ACADEMICS - Ursuline Academy

new operation somewhere we do not have a base, my unit gets
called in as some of the first on the ground. Mere months after
my arrival to “The Herd,” I was tasked to deploy with my new
squadron to Iraq, where I have been given my first opportunity
as a Flight Commander. I only have six troops under me, but I
am responsible for security of the local AF network, and oversee
the execution of $96M in projects. The job is fast-paced, a
little stressful, but our impact on the mission is clear.
On Duty in Iraq
KAITLIN KENNEY ‘02
“At UA, I learned that there
were no limits before me.”
When I graduated from Ursuline in 2002, I had no idea that
seven years later I would be sitting in the middle of the desert
writing an article like this. We never really know where life
will take us, but when I look back on leaving Ursuline to take
another step closer to entering the real world, I realize nothing
turned out as I expected.
I departed Ursuline for Miami University with no real idea of
what I wanted to do. My best friend Aria Perkins ’02 and I
were destined for the same college, and at her suggestion we
together joined the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.
I have not looked back since. I have been able to do and see and
experience more things in my fledgling Air Force career than I
could have ever imagined myself doing. After graduating from
Miami and receiving my commission, I was sent to the 52nd
Communications Squadron in Germany for my first duty station.
There, with no experience under my belt and fresh out of
college, I was entrusted with 65 subordinates and $6.5M worth
of IT equipment and infrastructure. Not only that, but I was
also responsible for the communications support of 14 sites
spread across Western Europe in addition to my main base.
I saddled up to the challenge and overcame a steep learning
curve to be twice stratified as the #1 Lieutenant in my
squadron.
After my two years abroad were up, I was sent to the 34th
Combat Communications Squadron in Oklahoma City - not
quite so exotic as my experience in Europe, but I am excited
for the new experiences I will gain in tactical comm. The mission
of this unit is to establish bare-base communications for
forward operations. That means if the US has a mission or a
I do not intend for this to sound self-important. I mention my
successes because I learned the necessary skills long before I
came into the Air Force. While I never had a full understanding
of the open classroom concept at Ursuline, the skills that
developed have helped me tremendously. I recall being irritated
when taking an English exam in Ms. Schellhous’s room, and
hearing lectures going on across the hall and next door, but it
taught me a life-saving skill—focus. This can be best illustrated
through my role as Unit Control Center director here. During
real-world or exercise attacks, my sole focus is communication
and accountability. Things get extremely hectic as we receive
reports and intel, brief all that up to our commander, and
try to gain accountability of all of our people all at once. The
phones are ringing off the hook, the radio is chattering nonstop,
we are tracking casualty reports, unexploded ordnance
reports and response, alarm conditions, and we are doing it
all at the same time. Each person must learn to focus—to
keep one ear on what is going on around them, and to devote
the rest of their attention to their assigned task. It can be an
extremely stressful situation.
So as I write this, now only halfway through my deployment, I
take time to reflect on all the milestones and all the events that
led me down this road. Ursuline was such a big part of making
me who I am. At UA, I learned confidence. I learned how to
come out of my shell. I learned that there were no limits before
me, if only I had the drive and ambition to pursue my interests.
I learned flexibility, and through the mod system, time management.
More importantly, I learned that it’s ok to be a lady
while still being tough.
I would challenge you all—students and alumnae alike—to
draw from the things you have learned at UA. Every experience
you have under the UA teaching method will have a direct
impact on your daily life. You truly have a unique set of skills,
and an edge over your peers that they likely did not receive
during their education. Use that to your advantage, but do so in
humility. I have been blessed to have so many experiences and
opportunities afforded me. Wherever life may take you, relying
on the solid foundation UA has built within you will take you
places you never expected to go.
kaitlin.kenny@tlab.afcent.af.mil
VOICES SUMMER 2009
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