When Katie Burtch met her husband, Nick, she had no idea their love story would unfold across continents, deployments, and duty stations. Over the next two decades, Katie learned to navigate life as a military spouse — relocating every two to four years, raising three kids, and putting her own dreams on hold to keep her family moving forward.
But when Nick transferred his GI Bill benefits to Katie, everything changed. Encouraged by his positive experience with American Military University (AMU), Katie enrolled and found a new path forward — one that could move her forward too.
A Life Built on Adaptability
Katie’s introduction to military life came fast. She and Nick met when he accompanied one of Katie’s family friends on leave to California to visit family, just before a deployment to Iceland. What began with long-distance phone calls quickly turned into something more.
They visited when they could; California to meet her parents, Ohio when he was home on leave. And then he bought a ring and proposed over the phone. When she landed in Iceland to visit, he got down on one knee and proposed again right there in the middle of the airport. Katie was just 19 when they married.
As newlyweds, they faced the realities of military life head-on. They welcomed their first child and navigated their first deployment within months. While Nick trained and deployed with the Air Force, Katie began building a massage therapy career — earning her license and working to grow a clientele with hopes of eventually opening her own wellness center.
But with each new PCS move, she had to start from scratch. After 14 years and several relocations, she ultimately stepped away from the field.
“I had big plans, but it felt like every time I got momentum, we moved again,” she says. “That’s just the nature of military life.”
Still, Katie never stopped learning or looking for opportunities to grow — waiting for the right time, and the right structure, to help her pursue something more.
Education That Embraces Chaos
For years, college was on the back burner. Katie had college aspirations and even considered nursing school, but in-person programs never aligned with the family’s unpredictable lifestyle.
“I always wanted to go back to school, but we were never in one place long enough to make in-person classes realistic,” she says. They didn’t know when or where the next orders would come, and with three children and no family nearby, committing to an in-person program felt risky. “I didn’t want to start a program only to have to leave it unfinished.”
But Nick, who was chipping away at his own degree through AMU, gave her a glimpse into a different approach. “Online learning gave me the freedom to pursue my degree while still being there for my family,” she recalls. “The online format gave me the confidence to start something I knew I could finish, no matter where we were.”
Turning Coursework into Career Growth
Once enrolled, she quickly realized that the university’s flexible structure was built for students like her. She could study during school pickup lines, finish papers late at night, and adjust her pace as needed to fit her family’s schedule.
She also credits her instructors for helping her stay on track, even during unexpected setbacks, like a major back surgery in the middle of her program.
“The faculty understood our lifestyle,” she says. “They were flexible, responsive, and genuinely cared about helping me succeed.”
Despite a demanding home life and a serious medical procedure, Katie earned her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration with a concentration in Leadership in 2023.
“Every job I applied for on USAJobs to advance my career progression required a degree,” she recalls. “After years of trying, I was finally hired full time just months after graduating.”
Katie now works as a General Surgery/Urology surgery scheduler at Eglin Air Force Base Hospital through the Defense Health Agency Civilian Service. Her education gave her the knowledge and confidence to step into a complex role supporting military healthcare operations.
“I use what I learned every day — from electronic health records to CPT codes to understanding the bigger picture of patient safety and satisfaction,” she says.
A Family of Lifelong Learners
Katie’s success also inspired her husband, who went on to finish his own degree through AMU after retiring from the Air Force. Now working in logistics and quality assurance, he often encourages younger servicemembers to start their education early and tells them how much online learning has evolved.
“We both realized you don’t have to choose between service and school,” Katie says. “With the right support, you can do both.”
Today, the Burtch family is settled in Florida, where Katie’s two youngest children are thriving in band, ROTC, and twirling. The family’s decision to stay put means their kids can finish school in one place, a goal that shaped many of their recent choices.
Advice for Military Spouses Considering School
Katie knows how overwhelming the idea of going back to school can feel, especially for spouses balancing careers, parenting, and the demands of military life. But she hopes others will see what’s possible.
“Online school isn’t a backup plan; it’s a real, effective way to learn,” she says. “It made it possible for me to grow professionally while staying committed to my family. If it worked for me, it can work for anyone.”
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