CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
A recent poll conducted by Parenting Magazine asked parents what professions they would like to see their children undertake when they reach adulthood. The top three jobs selected were doctor, lawyer and pilot. If this is true, one Airman with the 315th Airlift Wing must have some very happy parents because he can now claim two of the top three.
Maj. Steve Bruce, chief of training for the 317th Airlift Squadron recently passed the bar exam and is now licensed to practice law.
"I thought about going to law school while I was on active duty and the Air Force allowed me to use the tuition assistance program for my master's degree," said Major Bruce. "But I couldn't pursue the law degree because the Air Force really needed C-17 guys at the time."
Major Bruce spent 12 years on active duty before joining the Reserve in 2005.
"The tuition assistance was great, but the most important reason I got to where I am is how being a Reservist helped me," said Major Bruce.
Major Bruce went to Lt. Col. Rick Davis, 317 AS operations officer, to ask if there was a way for him to fly as a Reservist and earn money while he continued to study.
"I would encourage anyone to give the Air Force Reserve a try. People say that it is the best part-time job you could ever have and I think that is the truth. It would not have been possible to do this without them. The Reserve is a great opportunity and a lot of guys getting off of active duty don't realize what the Reserve can offer," said Major Bruce.
Balancing flying and studying was a three-year-long ordeal that Major Bruce says he is glad is over. Twelve-to 13-hour long days were the norm for the better part of this time and these long hours took their toll.
"My wife knew it was an investment of time and money," said Maj. Bruce. "The time investment impacted our family life mostly, but now that it is over it was all worth it. I am blessed to have my wife who has also been so supportive. It is great right now."
Now that Major Bruce is licensed to practice law, he intends to put his new skill set to use in his civilian job practicing aviation law.
"I work for Nelson Mullins and we do a lot of aviation law, government contracting and FAA enforcement and compliance work," said the major. "One of the really cool things is that one of the two guys I work with is a former T-38 instructor pilot and the other is a current Navy Reserve captain. There is a military comfort at work that is really nice."
Colonel Davis calls Maj. Bruce "a true role model."
"He is a model citizen Airman who shows outstanding integrity," said Colonel Davis. "He's never been afraid to fight for what's right."