The shadow of war has made a signature in my mind with loud cannon fire and rocket explosions. It should be known that South Carolina, especially my area in Spartanburg, loves fireworks. My mind is often raddled in pure fear when this happens every July 4. I black out sometimes with my wife holding me as I sob in tears. Many said that an Air Force Master Sergeant should have never been embedded with the U.S. Marines. Yet, I served with greatest group of men I could ever be assigned with. War is indeed hell, but I survived and scarred more inside than out. Anxiety spells occur when a familiar smell or sound pulls back my curtain of war. But regardless, I still wasn’t done with dreams and goals. I was located at Camp BlackHorse, as an Air Force Administrator for a Marine Detachment from December 2009 to June 2010. It seemed I was always trudging uphill on a daily basis to the Afghan Army encampment. At times, it reminded me of the old television series M.A.S.H. But I did my duty and met my Afghan counterparts. One morning, our camp was hit by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) that had a timer. Chaos is what comes to mind. I distinctly remember Gunny yelling at me to get my gear and get out to the bunker. Men and women soldiers scrambling to get cover and me doing roll call to ensure my Marines were accounted for. I had to bury the fear because I had a job to do. Nobody can really understand unless you are there that someone wants you dead every day. We lost 4 in a week. I was assigned to a special duty at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Airborne for about two months to assist with administrative duties. On the first day in the FOB, I witnessed the DFAC tent. As sat down at the table, I heard a large BOOM! Then, another and another after that! It shook the tent to the poles. I noticed, nobody moved and continued eating. Everything in me told me to dive under the table. My Gunny looked and me and smiled. Everyone looked plastic, as dust came under the tent into the DFAC. I literally was puzzled on why nobody was running for cover. Gunny said to me plainly, “Its outgoing Braxton. Finish your food. Relax.” We had more outgoing night fire that literally went on for several days while I stationed there. One morning, the Major told me we had incoming close to our connex. He decided not to say anything to me because if the rocket came through the roof, we would die anyway. I have live with that. You can’t unstop being terrified in war. You just bury it. Deep. It scars you as much a bullet hole. People sometimes just can’t see what I carry. Now, through my educational goals, I want to help our Veterans. I understand how they feel. Those who can’t shake what they experienced. Wartime veterans mental health is always at risk of breaking if support is not available. Some are experiences worse than others, but I want them to know I’m here. I was told by my a therapist at the VA while my wife was sitting right next to me, “Why don’t I just forget about it.” This told me I need continue my goals to be a leader of education. To use that power to help those whose mental health and PTSD is pure demon. I get it. And there are many times I feel survivor’s remorse to make it out alive. Avoiding IEDs, Afghan spy army soldiers, terrorists, incoming bombs, and snipers off the ridges of Jalalabad Pass. I still hate sounds of fireworks, but I love the colors. Afghanistan changed me, but did not conquer me. I’m home and I want to do something with the Doctorate I’m pursuing. Serving my veterans is the perfect honor and salute.

My name is Steven M. Braxton and born in New Jersey; third generation military almost guaranteed footing in the military service. A single child in Linden New Jersey poor ghetto section, I was determined to get out. I joined the U.S. Air Force in 1990 and after 24 years, retired with honors. Yet still, after all of that time of 24 years, there was thing I loved to do is to teach. I had a yearning to teach. Regardless of military instruction, how am I supposed to learn the civilian skill? Prior to retirement, special travel orders in 2009 were put on my desk to go into the war zone. The Oath of Enlistment came to mind and my career compass pointed to a natural north. Now we’re getting somewhere! I was located at Camp BlackHorse as an Air Force Master Sergeant Administrator for a Marine Detachment from December 2009 to June 2010. It seemed I was always trudging uphill on a daily basis to the Afghan Army encampment. At times, it reminded me of the old television series M.A.S.H. But I did my duty and met my Afghan counterparts. These were key moments I knew I wanted to be a teacher. The Afghan Army Administrators did not speak nor write English. I was assigned to teach them so their status reports could be interpreted. It was empowering to teach computer language and basic English communication skills to those who absolutely had no idea how to convey military data to the U.S. Forces. Teaching them from “See Jane Run” books to Microsoft Word was incredible! When I came home, assigned to the Pentagon, I focused on my career goal of being an educator and leader in the field on adult education. The shadow of war has made a signature in my mind with loud cannon fire and rocket explosions. It should be known that South Carolina, especially my area in Spartanburg, loves fireworks. I black out sometimes with my wife holding me as I sob in tears. Many said that an Air Force Master Sergeant should have never been embedded with the U.S. Marines. Yet, I served with greatest group of men I could ever be assigned with. War is indeed hell, but I survived and scarred more inside than out. But I still wasn’t done with dreams and goals. I worked at Greenville health System in South Carolina for three years in Internal Medicine and teaching the curriculum vitae to the secretaries within the department. I did volunteer work at Spartanburg Learning Center teaching English to local residents and a Buddhist monk. The monk had very hard time understanding the southern language accent and different ways to says the same word. This was a tough road for him, but I did help him understand various speaking concepts. My military background always pushed me to serve those in need. Teaching allowed me to do just that. Teaching never moved away from my career compass, then an opportunity came to me. In 2021, EPIC EMR (Electronic Medical Records) allowed me to teach adult students across the United States to over 40 Hospitals. The medical staff includes Pharmacists, Nurses, Nurse Assistants, Dialysis Nurses, Case Managers, Respiratory, and Therapy. It’s invigorating to know my direct education assists the staff provide care to patients in Critical Illness and Rehabilitation hospitals. I’m serving across my country and enjoying my career! Why do I want a Doctorate? The answer: I want to be leader in Higher Education to serve my country. For me, it’s my faith, my family, and my continuous serving my students. To Serve.

In my lifetime, there has got to be more than just doing minimum. I’ve made it a point to be vigilant to give much of myself to the greater good. Much sacrifice has occurred in this mindset. At 53 years old, have I done enough? My family has been very strong on educational goals, but I wanted to make my accomplishments in my own time, not theirs. My mother pushed education was an absolute must. My aunt was a college professor, my grandfather could probably calculate the moon landing in his head with a pencil, paper, and a small handheld calculator. And me? I looked in the mirror with no vision too many times to count. And now, over time and persistence, its time to pursue the highest of my goals: Doctor of Education. Thus, my internal question: Have I done enough? My answer: No. I still have more to do. My name is Steven M. Braxton and born in New Jersey; third generation military almost guaranteed footing in the military service. A single child in Linden New Jersey poor ghetto section, I was determined to get out. I joined the U.S. Air Force in 1990 and after 24 years, retired with honors. Yet still, after all of that time of 24 years, there was thing I loved to do is give detailed instructions. I had a yearning to teach. Regardless of military teaching, how am I supposed to learn the civilian skill? Prior to retirement, a special travel orders in 2009 were put on my desk to go into the war zone. The Oath of Enlistment came to mind and my career compass pointed to a natural north. Now we’re getting somewhere! I was located at Camp BlackHorse, as an Air Force Master Sergeant Administrator for a Marine Detachment from December 2009 to June 2010. It seemed I was always trudging uphill on a daily basis to the Afghan Army encampment. At times, it reminded me of the old television series M.A.S.H. But I did my duty and met my Afghan counterparts. These were key moments when I knew I wanted to be a teacher. The Afghan Army Administrators did not speak nor write English. I was assigned to teach them so their status reports could be interpreted. It was empowering to teach computer language and basic English communication skills to those who absolutely had no idea how to convey military data to the U.S. Forces. Teaching them from “See Jane Run” books to Microsoft Word was incredible! When I came home, assigned to the Pentagon, I focused on my career goal of being an educator and leader in the field on adult education. I did volunteer work at Spartanburg Learning Center teaching English to local residents and a Buddhist monk. The monk had very hard time understanding the southern language accent and different ways to says the same word. This was a tough road for him, but I did help him understand various speaking concepts. Teaching never moved away from my career compass, then an opportunity came to me. In 2021, EPIC EMR (Electronic Medical Records) allowed me to teach adult students across the United States to over 40 Hospitals. The medical staff includes Pharmacists, Nurses, Nurse Assistants, Dialysis Nurses, Case Managers, Respiratory, and Therapy. It’s invigorating to know my direct education assists the staff provide care to patients in Critical Illness and Rehabilitation hospitals. I’m still teaching to this day! My pursuit of my Doctorate will enable to be one of the educational leaders in South Carolina and further serve my students and veterans with PTSD.

My name is Steven M. Braxton and born in New Jersey; third generation military with an almost guaranteed footing in the military service. A single child in Linden New Jersey poor ghetto section, I was determined to get out. I joined the U.S. Air Force in 1990 and after 24 years, retired with honors. Yet still, after all of that time of 24 years, there was thing I loved to do is to teach my young airmen. I had a yearning to teach. Regardless of military teaching, how am I supposed to learn the civilian skill? Before retirement, special travel orders in 2009 were put on my desk to go into the war zone. The Oath of Enlistment came to mind and my career compass pointed to a natural north. Now we’re getting somewhere! I was located at Camp BlackHorse, as an Air Force Master Sergeant Administrator for a Marine Detachment from December 2009 to June 2010. It seemed I was always trudging uphill on a daily basis to the Afghan Army encampment. But I did my duty and met my Afghan counterparts. These were key moments I knew I wanted to be a teacher. The Afghan Army Administrators did not speak nor write English. I was assigned to teach them so their status reports could be interpreted. It was empowering to teach computer language and basic English communication skills to those who absolutely had no idea how to convey military data to the U.S. Forces. Teaching them from “See Jane Run” books to Microsoft Word was incredible! When I came home, assigned to the Pentagon, I focused on my career goal of being an educator and leader in the field on adult education. The shadow of war has made a signature in my mind with loud cannon fire and rocket explosions. It should be known that South Carolina, especially my area in Spartanburg, loves fireworks. I black out sometimes with my wife holding me as I sob in tears. Many said that an Air Force Master Sergeant should have never been embedded with the U.S. Marines. Yet, I served with greatest group of men I could ever be assigned with. War is indeed hell, but I survived and scarred more inside than out. But I still wasn’t done with dreams and goals. Teaching never moved away from my career compass, then an opportunity came to me. In 2021, EPIC EMR (Electronic Medical Records) allowed me to teach adult students across the United States to over 40 Hospitals. The medical staff includes Pharmacists, Nurses, Nurse Assistants, Dialysis Nurses, Case Managers, Respiratory, and Therapy. It’s invigorating to know my direct education assists the staff provide care to patients in Critical Illness and Rehabilitation hospitals. I’m still teaching to this day! I want to use my Doctorate to educate veterans with PTSD and advocate for veterans in my state of South Carolina. To continue to serve and be a veteran education leader.

The shadow of war has made a signature in my mind with loud cannon fire and rocket explosions. It should be known that South Carolina, especially my area in Spartanburg, loves fireworks. I black out sometimes with my wife holding me as I sob in tears. Many said that an Air Force Master Sergeant should have never been embedded with the U.S. Marines. Yet, I served with greatest group of men I could ever be assigned with. War is indeed hell, but I survived and scarred more inside than out. But I still wasn’t done with dreams and goals. I was located at Camp BlackHorse, as an Air Force Administrator for a Marine Detachment from December 2009 to June 2010. It seemed I was always trudging uphill on a daily basis to the Afghan Army encampment. At times, it reminded me of the old television series M.A.S.H. But I did my duty and met my Afghan counterparts. One morning, our camp was hit by a RPG that had a timer. Chaos is what comes to mind. I distinctly remember Gunny yelling at me to get my gear and get out to the bunker. Men and women soldiers scrambling to get cover and me doing roll call to ensure my Marines were accounted for. I had to bury the fear because I had a job to do. Nobody can really understand unless you are there that someone wants you dead every day. We lost 4 in a week. I was assigned to a special duty at FOB Airborne for about two months to assist with administrative duties. On the first day in the FOB, I witnessed the DFAC tent. As sat down at the table, I heard a large BOOM! Then, another and another after that! It shook the tent to the poles. I noticed, nobody moved and continued eating. Everything in me told me to dive under the table. My Gunny looked and me and smiled. Everyone looked plastic, as dust came under the tent into the DFAC. I literally was puzzled on why nobody was running for cover. Gunny said to me plainly, “Its outgoing Braxton. Finish your food. Relax.” We had more outgoing night fire that literally went on for several days while I stationed there. One morning, the Major told me we had incoming close to our connex. He decided not to say anything to me because if the rocket came through the roof, we would die anyway. I have live with that. You can’t unstop being terrified in war. You just bury it. Deep. It scars you as much a bullet hole. People sometimes just can’t see what I carry. Now, through my educational goals, I want to help our Veterans. Those who can’t shake what they experienced. Educate and help them. Some are worse than others, but I want them to know I’m here. I was told by my a therapist at the VA while my wife was sitting right next to me, “Why don’t I just forget about it.” This told me I need continue my goals to be a leader of education. To use that power to help those whose PTSD is pure demon. I get it. And there are many times I feel survivor’s remorse to make it out alive. Avoiding IEDs, Afghan spy army soldiers, terrorists, incoming bombs, and snipers off the ridges of Jalalabad Pass. I still hate sounds of fireworks, but I love the colors. I’m home and I want to do something with the Doctorate I’m pursuing. Serving my veterans is the perfect honor and salute.