Courtesy photo
FLAGSTAFF — CJ Crowley stands in the CCC Commons posing for his picture – his demeanor is calm, cool and collected. Crowley, a 29-year-old native of Loma Linda, California, is known on CCC’s campus as a man of many lived experiences. In his words, “Everyone has a story maybe mine will resonate with readers. I hope it does. I want others to know that you don’t have to let past mistakes define you.”
Crowley’s journey began with a childhood marked by constant change, as his father, a minister in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, led the family on a journey to various places. Eventually, CJ found himself in Arkansas, where he attended a Christian boarding school. It was there that he was invited to join the gymnastics team.
“I was a ground tumbler, and my favorite move was the full layout,” Crowley recalls, reflecting on his early days in gymnastics. He excelled in the sport, staying active and even playing basketball while gaining skills in gymnastics. His talents on the mat did not go unnoticed, and he was offered a gymnastics scholarship at Southwestern University in Texas. Crowley earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology, but he soon realized that the traditional 9-to-5 employment in his chosen career field was not fulfilling.
With a family background steeped in military service, including his father’s service during the Cold War and his brother’s tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, it was only natural that the military presented itself as a potential path.
“There was a recruiter’s office not too far away from where I was working,” he says, so he decided to explore the possibilities. That decision led to a four-year contract to serve in the United States Air Force.
During his time in the Air Force, Crowley held a job as a Logistical Analyst at the Dyess Air Force base in Abilene, Texas. This is where he discovered his true passion through volunteer work. Teaching CPR, First Aid, AED, and Combat Wound Readiness classes to men and women preparing for deployment became the highlight of his Air Force service.
“Even though it was volunteer work for the Air Force, I was passionate about it, and it was one of the reasons why I am so focused on EMS services now,” Crowley says. He acknowledges that the military can be tough, with its way of pushing individuals to their limits, both physically and mentally. However, the times that stood out for him were the Temporary Duty Assignments deployment trainings when he got to witness various missions in action.
When asked about his decision to join the military, Crowley emphasizes the inclusivity and second chances the military offered him. He had a previous criminal conviction, but the military saw beyond it. “For me, the military was my safe haven,” he shares. “They were gracious enough to let me in, give me a job, train me, and let me find my passion for working in Emergency Services.”
Crowley’s ultimate dream job is to become a medical missionary, applying the knowledge he gained in the military to the front lines of those who are caught in the middle of war. His one-year-old son plays a significant role in his decision to pursue this path. “I want him to learn the value of helping the person next to him, compassion for others,” says Crowley.
Crowley’s goal of becoming a medical missionary is only a part of what he wants to achieve, however. “My goal is to be a medical missionary . . . that’s personal,” he says. “My mission is to give others like me who are willing to put in the time work and effort a chance at a life. I’m proof that a person’s mistakes aren’t their character. It was supposed to be impossible for me to get this far. Yet, here I am.”
“Currently 19 million Americans hold felony records. Most who’ve paid their debt never want to reoffend and never do, yet they are still treated like second-class citizens. When I’m done and when I show what we can do when given a second chance, I hope to see us in voting booths, fire departments, police departments, even Congress.”
Reflecting on his journey, Crowley expresses profound gratitude for his military experience. “It was my military experience that led me to where I am today,” he says, while also expressing his gratitude for all the support he has received from family, friends, and the numerous resources and programs designed to assist veterans in their transition to civilian life, including the CCC Veteran’s Center.
Monica Foos with CCC’s Veteran Services, says, “It’s been a place many students feel comfortable, and that’s very meaningful.” She adds that she hopes more people will reach out asking for help, stating, “I will do everything in my power to ensure they get the help they need.”
Crowley, now in his second year and recently having earned his EMT from CCC is now more than ever determined to move forward, determined not to let past mistakes define his future.
“My story is for the man or woman with issues they are embarrassed to talk about, for the people who’ve made mistakes and are having a hard time recovering from them, for those who want to make a change but have to battle prehistoric laws that prevent them from living the American dream,” he says. “My story is to show those like me that we are human beings, too, and we are capable of doing good, we are capable of giving back and we are deserving of the same opportunities as everyone else.
“All it takes is one person like me to make the sacrifices and pave the way,” he says.Coconino Community College is committed to serving our country’s veterans, whether active duty, National Guardsmen, or serving in the military reserves.to further their educational goals. Learn more about CCC’s commitment by visiting Veteran Services.