Soldier. Trooper. Aviation Student. Michael Kay's Third Act Is Just Beginning

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BATTLE CREEK,MI– Growing into young adulthood, Michael Thomas Kay had his eyes on three possible career paths:  military service, law enforcement and aviation.

More than four years in the uniform of the U. S. Army and then a decade as a trooper in the Alaska State Police, guess where Kay is now -- that's right: sophomore status in the WMU College of Aviation.

While a student at Chatfield Senior High School in Littleton, Colo., Kay did do some major prep work for life in aviation as a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP)  earning the Neil Armstrong Achievement Award during that time.  Before his 2012 graduation, Kay took part in CAP's Ground Search and Rescue School, completed an encampment at the Air Force Academy, and flew in Cessnas and gliders.

With no special college plans at the time, Kay, shortly after his 17th birthday, enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves.  It was the summer before his senior year at Chatfield High when he took basic combat training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina.  A month after receiving his Chatfield diploma, Kay was based at Fort Lee in Virginia for advanced training and then spent the remainder of his four-plus years in the Army stationed in the state of Washington.

"Nearing the end of my contract with the Army," Kay says, "I applied to become an Alaskan state trooper" and found himself, at the age of 21, in the organization's training academy a month after his military discharge.  Fairbanks was his first assignment where he worked patrol, responded to emergencies, investigated criminal reports, and conducted traffic enforcement

Within three years of being in the 50th state, Kay was conducting field training for recently graduated academy recruits.  From being surrounded by scores of cohorts on a daily basis, he was then transferred to "a one-trooper position" in the vicinity of Alaska's Aleutian Islands.

"I responded to calls for service in this enormous geographic area completely by myself," he says.  "Some of the communities which I served were in different time zones.  One-hundred percent of my calls for service were off the road in the state of Alaska.  To get to the rural villages, I needed to utilize both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft as a passenger.  Some of those were SWAT missions.  

"All of the flying I was experiencing  further increased my desire to fly," he says.  "At one point, I requested the command staff if I could become a trooper pilot, but it was not authorized at the time because of restraints in the state budget.

"Flying around the Aleutians is quite the experience," he says.  "The small 'bush' planes I was riding in got tossed around like a rag doll.  If you can handle the turbulence, the scenes are breathtaking."

After one more reassignment to complete his 10 years in Alaska, Kay decided to pursue his final career dream and found himself in Kalamazoo at Western Michigan University.  As a member of the Lee Honors College program, he is currently enrolled in the aviation management and operations curriculum with the intent to transfer into flight science.

"In Alaska," he says, "there is nowhere in the state that can provide the training needed for all the ratings required by the major airlines.  I chose Western because its flight-training programs are not only top-ranked nationally but also globally.  Having a college degree is also a significant factor in the airline industry."

Kay has his eye on two aviation-industry goals -- to  work as a pilot for a major airline in full-time civilian employment and to fly helicopters for the Michigan Army National Guard in a part-time capacity. The latter is another reason he chose Western --  because of its Army ROTC program which he plans on joining and explains why he intends to switch majors in the college.

Most enlightening so far for Kay has been assistant professor Steve Sparks' introductory course.  "Since I am new to the aviation world," he says, "I enjoy learning the basics of the industry.  I love the location, right next to where Western's planes are.  Watching the current flight students do their pre-checks and watching the planes land and take off is very exciting and motivating."

He has also appreciated a WMU course in American military history.  "I have pride in my country," he says, "specifically in the men and women who selflessly serve in the armed forces.  I find it fascinating in going more in depth into the country's military history.   With my prior service, I have some inside knowledge for class discussions."

Kay no longer flies solo in life as the single parent of a 7-year-old son. Weather willing, the pair share a love of the outdoors and Michigan's fabulous lakes and streams.  Parenthood keeps him anchored as well as does the fact that he is one of the older members in a class.  Any free time is spent working out in the gym or along outdoor trails. That's what 10 years in Alaska will do for you.

"My favorite part about WMU," he says, "has been the friendly and welcoming environment from the faculty and fellow veteran students.  It all adds up that you can achieve anything you put your mind to -- if you put in the effort to pursue those dreams."

And in the case of Michael Kay, all three of those dreams.