Capt. Amy Jacobson serves as a Flight Nurse at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Capt. Amy Jacobson wished “Happy Veterans Day” to all military personnel. “Even though I’ve lived far away for almost eight years, North Alabama will always be my home,” she said.

Jacobson completed ROTC and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2007 and entered the U.S. Air Force in 2008.

She was assigned as a Medical-Surgical Nurse from 2008-2010 at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Then, at Kadena Air Base (AB), Japan, she was a Flight Nurse from 2010-2013. In 2010, she earned a master’s degree in international healthcare from Touro University.

Jacobson deployed for 2011-2012 to Al-Udeid AB, Qatar with six weeks to Bagram AB, Afghanistan. Since 2013, she has served as a Flight Nurse at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.

“My parents (Marc Jacobson and Sarah Blankenship) moved us to Madison when I was two years old. They’re from North Alabama and wanted to move closer to family,” Amy Jacobson said. She graduated from Bob Jones High School.

Having a military career has never been her goal but Jacobson is “taking it assignment by assignment. I’ve stayed active duty since college because of amazing friends I’ve made, the travels and interesting job opportunities it affords,” she said. “One of the most rewarding opportunities I’ve had is serving as a nurse to deployed soldiers.”

In Hawaii, Jacobson devotes free time to Company Grade Officer’s Council, which volunteers with the veterans’ home and other organizations. In 2014, she served as president and now is mentorship chair.

“We hold socials, mentorship meetings and group activities. It’s nice to meet other people with similar interests and jobs across the Air Force,” Jacobson said.

Hiking, crossfit, and travel are Jacobson’s pastimes. “My favorite Hawaii hikes have been up waterfalls (Ka’au Crater) and on cliff sides (Kokohead, NaPali Coast). Hawaiian hiking is abundant and beautiful but much different from other places,” she said.

Novice hikes in Hawaii hikes would be considered advanced elsewhere, she said. Her favorite travels have been Vietnam, Thailand, mainland Japan and Hawaii island hopping. “Being stationed on Pacific islands lends to exploring some beautiful places.”

Her one-year-old rescue dog Makalani (‘beautiful eyes’ in Hawaiian) is a pitbull/Labrador mix.