NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) San Diego welcomed a new officer to its wardroom Aug. 10, when Capt. Michelle Morse administered the oath of office to a former logistics specialist in San Diego.

A Cleveland, Ohio native, and former petty officer first class, Lt. j.g. Jason Kouche received his commission and was promoted to lieutenant junior grade as a result of his selection for the Navy's medical service corps direct accession program, which allows active duty servicemembers with master's degrees to apply.

A six year Navy veteran, Kouche twice applied for supply corps commissioning programs in 2010 and 2012, but was denied based on limited space availability. It was then that he explored other options to serve the Navy as a commissioned officer.

"My dad was a corpsman in the Air Force, and so I always kind of wanted to do something similar to what he did as my role model," Kouche said. "So once I figured out I wanted to do something related to the medical field, I decided to go back to school to work on my master's degree and somewhat follow in his footsteps. I knew that if I got into this program, it would bring me into a field that will always be in demand."

In 2012, Kouche began working on his MBA at St. Leo University, with aspirations of applying for the medical service corps. In September 2016, just following his graduation, he crossed his fingers and submitted his package for review.

"My command leadership was really supportive and instrumental in ensuring my package was airtight," Kouche said. "The program manager called me to deliver the news, and I couldn't believe it. It was like my dream come true; it's what I've been working toward for years."

Kouche also credits his wife with being extra supportive during his college years when she often picked up the slack at home to allow him to focus on his studies and serve on active duty, simultaneously.

The newly-pinned lieutenant junior grade is slated to report to officer development school in Newport, Rhode Island, for further instruction and to prepare for his forthcoming role as a health care administration officer at the Naval Hospital in Bufort, South Carolina.

"All I can say is, to anyone who has been dreaming of getting a commission, persistence pays off," Kouche said. "The Navy has some really great programs out there; you just have to put in the time and effort to make it happen."

NAVSUP FLC San Diego, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), provides operational logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other Joint and Allied Forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.

NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of more than 6,300 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.

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For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/.