New member snapshot

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amber Russell
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  This month the 459th Air Refueling Wing takes a snapshot view of two of its newest members, Senior Airman Michelle Jones, 459th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical technician, and Senior Airman Earl Bernstein, 459th Civil Engineer Squadron HVAC journeyman.

Jones comes to the 459th from Pope Air Force Base, N.C. She has deployed to Ramstein AFB, Germany and JBA's 459th AES where she is now settled.

The North Carolina native is a full-time nursing student who said she enjoys becoming educated, spending time with her family, working out, and fulfilling her reserve commitment. Her goal is to finish her nursing degree and commission as a nurse, she said.

"I joined the military at 28-years old and I was like the 'grandma' in basic training," she said laughing. "I wanted to go back to school. I already had a bachelor's degree in finance, and know what it was like to have student loans, and I didn't want to do that again. I changed careers completely from a financial advisor into the medical field. I thought, 'what a better to get hands on experience than join the military'."

A native of York, Pa., Bernstein, said he is familiar with JBA as he served in the active-duty capacity at the 11th CES here as an HVAC journeyman prior to joining the Reserve.

"I decided to switch over to the Reserve so I can work toward an education full-time while also pursuing my career in the military," he said.

Bernstein, a Baltimore Ravens fan, said he enjoys playing rugby and working out in his spare time.

Welcome to the 459th ARW!