Meet Sergeant First Class (SFC) Axel Feliciano (Ret.). Axel is a proud 32-year Army veteran, a jovial grandfather, and an excellent disc jockey (DJ). If you are an avid listener to WKGC 90.7HD3, you will recognize him by Dj Jok3r. He is one of the many veterans that attends college here at Gulf Coast State College. Here is his story.

FROM A SMALL ISLAND, A MILITARY CAREER IS BORN

Axel grew up in Puerto Rico, and upon graduating high school, he joined the Army National Guard. Over the next 12 years, Axel served in the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) as a 63G, Fuel, and Electrical System Repairer. Essentially, Axel worked in the maintenance and repair of alternators, generators, fuel pumps, injectors, etc. During those 12 years, he switched from the National Guard to the Reserves but stayed in the same career field. At the age of 31, Axel transitioned from serving as a part-time soldier to full-time Active-Duty and served an additional 20 years. He states, “I joined for the money [and financial stability] and stayed for the love of duty.” Hoorah to that, Axel.

THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IS CHANGE

If you serve in the military, expect change. You will eventually relocate to a new base, you will make a new rank, and you will be re-classified into a new career field. In layman’s terms, a re-classification is a modernization of a job to meet current and future mission needs. So, in 2005, the Army changed Axel’s MOS from a Fuel and Electrical System Repairman (63G) to a Wheeled Vehicle Repairer (63W) to a Light-Wheel Vehicle Mechanic (63B), then finally to a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic (91B). This all took place within a year.

But, the nice thing about the military is that one can pursue opportunities outside of one’s routine duties. While Axel worked as a mechanic, a driver, a maintenance operations supervisor, and a shop foreman, he additionally received the opportunity to work as a quality assurance/quality control supervisor, a wheeled vehicle repairer instructor, and a human resources supervisor. Axel is a man of many talents.

FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA

Axel’s illustrious career spanned three continents and many deployments. He was stationed at: Fort Hood, Texas; Hanau, Germany; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Lee, Virginia; Camp Humphries, South Korea; Ansbach, Germany; Camp Casey, South Korea; and Fort Bliss, Texas. Also, Axel is no stranger to the Middle East, he deployed to Iraq twice (16-months and 14- months, respectively), as well as deployed to Afghanistan for 12-months. By the time Axel retired, he garnered a Bronze Star, seven Army Commendation Medals, seven Army Achievement Medals, the Operation Enduring Freedom Medal, and the Operation Iraqi Freedom Medal.

In 2016, then Sergeant First Class Axel Feliciano at Fort Bliss, Texas. 

WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, ANOTHER ONE OPENS

After retiring from the Army in 2019, Axel decided to go back to school. “I moved to Panama City Beach upon retirement, and I started reviewing the colleges around the panhandle. I found that GCSC had the program I wanted” Axel states. This May, Axel will graduate with his Associate’s Degree in Digital Media, Production Specialization. However, he’s still mulling over what he wants to be when he grows up. “I’m looking at a studio or radio station job, but I’m not sure yet.” Regardless, Axel states that he will continue to pursue his passion for music and to DJ.

SIGHTINGS AROUND THE GCSC CAMPUS

Outside of taking classes, you can catch Axel, aka Dj Jok3r, every Wednesday from 5-7 PM on WKGC-HD3 The AlterNation. You can also listen live to The AlterNation at thealternation.com. Plus, you can follow Dj Jok3r on Facebook, where he also takes music requests. When not DJing, you can often find Axel working at the Military & Veterans Resource Center (M/VRC) in the SUE EAST building, room 62. Additionally, you will discover Axel helping out with the different Student Veterans Association (SVA) fundraising events around campus.