Pictured Above: Kacy Cartmell graduated from Air Force basic training on July 16, 2020.
Courtesy of Kacy Cartmell
By Catherine Hicks
When Kacy Cartmell, a junior political science major, enrolled at USF St. Petersburg she wasn’t planning on enlisting in the military until after she’d graduated, but that all changed in her sophomore year, when she realized there was “no better time than the present.”
“When I started school, I was like ‘Alright, I’m going to graduate, I’m going to commission, I’m not going to go enlisted,’ but then something just hit that maybe this was the best time in my life to do it,” Cartmell said. “I’m in the best shape of my life, I can leave for two months and have no contact with family members with no concerns, and I figured no better time than the present.”
For Cartmell, it was never much of a question of if she wanted to join the military, but when. When Cartmell swore-in to the Air Force Reserves in November of 2019, she had no way to predict how drastically COVID-19 would change the world. By May, when she departed for basic training, she felt that she’d made the right decision.
“I knew from a very early age this is what I wanted to do,” Cartmell said, “It’s crazy how it worked out, because I didn’t know there was going to be a global pandemic and I’d be out of a job by the time I was leaving (for training), so it worked out in that way.”
The people closest to Cartmell were always able to see her passion for joining the Air Force.
“Kacy comes from a military family, and her father retired from the Air Force,” said Sami Araboghli, a member of the Marine Corps Reserves and Cartmell’s boyfriend. “Growing up in an Air Force family, Kacy has always had a passion for aeronautics and the Air Force.”
Courtesy of Kacy Cartmell.
The reserves allow an enlisted personnel to maintain a civilian life outside of their military service; in Cartmell’s case, it allows her to pursue her education. However, as part of being a reservist, at any time Cartmell could receive the call that she’s being deployed.
Cartmell says she’s lucky to have “found a job that I love,” working in aviation resource management, where her team supports the air crew, including pilots and pararescue specialists (PJ’s), by handling all of the paperwork and ensuring that their missions go to plan.
“I’m very lucky in that aspect, that I have a workshop that allows me to expand beyond my horizons, and see that this – this is why I joined,” Cartmell said. “I joined to be a part of a mission, and our mission is to rescue people, anywhere. We also refuel helicopters so that the PJ’s can go into the helicopters and save the people on the ground… It’s awesome being a part of that mission and seeing it being accomplished every day.”
Berny V. Jacques, mentor and friend to Cartmell, first met her during Jacques’ campaign for state representative, during which “I was holding a canvassing event for my campaign, and Kacy showed up to help without really knowing anyone, including myself. She’d been following the campaign, and took initiative of her own to help me.”
He describes Cartmell as “kind, intelligent and committed to service.”
“I think she joined because of patriotism and a desire to serve – just like her father did before her. I (believe) joining has brought her fulfillment,” Jacques said.
Cartmell is passionate about helping others, whether through her job assisting the successful completion of rescue missions, or through interpersonal tasks.
“I’m a very empathetic person,” Cartmell said. “In basic training, I met a girl and we connected… I came to find out that her upbringing and the things she went through were similar to what my own mother went through. I was able to help her go see a program called SARC, which helps people who have experienced sexual assault or trauma, and I went with her to every appointment.
“That’s something I would like to do further on, like start volunteering at a shelter, because I have that empathy, and I’ve grown up with the woman who raised me who went through the same things that I helped other women with, and I just want to continue on helping.”
Cartmell cited the rising rates of suicide in the military; in 2019, the Air Force saw a 33 percent increase in sucidices from the previous year, the highest number recorded since suicide tracking began in 2008.
“I want people to know that they come to be for whatever, I don’t care what it is… I don’t care who you are, I don’t care if you don’t know me, I’m more than happy to talk to you whenever, I will drop what I’m doing, I will walk out of work or class, I just want people to know that I’m there for them.”
Cartmell and Araboglhi met roughly two years ago at USF St. Petersburg and he recognizes Cartmell’s empathy and passion for helping others.
“Kacy is a very empathetic person,” Araboglhi said. “(She) enjoys being around others, (and) is very committed to helping people achieve their goals, no matter how big or small they may be. Kacy radiates compassion and motivation.”
After finishing her basic training over the summer, Cartmell has no regrets about joining the Air Force Reserves.
“The reserves (provides) great opportunities to not only serve my country, but serve my community as well,” Cartmell said., “Anytime a hurricane happens, they call up our unit to do hurricane (extractions)… So not only do I get to serve my country, but I also get to serve the community that has raised me, which is the best feeling in the world, is to give back to something that made me who I am.
“For me, being a reservist is the greatest opportunity in the world.
“I’m just proud to be a part of this mission at the 39th Rescue Squadron and the 920th Rescue Wing, because they’ve given me an opportunity that, back when I was 14, didn’t even think was possible, and it’s been the greatest journey of my life getting here.”
Through her service as a reservist and her work supporting the air crews that perform rescue missions, Cartmell has been able to narrow down her vision of what she hopes to do following graduation.
“Now that I’m with a flyer squadron, I think it’s finally put into my vision that I’m probably going to be attending officer candidate school or officer training school with the Air Force, and hopefully undergraduate pilot training so I can become a C-130 pilot,” Cartmel said.
“I think I finally narrowed it down to being a pilot.”
Awesome job Kacy Cartmell!
Please know how proud you make us all in the family!
So proud of USF St. Pete Student, Airman First Class, Kacy Cartmell, for her dedication to the Air Force Reserve. To honor and carry on a family legacy.
That’s my niece! So proud.