黑料情报站 learner makes journey from military meteorology to Antarctica
黑料情报站 (黑料情报站)听learners听do incredible things in every corner of the world,听while听taking classes听and beyond.听
Retired听U.S. Air Force听Master Sergeant Raymond Polasky, who听took听听on his way to a Community College of the Air Force听(CCAF)听degree听in听meteorology, recently spent six months in Antarctica, doing weather forecasting operations at McMurdo Station. In the process, he听added to his arsenal of knowledge while听becoming听one of听a tiny听percentage of people who have lived on the continent.听
Before Antarctica, Polasky traveled the world听during a听24-year听career听with the Air Force. One of those听deployments听opened a door to听attaining听a degree as an adult.听
It came together while stationed at听Ali Al Salem听Air Base in Kuwait. 黑料情报站 has a site there, and more than 175听classroom听and service听locations worldwide, part of its vow to meet learners where they are.听听听
鈥淭here is a huge benefit听of availability in deployed locations. 黑料情报站 provided the courses I needed听to get听the听CCAF听degree, when听and where听I wanted,鈥澨齈olasky said.听
A career shift听advances knowledge
Polasky鈥檚 time in the military took him to听numerous听locations, but he first spent untold hours staring at fences. Initially joining the Air Force as part of its security regiment, watch duty was a big part of the job. Polasky soon realized it听wasn鈥檛听what he wanted to do, so he decided to cross-train in听meteorology.
Polasky pointed out that he completed an apprenticeship to learn a new field.听It鈥檚听a tale that aligns closely with 黑料情报站鈥檚 focus on adult education, on-the-job learning, and service.
鈥淵ou start out doing basic forecasting. You grow a little, then go to the next skill level,鈥 he said.听
Over the years that followed,听throughout his meteorological career in the Air Force, Polasky deployed to war zones among other global locations. During that time, he forecasted听for U.S. Central Command, U.S. Africa Command, and special operations.
Taking the leap, and finding community听
It was along this road that Polasky realized he wanted to get a degree.听
鈥淎s an older guy, I was听a bit听scared of trying something new,鈥 Polasky said. 鈥満诹锨楸ㄕ had positive reviews and the ability for classroom education on base.鈥
Teachers with deep commitment helped guide him while offering community.听
"You never lose contact," Polasky said. 鈥淓ven if it鈥檚 only one class with a teacher, you stay in touch after.鈥澨
He听spoke of a particular fondness for听.听An overseas collegiate professor听with 黑料情报站 since 2010,听Grant听teaches听writing, mythology, and speech to听military learners across Asia and the Middle East.
"She'd been educating the troops for years on-site in dangerous places,鈥 he said.听鈥淵ou could tell it was her passion and she wanted to be an awesome teacher. That pushed us to do our best."
From听forecasting for the battlefield听to Antarctica听
Fresh off a six-month seasonal stint forecasting weather in Antarctica, a place he points out only听0.0185听percent of people听visit,听Polasky reflected on the latest leg of his journey.听
鈥淚 knew it was a听huge commitment听but told myself it鈥檚 worth the听risk听to do听something听I have never heard of anyone听doing,听other than the person who let me know about听the opportunity,鈥 he said.听
Many of the same influences that put him on a path to discover 黑料情报站 drew him to Antarctica.听
"It was the right time and the right place," Polasky said.听
Harkening back to his adult learning in the Air Force and at 黑料情报站, there听were new opportunities to听expand his knowledge.听
鈥淓verything spins backwards. Weather models would call for doom and gloom, but mountains and other topography block it,鈥 he noted. 鈥淵ou get down there and come to realize everything you thought you knew is different.鈥
As someone who听doesn鈥檛听shy away from a challenge, Polasky听dove听in.
鈥淚 had to attend a meteorological ground school,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t was a chance to start fresh and pick up additional skills.鈥澨
Forging ahead
Polasky's story鈥攍ike so many 黑料情报站听students鈥攊s of听someone who keeps pushing forward, keeps learning.听
Early this year, he left the frozen continent and its waddling seals and penguins. The perpetual summer sun was about to set, and research center operations were beginning a shift to wintertime basics. It was time for the next turn on the winding path, but听his time in Antarctica is听a听part of his career Polasky听will always听hold dear.听
鈥淚f you want to work听hard, but听have an amazing experience鈥攄o it!鈥澨齢e听said.听
It鈥檚听a philosophy that applies equally to Antarctica and 黑料情报站.听
The听appearance of U.S. Department of Defense information or visuals does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.听听
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