As Revere graduate of the class of 2010 Andy Harding neared the completion of his degree in accounting, he began to reconsider his career choice, as he felt a desire for something more active than the accounting field he had chosen. He began to discuss more seriously with his family and others the possibility of joining the Armed Forces, a path he ultimately decided would suit him and has led him to travel to Japan with the Air Force in the coming months.

After graduating from Revere High School, Harding attended Hiram College, where he earned a degree in accounting in 2015 and completed Certified Public Accountant preparation. After reconsidering his career path and the lack of physical activity it involves, he enlisted in the Air Force in 2016, and completed training in Lackland, Texas, and Holloman, New Mexico. His approaching college graduation and the reality of his chosen area of study provided the motivation that powered his decision.

“I realized after I got my first job contract that I did not want to sit behind a desk my whole life, even though that is what I went to school and got a degree for. . . . I went through four years of college and just realized at the end of it what I wanted to do. . . .  I am glad I got my degree, but I am happier that I decided to join. I am really happy with the decision I made,” Harding said.

Harding’s sister Emma, a Revere graduate and head coach of the women’s Junior Varsity soccer and women’s Varsity lacrosse teams, feels that she understands her brother’s thoughts regarding his decision, which she strongly supports.

“I do not think the desk life is meant for him, he is really active. . . . I just do not think sitting behind a desk is what he wanted to do, so I know he just kind of jumped on [the opportunity]. Since he decided to do it and talk to recruiters, we all supported him one hundred percent. . . . This has been a great thing for him. I think he likes it a lot better than accounting. . . . I think his being in the military and serving us is something fantastic, because honestly, you [could] not [get] anybody better than my brother. He is a good guy. He sticks to what he believes in. He is physically in shape. He is really smart. He is doing something that is benefiting not only himself but the rest of us. Honestly, I could not be more proud of him,” Emma Harding said.

Harding explained his training in Texas and New Mexico qualifies him for the position of Crew Chief.

“Each one of [the Crew Chiefs] is going to get an individual aircraft, and we are in charge of it… It will be kind of like my kid, basically. So I take care of it. I fix it. I do everything for it. A lot of people have the misconception that it is the pilot’s plane, but [Crew Chiefs] just kind of run it out to [pilots] to fly, and once they are done, they bring it back to [us] and [we] fix it up… The plane I got is the F-16,” Harding said.

Harding received his position after taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a test on which his scores made around two-hundred positions available to him and compiling a list of his eight preferred choices. He did not initially think to include his current role, but his recruiter’s superior suggested it to him, and Harding feels satisfied with the decision.

Harding wished to travel abroad for the military, a desire which helped him choose to specialize in F-16s because of their popularity in all areas of the world. He did not indicate that he would like to travel to Japan in particular, but the Air Force did consider his desire to travel abroad as opposed to remaining stateside.

“[Air Force members] put together a list of bases [where they] would like to be stationed. . . . I did not want to go stateside [but] it is whatever the Air Force needs,” Harding said.

To handle such a distant move, Harding is attempting to get into a habit of talking to his family members over the phone and even tries to watch the games of his siblings, RHS seniors Audrey, Bryce, and Joel, who play on the soccer teams, as well as the games Emma coaches, when he can through an online stream.

“[I have been] getting into the habit of talking to them all the time, . . . almost every day [I try to] see what is going on in their lives,” Harding said.

Harding also feels that, although his degree in accounting does not relate significantly to his current pursuit, the maturity which the experience of attending college provided has helped him handle his training and traveling. He also hopes to familiarize himself with some basic Japanese phrases and customs before he moves there. Harding’s brother Joel applauds his brother’s decision.

“I will not be able to see him, which is kind of sad, but I think it is awesome that he is doing [this,] just the fact that he is in the Air Force. I think [is] pretty cool that  he [is] serving the country and going abroad,” Joel Harding said.

Harding does not know how long he will remain in the Air Force or if, once he has left, he will return to accounting or attempt to pursue a career relating to his new expertise in aircraft mechanics. He and his family feel happy with his current direction. In November, he will leave for a year-long tour in Misawa, Japan.