Airmen make the switch

  • Published
  • By Minty Knighton
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  How many of us sit at our jobs and say it's time for a change, for something new, something that will make a difference? 

Two local Eglin Airmen are not only thinking it, but are making it happen by leaving their current positions to become physician assistant. And the best thing is, they never have to leave the comfort of the Air Force. 

The Air Force Physician's Assistant program has provided Tech. Sgt. Candra Case from the 372nd Training Detachment, and Staff Sgt. Alexander Kryvenia from 96th Medical Group, the opportunity to earn bachelor's and master's degrees. This will lead to a commission to First Lieutenants in the Air Force Biomedical Science Corps. The program selects only 32 airmen Air Force -wide per year and attracts a diverse group of Airmen like Sergeants Kryvenia and Case. 

Sergeant Kryvenia, who just returned from a deployment in Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, is enthused about the physician assistant opportunity. His Air Force career had humble beginnings. 

"At the time I joined the Air Force, I was working to becoming a citizen. The Air Force was a great opportunity for me to gain a more predictable future," said Sergeant Kryvenia. 

Sergeant Kryvenia has been working as an Eglin emergency room shift manager in the surgical division for four years. He's grateful to be given the opportunity to do more. 

" The PA program gives me a better opportunity to do greater things and to be an officer. I plan to make a career in the Air Force for at least for 20 years; then, absolutely, the PA degree will allow me to transition to other military, VA [Veterans Affairs] and even civilian hospitals." 

Sergeant Case wasn't always sure she wanted to make a career in the Air Force. 

"I was prior enlisted, got out and then came back after 9/11. I joined the Air Force because I love my country and wanted to be of service to people," she said.
Sergeant Case works as an F-15 crew chief and instructor. She loves her job, but her passion is medicine. 

"I applied for the PA program because medicine is always what I wanted to do. Being a crew chief is great, but the PA program is a dream job." 

Both sergeants are going into the program on even ground, even though their experience varies. Sergeant Kryvenia has a medical background and Sergeant Case, science. 

"My flight chief at the time, Master Sgt. John Lang, told me about the program and thought I would be perfect, " said Sergeant Case. "I shadowed other PAs like Capt. Randall Stevens from the medical group, who was a good mentor." 

Sergeants Case and Kryvenia both earned degrees early in their careers, but neither mind going the full extent of the two-year program. 

The first year, Phase 1, includes course study at Fort Sam Houston Army Base, in San Antonio, Texas. Second year, Phase 2, includes travel throughout U.S. military installations to receive on- the- job training in various disciplines. 

"It's such a great opportunity, a great career move. Why wouldn't you go for it?" asked Sergeant Case. 

Both sergeants' families are very supportive. 

"My wife is very supportive," said Sergeant Kryvenia. "My tenure will be in San Antonio and my wife will join me then in phase 2, I'll be traveling, my family may travel a bit, but for the most part since the program [phase 2] is only one year, they won't have to travel much." 

"My husband loves it," said Sergeant Case. "He knows it will be a lot of hard work and knows that I won't have a lot of time with him, but in the long run it is better for us; he supports me 100 percent."