Out of This World

Video by Amber Osei

U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Reunites Former Teacher with Student

U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion - Oklahoma City

Feb. 27, 2019 | 1:19

LAWTON – On a recent visit to Fort Sill, Oklahoma as a part of an Educator Tour hosted by the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion – Oklahoma City, Mrs. Debbie Waken, an educator from Tulsa Tech, was able to reunite with one of her former students who is currently going through Advanced Individual Training (AIT) stationed at Fort Sill, OK.

Debbie Waken is a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) counselor at the Tulsa Tech Lesley Campus in Tulsa Okla. Her job is to help Tulsa Tech students decide what career fields they would like to pursue and to manage their career progression. Debbie has seen many students advance and graduate though the STEM courses offered at Tulsa Tech.

“Will is my rock star student. If I could only have a million of him…” Says Mrs. Waken.

Pvt. William Carey is currently a student at Fort Sill going through his AIT for his Military Occupation Skill (MOS). Carey is going through training in Air Defense Artillery. This MOS relies heavily on STEM aspects and truly puts the education he earned at Tulsa Tech to use.

“Don’t quit, just keep going, there are so many things that the Army has to offer and it’s a great opportunity.” Says Will.

Carey will complete his training at Fort Sill in the weeks to come and will report to his first duty station ready to put his new found skills to use in the Air Defense Artillery branch.