was under the 882nd Training Group at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas.

The 882nd TRG transitioned into the 937th TRG here as a new organization under JBSA-Lackland's 37th Training Wing in October 2011 after the relocation from Sheppard was completed. The move to San Antonio was part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission law, which required the consolidation of medical training for all service branches at Fort Sam Houston.

"I had never heard of a perfect score out of that tech training course," said Lt. Col. Sarah Coors-Davidson, 937th Training Support Squadron commander.

Coors-Davidson processes all incoming squadron permanent party members. She found out about the technical training achievement when interviewing Cushman, now a customer service representative for medical logistics at the Medical Education and Training Campus here.

"When someone comes in with a really high score, it not only reflects positively on them but it also reflects positively on METC and the 937th TRG," the commander said. "It means they understand what we're teaching."

Cushman said reaching 100 percent in the course was her goal shortly after arriving for technical training.

"The second or third day, we attended graduation for the class before us," the young Airman said. "They announced the 'Log Dog' (the top medical logistics course graduate), and she got 98 percent. She only missed one question in the course.

"I told one of my buddies we're going to beat that, we're going to ace this course," she said. "The first test we both got 100, but the next PT (physical training) he didn't and I did. I told myself, 'Nope, I'm going to do it.' I had to prove it to myself, and I did. (Reaching that goal) feels amazing."

Learning and studying comes naturally to Cushman, who grew up in Michigan. She earned 30 college credits as a junior and senior in high school by taking dual credit courses.

She even taught herself calculus.

"I love to learn," Cushman said. "My punishment (growing up) was taking away my books."

She attended Western Michigan University after high school set on becoming an aeronautical engineer. Admitting physics classes got the best of her, she switched majors to occupational therapy.

Burned out from school and working three jobs at the same time led her to the Air Force after her sophomore year. However, she was only following a familiar family path.

Her father is a retired chief master sergeant, her mother is a Reserve staff sergeant, one brother is a retired master sergeant, another brother is a senior airman, and one sister is an airman 1st class. Cushman's youngest sister will complete the chain when she enters Air Force Basic Military Training at the end of August.

"I always knew I was going to come (into the Air Force), it was just a question of when," she said. "Having everyone in the service is awesome. It's truly an honor to be able to serve arm-in-arm with my blood brothers and sisters."

Cushman is already taking aim at her next set of goals. She wants to complete her development courses, get her Community College of the Air Force degree, then apply for the physician's assistant program.

Acceptance into the physician's assistant program would mean officer's training and a commission. From there her dream is to become a doctor, eventually specializing as a heart surgeon.

"If I became an officer, I'd be the first one in my family," she said. "That would be so cool."