While he undergoes cancer treatment, Army Maj. Kyle Petroskey thanks command leadership, his classmates, friends, family and wife Jamie for their support during a his belated graduation ceremony June 13 at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School auditorium at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. After being diagnosed with tracheal cancer, Petroskey missed his original graduation ceremony in June 2012 because he had to begin medical treatment. (U.S. Navy photo
Belated graduation ceremony honors student from Naval Test Pilot School
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Graduation from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) is a “significant event in the career of any officer,” said Army Lt. Col. Gregory Fortier, commanding officer of USNTPS. “It represents the culmination of an incredibly challenging 48-week journey.”
Unfortunately, after completing the engineering test pilot course with Class 141, Army Maj. Kyle Petroskey didn’t walk across the stage with his classmates. Just before the graduation ceremony in June 2012, he was diagnosed with a rare form of tracheal cancer.
No stranger to the battlefield, having served two deployments in Baghdad and one in Afghanistan, Petroskey began the fight for his life. So far, he has undergone 13 rounds of chemotherapy and more than 60 radiation treatments.
Two years later, on June 13, during a break from treatment, friends, family and his entire class crowded in the auditorium of USNTPS at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, to attend a special graduation ceremony for Petroskey.
“It was only fitting that we conduct this ceremony for Kyle,” Fortier said. “I felt it was our duty as an organization to go above and beyond for him. He has touched our lives in ways few can understand."
Grateful for what he called, “a day of celebration,” Petroskey thanked USNTPS and NAVAIR leadership; his classmates, friends and family; as well as his wife, Jamie, for their support.
“Words can never express the gratitude Jamie and I have for all of you,” he said during his speech. “Thank you for asking how we’re doing, and listening. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
At the end of the ceremony, Fortier presented a plaque to Petroskey that included a class patch with which each member of Class 141 had flown.
After the ceremony, Petroskey reunited with his friends and colleagues. “It is incredible to be present for this,” he said. “I haven’t seen my classmates for two years.”
Petroskey said he was scheduled to return to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on June 16 for another round of chemotherapy. In the meantime, “we are fighting,” Petroskey said, referring to himself and his wife.