100th SFS handler pursues future in Medical Service Corps

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Although he put together three packages to become an officer, something stopped Staff Sgt. Alexandre Rogan from submitting them. Then in 2016, he went to an officer briefing and learned about the Medical Service Corps, which took his life on a different path completely.

Something about it sparked his interest, and the 100th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog handler and trainer did some research before meeting a Medical Service Corps officer at RAF Lakenheath. The officer encouraged Rogan to do an internship lasting six months, where he was shown the various functions within that career field.

“That’s when I realized it was exactly what I wanted to do in the Air Force,” Rogan said.

His application for the MSC was accepted in September and he will begin the MSC program in August 2018 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Rogan is then scheduled to head to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, which will be his first base as an officer.

Before joining the military, he earned a scholarship to play basketball in college, after which he planned to study to become a doctor. After sustaining an injury during his junior year, he realized he was finished with basketball and without the scholarship, he had no choice but to leave.

“I joined the Air Force to finish school and switched my degree plan,” he recalled. “It was only supposed to be for six years, but I was enjoying the lifestyle and had decided by then that I wanted to be an officer – but I wanted to do something I enjoy, that I would both excel at and have a passion for.”

Rogan explained his highest score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery was in administration. He’d been studying for a Masters’ in Business Administration while at college, and getting into the MSC career field requires either a bachelors’ or masters’ degree in business or healthcare, or to be within one year of completion.

“Because of that, I was eligible,” he said, adding that prior to even being able to access the application package, there’s a long questionnaire to complete. “It’s great to have the opportunity to work in the business admin area I originally went to school for. It also touches on the aspect of the healthcare I wanted to do when I was going to school to be a doctor.”

Applying for the MSC was a long process; it took Rogan 10 months from the day he began job shadowing to when he was accepted. Standards are extremely high and competition is fierce – the career field has just 950 people and only 40 active-duty members and 40 civilians were selected this year.

Rogan’s initial dream on joining the military was to be a K-9 handler and gain experience within the Air Force before becoming an officer. This was achieved through his partnership with MWD Oorion, who helped him grow both as a person and an Airman. Although his passion for challenging himself has kept him determined to work as hard as possible, it also has a downside.

“The hardest part of leaving the military working dog career field will be having to say goodbye to Oorion. By the time I leave here, we’ll have been a team for four years,” the handler said. “He’s my first dog and I’m his first handler. Together we’re an amazing team, but that’s because he’s an amazing animal. He’s a huge Belgian Malinois – the epitome of an MWD – and has all the necessary drive and desired instincts. Oorion is truly my best friend.”

Determined to do everything possible to become an MSC officer, Rogan put in extra time with his primary job to enable him to work the job shadowing as well, without inconveniencing others.

“Sergeant Rogan has put a lot of effort into completing his MBA and never once forgot about his primary duty as an MWD handler and trainer while attending his MSC shadow days,” said Tech. Sgt. Kelly Webster, 100th SFS MWD kennel master. “He gave up every day he had off to attend the training at Lakenheath, even switching days off with other handlers so he could attend on the weekdays, then would come in and perform his MWD duties on the weekends as well. He really set his goal high, but it all paid off at the end when he was selected into the small career field he’ll be heading into.”

Webster described how Rogan’s partnership with Oorion has helped him grow both as a person and Airman ready for the leadership challenges required of an officer.

“The bond that an MWD and handler build together is like no other; our teams go out and protect the president and his family, along with other distinguished visitors, so there are times when they must put the safety of the VIP, along with his own, in the MWD and trust in all the training they go through to ensure everyone gets home safely,” Webster explained. “As an Airman, Rogan has grown from his day as a senior airman handler to a staff sergeant not only working a dog, but making sure all the other MWDs and handlers get the required training to perform at an effective level. I know he has the ability to learn and lead at the same time, so when the MSC selected him, they made the right choice.”

Now ready to follow his next dream, Rogan said he his first goal as an MSC officer is to dive straight in and learn his new career field.

“I want to be a true contributing member to the career field, and eventually become a subject-matter expert,” he said. “My next goal is to be a transparent leader to those who I'll be appointed over, and set them up for success. Having my section and unit succeed and be recognized for their efforts and hard work is the type of leader I want to be.”