News>Barksdale Firefighter receives perfect score on CDC exam
Photos
Airman 1st Class Xavier Bailey, 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, snaps on a self-contained breathing apparatus pack before training on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 14. The SCBA supplies up to an hour of oxygen. Bailey received a perfect score on his career development course end-of-course exam. (U.S. Air Force/photo Senior Airman La'Shanette V. Garrett)(RELEASED)
Airman 1st Class Xavier Bailey, 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, drives a fire truck on the flightline on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 14. This is part of Bailey's training to complete his 5-level and receive a fire truck driver's license. Bailey received a perfect score on his career development course end-of-course exam. (U.S. Air Force/photo Senior Airman La'Shanette V. Garrett)(RELEASED)
by Senior Airman La'Shanette V. Garrett
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
8/20/2012 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Scoring a 100 percent on a career development course end-of-course exam is a very rare and highly remarkable accomplishment.
However, Airman 1st Class Xavier Bailey, a firefighter with the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, studied hard, defeated the odds and did just that.
"When I found out that I had scored a 100 it felt good...I was really excited...it was just satisfying," said Bailey. "I studied for about four to five hours a day and even came in on my off days. When I think back all the effort and time I put in paid off."
For Airmen, career development courses are the first set of upgrade training tools needed to become experts in their Air Force specialty codes.
Many Airmen spend hours upon hours reading and studying their CDCs trying to retain as much information as possible to upgrade their job qualification status.
"Bailey is a hardworking Airman," said Staff Sgt. Angel Torres, 2 CES firefighter and Bailey's supervisor. "Every time I see him, he is at the computer studying or doing training. He is very intelligent and loves to study. I'm just so proud of him. He makes me feel like I'm doing my job as a supervisor."
"I try to motivate him as well as all my troops," continued Torres. "I tell them Spanish is my first language, so I have to study twice as hard to translate and memorize it in English. I've scored above a 90 percent on all my CDCs, so I'm sure they can do that or better. I believe Bailey took that to heart.
Bailey found that with motivation, dedication and application he can master his job. He not only received a perfect score on his first set of CDCs, but also got a 99 percent on his second set.
"My main motivation was to get a 95 percent or higher to get my supervisor a day off," said Bailey. "He works so hard to help me out; I thought I would return the favor by at least doing a good job on this and getting him that day off."
Bailey's selfless nature serves him well in the Air Force. He joined to become a firefighter, to further his education and to explore the world.
"I love my job," said Bailey. "My job gives me the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. This drives me to learn more, train my body and always be ready. I love being able to save lives."
Bailey is now studying for his third and final set of CDCs...he is shooting for a second perfect score.
