MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Out of approximately 37 audiologists in the Air Force, there is only one stationed here. He devotes his passion to using the latest equipment and techniques to treat and safeguard Airmen and their families’ hearing.
While deciding if he wanted to be a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, Maj. Alex Gubler, 6th Aerospace Medicine Squadron audiologist, was told about a program that would lead him to the U.S. Air Force to serve his country in a way he hadn’t considered.
“I was approached by a Navy recruiter early in my college career and never considered that being in the military was in my future,” said Gubler. “It wasn’t until I was about to graduate that I considered a military career. Everyone I talked to said the Air Force was the way to go.”
It was more than the positive reputation that brought him to the Air Force.
“The Air Force program is more clinical based as opposed to the Army and Navy, which is more conservation based,” he added. “Although I enjoy that, the clinical side of audiology is my love and passion.”
Gubler spent his first few years at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas before his permanent change of station to Aviano Air Base, Italy. His passion quickly moved from his field to the men and women he serves.
“When I first signed up for the Air Force my thought was it would be a great way to get experience in the field. I thought I would do my four years and get out,” Gubler said. “After nearly 10 years I realized the other military members are who I really enjoy working for.
“I want to do at least 20 years now,” he added. “I think I would even like to follow in one of my original supervisors footsteps and, after retirement, serve the military in a civilian capacity as a GS [General Schedule] employee”.
For information on the hearing conservation, you can contact the MacDill Public Health Office at 813-827-9601.