My life in the US Air Force
I have spent the past nine years of my life serving in the best branch of the US Armed Forces, the US Air Force. I will discuss how it has molded me into the individual I am today. I have been able to work with the most intelligent, caring, and hardworking characters the US military has to offer. My job has also afforded me the opportunity to travel the world. I will discuss my decision to join the military has had the most impact on my life thus far.

I left my hometown on 13 Dec 05 for Lackland AFB, Texas to begin basic training. I didn’t know what to expect other than a lot of yelling and PT. We arrived about midnight and in processed our respective units. I remember this day like it was yesterday. A Training Instructor loaded us on the bus and transported us to our living quarters. We got 2 hours of sleep before they awoke us by yelling and screaming. My Training Instructor wasn’t a tall and intimidating male. Instead, her name was Tech Sergeant Martin. A 5’1 Hispanic female with an impeccable uniform who carried herself with a no-nonsense attitude that I had never seen in a person. She was in tip top shape, fearless, motivating, and quite blunt. From the day she took us in, she taught us the custom and courtesies of the US Military, and how attention to detail was very important. She taught us to be thorough and accomplish all tasks appointed to you by your superiors. I knew this trait would apply in the law enforcement career field as soon as I got to the police academy and also just everyday life. I see some of the same traits TSgt . Martin had in myself.

In my 9 years of service I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel the world. I began my career training in Texas and then spent a year in Montana. Another 12 months in South Korea and 24 months in Italy. I’m currently in Washington State I have been here a little over 4 years. Over the 9 years of service, I have endured 4 deployments, with the drawdown and US pulling thousands of troops out of Afghanistan, hopefully deployments to the Mideast will slow down for service members. I’m blessed to have worked with the brightest, funniest, and most caring people in my career. There is a special bond between military members that is indescribable. I have friends and co-workers from Texas, New York, Florida, Washington, California, and Rhode Island. It’s great to see their outlook and views on life. It’s a wonderful melting pot of cultures that serve our country.

I have been lucky enough to see third world countries and personnel up close from driving down the roads of Ethiopia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Mali, and Kyrgyzstan. It’s sad when you’re walking the streets of these countries and you see little kids and adults searching for leftover scraps or begging for money just to purchase a loaf of bread for themselves and their families. It breaks your heart into a million pieces that all you can do is spare a dollar and move on. I have always been thankful for everything I have, but after traveling to certain parts of the world I am even more thankful.
Another heartbreaking incident occurred was when I was leaving country X. An individual passed me a note begging us to take him and his brother back to the states with our crew because there is no hope for him and his people in his country. All he wanted was the opportunity to provide a better life for his family. It’s sad to see the citizen’s living conditions in some parts of the world. I have no idea how they survive and make it to the next day. I am so blessed and thankful for a job where I can provide for myself and my family. The Raven program has opened my eyes so much and I will always be thankful to be a part of a great community.