Rachel Ericksen, Air Force Dependent

For as long as she can remember, service has been a way of life for Rachel Ericksen and her family. She is the youngest of three and the stepdaughter of retired USAF/Nebraska Air National Guard TSgt Lyle Cochran. Rachel’s older brother and sister are both medics with the Nebraska Army National Guard. Her brother-in-law is a medic stationed at Fort Hood, TX. Her stepbrother recently joined the USAF and her grandfathers are both Army veterans of the Korean War.

Over the past 18 months, Rachel has gained a renewed appreciation for the sacrifice and commitment military families make as her sister and brother-in-law have both been deployed overseas – during which time, she took care of her 1-year old nephew. Through this, she has felt the impact deployments have on military families and how important it is for families to remain connected and supportive.

As a member of the 155th Composite Squadron-Nebraska Wing Civil Air Patrol, Rachel works with cadets who are interested in the military and emergency services. Rachel’s ultimate goal is to help make a difference in the lives of families, especially those in the military, as a pediatric nurse.