Jason McClaren had always planned on a career in the Air Force, but after seven years building that career, his family needed him at home. The transition was challenging. “It’s a lot more difficult than most people understand,” he says. “For one thing, you work your way up in the military ranks and, when you return to the civilian world, you’re back at the bottom again.” He didn’t even know how to write a resume when he started pursuing civilian careers and he knew he needed to find a way to distinguish himself. Then an Air Force buddy recommended American Military University (AMU).

Jason decided to pursue a bachelor’s in Fire Science Management and then a master’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management—both fields that are constantly changing. “One thing that really stood out to me with the professors at AMU was that they were active in the career fields and they were able to bring that front-line knowledge to the classroom,” he says. “Having those professors that are up on the times I think is excellent.” His AMU education opened up a world of opportunities. Today, he’s working as a Life Safety and Environmental Health Program Manager for a hospital system in North Texas.

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