McGuire Airman selected for physician assistant training Published May 5, 2008 By Senior Airman Danielle Johnson 305th Air Mobility Wing public affairs MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- The Air Force recently selected a McGuire Airman to attend the Tri-Service (Phase I) Physician Assistant training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Guinn, 305th Aerial Port Squadron, was one of 37 Airmen selected by the April 2008 Physician Assistant Board, which considered 61 applicants. Six alternates were also selected. "This is an awesome opportunity and I feel really honored to be selected from so many other highly qualified applicants," said Sergeant Guinn." Sergeant Guinn, who is an air transportation craftsman by trade and the deployment manager for her squadron, said she knew she would be a "lifer" as soon as she joined the Air Force. "I would like to make rank all the way up to colonel," she said. "After that, it's all icing." "This specific commissioning opportunity appealed to me because there would be no break in service," she said. "I love the military lifestyle, so being able to wear the uniform everyday while training really appealed to me. Once I complete the training, I will have earned my master's degree. There are few jobs in the civilian sector that I know of that provide that kind of opportunity." Sergeant Guinn is scheduled to begin Phase I training in April 2009. Airmen who successfully complete Phase I and II course requirements for the physician assistant program will be commissioned as first lieutenants. According to an Air Force personnel Center news release dated April 29, the average selectee was 29 years, 11 months old with 8.1 years time in service, a Scholastic Aptitude Test composite score of 1,742 and a 3.30 grade point average.