Air Force Tech Sgt. Adam Grimm trained local Afghanistan military in explosives during his first deployment to PNG. Two years later, during a second deployment, they ran into each other again (Courtesy Photo).
Unfortunately, the MEB two-year mark was quickly approaching. With no official job offer from DPAA and the office shutting down due to COVID-19, Grimm reached out again to his OWF coordinator, Ambotaite, to find a new internship opportunity, preferably in the medical field.
During this time, Grimm started taking prerequisite courses for nursing at a local college. "I had been thinking about going into a medical career after service and was hoping to work at the VA clinic on Oahu," Grimm stated.
Ambotaite was able to make that possible, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the VA seeking extra assistance. During Grimm's time at the VA, he supported the administrative duties while also having the opportunity to shadow many medical offices at the VA clinic and the attached Army hospital.
Grimm explained that his experience there was a great opportunity to see the true side of a new world, the experience allowed him to see that maybe nursing wasn't the right fit for him. "I switched my college path to a master's in social work to start a private counseling practice. I'm on track to graduate in four years and have my own practice in six," Grimm shared.
Opportunities provided through AFW2 and OWF allowed Grimm to become more comfortable in his future and career choices. Grimm shared, "The time out of uniform and in more supportive roles was a huge help to foster my mental transition. In addition, I was able to help other's missions and explore an entire, very complicated, career path and decide the best true fit for me."