Staff Sergeant Destiny Dailey joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard on August 11th of 2016 after graduating from high school in May of that same year. Dailey joined the Air National Guard just before she was to start college. One of the reasons Dailey decided to join the Air National Guard was the state tuition waiver.
“I have used the tuition waiver for 10 semesters. I began my college career in 2016 at the University of Oklahoma. I will now be finishing my college career at Rogers State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing this May of 2022. The tuition waiver has given me the opportunity to further my education and pursue my passion of nursing,” said SSgt Dailey.
The tuition waiver was a big factor in her decision to serve her state and her country, but as her career has progressed, SSgt Dailey has learned a lot about leadership and what it means to truly serve.
“I joined the Air National Guard solely to pay for school, however throughout my time in the Guard, I have gained more from it than just the progression of my degree. One of the things I love about the Air National Guard is the ability to live a normal life 28 days out of the month and live a different, unique life two days out of the month. Because it is only one weekend out of the month, I can still be a full-time student in school and participate in extracurricular activities. I also loved the location. Although I grew up in the Tulsa area, I moved away to the University of Oklahoma in Norman for the first three years of my college career, so with drill weekends, I was able to travel home one weekend a month at minimum to visit my family,” said SSgt Dailey.
SSgt Dailey said being part of the Air National Guard and the 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa has allowed her the opportunity to meet some great people and be part of a great Air Force unit in the Tulsa area.
“Throughout college, I have invested a lot of time in extracurricular activities to give myself a break from the stressors of school. The Air National Guard has similar opportunities that I have had the privilege of being a part of, including the Morale Committee, Diversity Committee, and the Rising 6. I get to work with an incredible group of people working towards a common goal. The primary group of people that I work with have acted as role models and peer support for me. Throughout the month, we all experience the normal changes of life, and it is always nice to come to drill and feel like I have a group of people that care about me and will listen to my concerns,” SSgt Dailey said. “I have also met my Fiancé through this journey! The Tulsa Air National Guard is an incredible place to be and I am grateful to have had the experience of being a part of this empowering unit with the unique mission of defending Tulsa and defending the nation.”
SSgt Dailey offers this advice to anyone considering the Air National Guard as a way to help pay for college while serving their country and state.
“The Air National Guard has given me the opportunity to follow my dreams. Unfortunately, my family was unable to support me financially through college, therefore I had to make the decision to join the Air National Guard. Although it felt like a burden initially, it was a sacrifice that I am grateful to have taken because I would not be less than a year out from completing my bachelor’s degree in nursing. If you have the slightest itch that is drawing you to join the Air National Guard, take advantage of the education benefits that are placed before you,” said SSgt Dailey.
