After eight persistent attempts, a former enlisted airman from the 60th Medical Group has earned his commission, proving that perseverance and dedication can overcome any obstacle.
2nd Lt. Chavis Kendrick was recently commissioned through the Officer Training School after being selected for the line officer program.
Growing up in Miami and later Goose Creek, South Carolina, Kendrick’s early life instilled a strong work ethic. Before joining the Air Force, he balanced high school with lawn services and assisting his father's catering business. He initially considered a degree in hospitality and retail management but chose the Air Force to avoid student loan debt, following the advice of his father, a Navy veteran.
Kendrick’s journey...
01.14.2026 | TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA, US |
Story by Roderick Tapnio
Members of the 59th Medical Wing’s Critical Care Air Transport Team participated alongside the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Flight Team, the 137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and the 559th Aerospace Medicine Squadron in a Validated Assessment Program for Operational Readiness (VAPOR) Critical Care Air Transport training flight with the help of the 56th Air Refueling Squadron from Altus, Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 21, 2025. The training flight, conducted aboard a KC-46A Pegasus and taking off from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s Kelly Field, helps members remain current and ready to execute real-world CCAT missions. The VAPOR program allows teams to conduct live training flights, as opposed to using static...
