Medic Academic ace selected for AECP Published July 28, 2009 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Senior Airman Oruaro Idudhe, 81st Surgical Operations Squadron Physical Medicine Flight, is well on his way to becoming an Air Force officer; he has been accepted into the Airman Education and Commissioning Program. AECP allows active-duty enlisted members to attend college full time without loss of pay or benefits, graduate with a degree and earn a commission. The physical therapy technician learned of his selection in mid-May and will complete his final two years of college at William Carey University on the Coast in Gulfport starting Aug. 24. Airman Idudhe had acquired 64 credit hours through studies at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College where he majored in nursing. Although he was also accepted by Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill., he decided to remain on the Coast. "One of my supervisors - Staff Sgt. Luis Vasquez - encouraged me to apply for AECP," he explained. By completing his degree and becoming an officer and nurse "I feel I can contribute more to the Air Force and have more of an impact." Born in Nigeria, Airman Idudhe emigrated to the United States in June 2005 and resided in Chicago where he enlisted in the Air Force in June 2006. The future nurse arrived at Keesler AFB in January 2007 after completing technical training at Sheppard AFB, Texas. He achieved another goal when he became a U.S. citizen in August 2007. Although he has two cousins living in Chicago, the rest of his family remains in his hometown of Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. During his final two years of college, which is completely covered by the Air Force, Airman Idudhe will receive staff sergeant pay. He will take the nursing board examination before commissioning, and then attend Commissioned Officer Training at Maxwell AFB, Ala. Following COT, he will be sent to an Air Force medical facility to complete the Nurse Transition Program prior to his first assignment as an Air Force nurse.