Micaela Benefield
Age: 23
Hometown: Fredericksburg, VA
Region: Philadelphia
Center: Blue Ridge
Dates enrolled: 11/3/2015-11/8/2017
Training: Clinic Medical Assistant, Medical Office Support, Electronic Health Records

Micaela Benefield had aspirations of joining the United States Air Force since she was a young girl, but upon graduating high school, she realized that she wasn’t quite ready to jump right in. “I still wanted to explore so additional options, but ultimately the Air Force was my goal,” Micaela expressed. She knew that in order to join, she would have to score well on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, but wasn’t sure how to prepare for that. Upon learning that she could receive vocational training through Job Corps as well as assistance with ASVAB testing, she decided to enroll.
During her time at Blue Ridge Job Corps, Micaela received training in Clinical Medical Assistant, Medical Office Support, and Electronic Health Records, and also learned the valuable skill of CPR. She also got to work preparing for the ASVAB, and eventually earned the score that she was hoping for, all while participating in a variety of community service activities.
Micaela completed her Job Corps training in October 2017, and shortly after, she achieved her dream of enlisting in the Air Force in March 2018, where she is an A1C Admin. When discussing future plans, Micaela said that she wants to make her military service into a career. She is proud of her choice to enlist and thankful for the help she received during her time in Job Corps, and she is hoping to come and speak to the study body about her experience once students return to the center. In the meantime, Micaela left the following advice for any current or future students: “If you allow yourself to take the chance, and if you’ll put in the work, Blue Ridge is a great learning experience, and can set you up for many opportunities.”