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22 May 6, 2016 Desert Lightning News
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Lieutenant in training
Airman 1st Class Ashley N. Steffen emy application checklists on his desk fill up with “It was all about having to find that balance and pri-
ink to indicate completion” said Senior Airman oritizing what was more important that day, ensuring
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Chris Drzazgowski, 355th Fighter Wing Public my job performance didn’t go down,” Arnaud said.
Affairs photojournalist.
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. Arnaud aims to study foreign affairs and hopes
-- Coming from Puerto Rico, Jean-Paul Arnaud Throughout the process, second lieutenant to obtain a piloting slot through the Academy.
vied his way through school, picking up English bars appeared on his desk to serve as a constant
as a second language and struggling to create his reminder for him to maintain focus on becom- “I’ve always pushed myself I think it is too easy
own path to success leading him to enlist in the ing part of the USAF’s officer corps while he ac- to get comfortable in a routine and plateau,” Ar-
U.S. Air Force. quired signatures and recommendation letters. naud said. “It’s a constant obsession to push my-
self and grow as a person. I believe in my heart
His life has been a growing adventure from “I was relieved once it was finished,” Arnaud that you live once and if you spend it comfortable
leaving Puerto Rico adapting to a new culture to said. “It was a team effort, between my direct what are you really going to accomplish.”
becoming a broadcaster for the U.S. Air Force, supervisor, commanding officer and the base
with the biggest step resting ahead. commander. So many things could have stopped Arnaud eagerly waited for the news of whether or
my application, something as simple as not get- not he got accepted. Only 170 prior service Airmen
Airman 1st Class Jean-Paul Arnaud, 355th ting a signature.” interview for entry yearly according to USAFA.
Fighter Wing Public Affairs broadcaster, applied
for the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Arnaud’s brief military career focused The announcement of Arnaud’s acceptance was
Springs, Colo., through the Leaders Encouraging around his profession as a broadcaster using made by Col. James Meger, 355th Fighter Wing
Airman Development program. This unique pro- video to convey the Air Force story visually. commander, during a staff meeting March 22.
gram gives prior service Airmen the opportunity The job of a broadcaster is to inform the com-
to enter the academy. munity on and off the base about the Davis- Meger congratulated Arnaud and told him
Monthan Air Force Base mission by highlight- there was a lot of challenges ahead of him.
“There’s a list of things you have to accom- ing airmen and their families.
plish, from the standard personal information, to “He has the right attitude, skill set and mind
medical appointments, physical tests and plenty Arnaud’s first published story was picked up set, he’s going to be a very successful cadet,” said
of paperwork,” said Arnaud. by local news and his work since has been fea- Capt. Casey Osborne, 355th Fighter Wing Pub-
tured on news stations, as well as, the Depart- lic Affairs chief of public affairs, “Following his
The extensive application process took ap- ment of Defense website. time in the academy, he will be an incredible suc-
proximately five months for him to complete. cessful officer even when he has the weight of the
world on his shoulders he’ll get through it.”
“For the past few months, I’ve watched Acad-
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