Photo By Senior Airman DeQuan Simmons | U.S. Air Force Airman Kerf Assouman, 375th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron...... read more read more
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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – For one Scott Airman, the path to the Air Force was forged through hardship and resilience that continue to guide him today.
After surviving the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Airman Kerf Assouman, 375th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron bioenvironmental flight hazardous communications lead, was forced to overcome the challenges of adapting to a new country.
“It’s kind of ironic; after the earthquake, I used to see the U.S. military out there helping us, giving us MREs,” said Assouman, reflecting on the aftermath. “During the whole disaster, I was just a kid. I was seeing people killed by the earthquake and even losing friends out there.”
The devastation marked a turning point in Assouman’s life. He was sent to live with his father in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 18. Having lived in Haiti his entire life, Assouman was only fluent in Creole and French. He didn’t let this stop him—he took matters into his own hands, using unconventional methods to learn English in three months.
“When I was in high school, there was this guy; he was a Haitian American. I told him, ‘I'm going to teach you how to speak Creole, and you're going to teach me how to speak English,’” said Assouman. “I used to listen to a lot of American music, and I started understanding what they're saying. I think it took me about three months to handle conversations with people.”
Language wasn’t the only thing that shaped his path forward. Family played an equally important role, as Assouman entered military service alongside his brother Frank, who joined the Army.
“My dad made me ask my brother, ‘Do you want to join?’ My brother responded, ‘I’m not joining unless you join with me,” said Assouman. “That was one of the reasons I joined the military—it was more of a brotherhood thing.”
The same loyalty that brought him into the Air Force now drives his commitment to ensuring a safe environment for those around him. At the 375th OMRS BE flight, Assouman is currently responsible for ensuring hazardous materials at workspaces meet OSHA standards and ensuring the safety of fellow Airmen. While his day-to-day responsibilities center on protecting others, his long-term vision reflects a desire to build something lasting for himself and his community.
“All I wanted when I came here was to go to school, get a job, save money, and start a business,” said Assouman. “The Air Force gave me a chance to do that an build a better life while serving others.”
| Date Taken: | 09.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2025 11:53 |
| Story ID: | 547167 |
| Location: | SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 130 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Humans of Scott: Survival and resilience, Airman Kerf Assouman, by SrA DeQuan Simmons, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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