JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
PHAT Surprise Veterans find 'freedom' through electric scooters
CreatiVets
Remembering Brandon Caserta New act stresses the importance of mental health care
Sound of Freedom is published bimonthly by Times Media Group, a private publishing company. Times Media Group is in no way affiliated with Luke Air Force Base or the United States Air Force.
F I G H T E R C O U N T R Y PA R T N E R S H I P
the floor for Dorm residents hit e holiday party. line dancing at th
Aaliyah Parsons shows off her voucher for four Arizona Cardinals tickets.
Celebrating
Jiovani Morgan was a big winner and took home a 70-inch TV.
the Holidays FCF’s Dorm Dweller party spreads a little joy BY BROOKE CHRISTIANSON Fighter Country Foundation
T
he Dorm Dweller Holiday Party brought joy to Luke Air Force Base’s airmen as the Fighter Country Foundation event is hosted for those living in the
dorms. For many, this is the first time they are away from family over the holidays. One of Fighter Country Foundation’s favorite events, the party hosted 250 airmen, who en-
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joyed games, food, comraderie, mechanical bull, laser tag, gaming truck and dance and wing-eating contests. Chaplain Jeffrey Rybold and his enthusiasm for the party helped set up the event for success. According to Rybold, his favorite part is the dance off and holiday costume contest. Seeing the airmen participate in these events showed how much they really enjoyed the evening. One of the event’s partners, Best Buy, brought gaming consoles and ran several gaming tournaments throughout the night. All attendees are entered into a drawing for door prizes, which totaled 75 this year. Most popular prizes were gift cards, air fryers, Arizona Coyotes tickets, televisions and Arizona Cardinals tickets.
Sound of Freedom | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
Airmen peruse the food that Luke Air Force Base’s Club Five Six prepared for the Dorm Dweller Holiday Party.
We at Fighter Country Foundation with the help of our chaplain team are so honored to provide this opportunity to our hard-working airmen and spread a little holiday joy throughout the dorms this time of year.
Contents
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 Publisher Steve T. Strickbine Vice President Michael Hiatt Associate Group Publisher Laura Meehan, 623-777-1042 lmeehan@star-times.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
PHAT Surprise Veterans find 'freedom' through electric scooters
CreatiVets
Remembering Brandon Caserta New act stresses the importance of mental health care
Sound of Freedom is published bimonthly by Times Media Group, a private publishing company. Times Media Group is in no way affiliated with Luke Air Force Base or the United States Air Force.
Teri and Patrick Caserta helped create the Brandon Act in honor of their late son.
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(Photo by Dennis Murphy)
Executive Editor Christina Fuoco-Karasinski 480-898-5631 christina@star-times.com Staff Photographer Dave Minton Contributors Brooke Christianson, Senior Airman Phyllis Jimenez, Bill Quehrn, Capt. Monique Roux, Lauren Serrato, Annika Tomlin, Airman 1st Class Dominic Tyler Graphic Design Veronica Thurman vthurman@timespublications.com Production Manager Courtney Oldham production@timespublications.com
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24
31
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Celebrating the Holidays FCF Dorm Dweller Party spreads joy
26 Family Ties The Jimenezes joined the Air Force together
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American Dream Glendale veteran wins travel agency
28 A Fan of History Eagle Scout project on permanent display at museum
15 One-Stop Shop Marine veteran opens TruBlue Total House Care location 17 Remembering Brandon Caserta New act stresses the importance of mental health care 20 Turning Lives Around Mark O’Shea wants to improve the lives of veterans
31 PHAT Surprise Veterans find freedom through electric scooters 33 ‘It’s Real and Emotional’ CreatiVets empower wounded veterans to heal through the arts 37 Hitting a Milestone Luke fighter pilot tops 1,000 F-35 flying hours
23 CommUNITY Support Airmen celebrate during Fiesta Bowl Parade 24 Open Arms Airmen welcome Afghan citizens to U.S.
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Sound of Freedom | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
Advertising Representatives Barbara Duran, 623-847-4608 bduran@star-times.com Connie Williams, 623-847-4601 cwilliams@star-times.com Circulation
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nthony Cinquini wants what’s best for Americans. He helped protect their freedoms while in the military, and now he’s making dreams come true. The Glendale resident and Air Force and Army veteran won a franchise of Dream Vacations, a home-based travel agency, valued at $12,300, as part of Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General. Cinquini was one of 569 applicants for the annual business plan contest, which was open to former members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard, who are retired, off SEE CINQUINI PAGE 12
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BUSINESS CINQUINI FROM PAGE 8 active duty and/or honorably discharged prior to the contest start date this past May, as well as community heroes such as first responders, educators and medical professionals who are U.S. residents. He participated in a three-part application process that included creating a business plan, video essay and phone interviews. “My travel agency’s mission is to inspire travel and deliver memorable vacation experiences to all customers, while saving them time and money,” Cinquini says. “As a full-service travel adviser, I turn dreams into reality for my clients and I find fulfillment in delivering through my services the one thing that we all seek — happiness.” Cinquini says he learned of the contest while researching franchises to buy into. He was impressed that Dream Vacation is the No. 1 franchise for veterans. “It was an affordable, flexible, homebased franchise,” he says. “I went on the website and I was reading about it. I found
Cinquini’s interest in travel grew after spending summers with his grandparents in Tuscany. (Photo by Dennis Murphy)
out about the contest, and this was their 10th year. I looked at the requirements for it and it entailed creating a business plan, a few interviews and creating a video. I decided to enter, and it just it was an incredible journey.”
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Cinquini began his military career shortly after graduating high school in Chicago. He spoke with an Air Force recruiter, who learned Cinquini is bilingual. SEE CINQUINI PAGE 14
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“I spoke Italian, so I signed up as a linguist,” he said. “I served from 1999 to 2003 as a Korean linguist. At the time, I thought I could choose a language, but that’s not the case.” He had a break in service from 2003 to 2005, during which time he earned his bachelor’s degree. From 2005 to 2010, he served in the Army and attained his final rank of captain. “I’ve been to about 15 countries,” he said. “I wish I could have traveled more. In the service, I wanted to serve, but I thought I’d be able to see different parts of the world. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. “My wife is from the Philippines, and she’s been able to travel to many different areas. My sister-in-law was a permanent resident in Singapore. She worked for a cruise line. I wanted to experience that with my family. I figured this is something I’m passionate about.” Italian roots Cinquini’s parents hail from a small town near Tuscany. He spent every summer with his grandparents before he graduated high school. Still, he yearned to experience other cultures. “Growing up, I was a big soccer fan — and still am,” he says. “I think that naturally breeds a love of travel in someone. It’s a global game. There isn’t a place in the world that isn’t familiar with soccer. I think that raised my curiosity about different parts of the world.” Home isn’t so bad, either. Cinquini, who moved to Arizona in 2011, is enjoying Glendale. “It feels like there’s a lot of pride in the town,” he says. “I like the historic nature of the town and Arizona living is just wonderful. You can’t beat the weather and the friendly people. It’s a very laidback atmosphere.” Through Dream Vacations, Cinquini helps clients create a bucket list and allow it to come to fruition. “I want to encourage them to be able to see whatever destinations they like and be able to move out of their comfortzone,” he says. “Sometimes people may think they know what they want to go see, but I show them there’s more to it. “Once they expand their horizons, they are pleasantly surprised. My website is a one-stop shop. They can find different destinations, deals and savings.” Cinquini says there are plenty of misconceptions about using vacation specialists. The pricing is competitive, as suppliers pay the specialists’ fees. “We’re also advocates if something goes wrong on trips,” he says. “I can be a resource for them, too. I want to create awareness in the community, join the chamber and get involved. I want to help individuals and businesses.”
Dream Vacations Anthony Cinquini 623-444-8753 countyourcountries.com
BUSINESS
One-Stop Shop Marine veteran brings TruBlue Total House Care to the WV BY LAUREN SERRATO Sound of Freedom Staff Writer ames Whitaker, a Marine veteran and Avondale resident, is opening a new TruBlue Total House Care location that will serve Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Avondale and the surrounding areas. TruBlue provides house care services like chores, home repairs, house cleaning and yardwork for adults, including seniors. The home-maintenance franchise also works with homeowners, realtors and property managers who need to quickly prepare homes for move-in and keep them maintained. Whitaker
refers to the business as a “one-calldoes-it-all solution” as TruBlue’s technicians will travel to complete various house care needs. Whitaker, who has also worked for 20 years in the transportation industry, says he’s excited for the opportunity to serve a community he’s been a part of since 2005. “It is the first time I’ve owned a business, so it is a mixture of excitement and terror, but we are excited to be in the community and to be able to help people and hopefully bring knowledge and provide the ability for people to understand safety for seniors aging in place and fall prevention and everything in between,” Whitaker says.
James Whitaker, a Marine veteran and Avondale resident, is opening a new TruBlue Total House Care location that will serve Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Avondale and the surrounding areas.
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BUSINESS As a new business owner, Whitaker says he is passionate about helping seniors — and their caregivers — stay safe and comfortable in their own homes. “Our company’s objective and main mission really is to help people age in place safely, for as long as they can,” he says. “That’s brought about through home safety assessments, safety modifications, and home maintenance, whether it’s quarterly or monthly maintenance for people to be able to help them stay in their homes as long as they can. That’s really what we want to offer to people.” An owner since October, Whitaker looks forward to opening to the public on January 1. “It’s very new for me and we are the first owners here in the Phoenix metro area,” he says. “Overall, it’s been great, and we have a great team. “Obviously every business wants to make money. That’s why you open up the business but I think, at heart, this company truly does have a desire to help people, equally to being profitable. That’s something that’s important to me — really wanting to help people. Plus, I
“Obviously every business wants to make money. That’s why you open up the business but I think, at heart, this company truly does have a desire to help people, equally to being profitable. That’s something that’s important to me — really wanting to help people. Plus, I think that everyone is just really positive and really great people are part of this team.” think that everyone is just really positive and really great people are part of this team.” The first-time businessowner says his experience as a Marine prepared him for TruBlue. “In the transportation business, you have a great deal of interaction with people across all different sectors, different backgrounds,” he says.
“Being able to interact with people of all different sorts of backgrounds is helpful. As for the Marine Corps, it typically plays to a certain type of person, very dedicated, very loyal. And that is where I think the company thrives. You have people that are dedicated, that are loyal, that have a specific mission in mind, and that’s what we’re striving to do is to help people, especially people that are looking to age in place in their homes.” A 17-year West Valley resident, Whitaker says he’s proud to open TruBlue in an area that is experiencing continual rapid growth. “We’re really, truly starting to see the West Valley grow, from opening up the stadium, to all the shopping all the way from Tolleson to Goodyear,” he says. “It’s just so good to be a part of that. Now that we’re opening this business, it’s good, even though it’s in very stressful, uncertain times. It’s a great opportunity.” TruBlue James Whitaker 623-303-8093 trubluehousecare.com/litchfield-park
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NEWS
Teri and Patrick Caserta, parents of U.S. Navy Petty Officer Third Class Caserta, helped create the Brandon Act. (Photo by Dennis Murphy)
Remembering
Brandon Caserta New act stresses the importance of mental health care BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Sound of Freedom Executive Editor
L
iberty High School graduate Brandon Caserta was known for being kind and generous. Now the late Navy sailor will help others through the Brandon Act, which, when President Joe Biden signs the act, will make it easier for servicemembers to seek mental health care confidentially.
“He absolutely loved helping everybody,” says his mother, Teri Caserta. “I don’t think there was anybody he turned away for help. He would even help somebody who did not care for him. Of course, they’d become friends after that.” U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) revealed Dec. 15 that the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that included the Brandon Act, legislation they introduced named in honor of fallen U.S. Navy Petty Officer Third Class Caserta. The act is headed to Biden’s desk. “For months, I worked with Republicans and Democrats to get the language of the Brandon Act in the defense bill,” Kelly says.
The Brandon Act is designed to protect service members who experience mental health emergencies and reduce the stigma around reporting. This bill will allow service members to seek mental health treatment, and require a mental health evaluation as soon as a service member self-reports. It will also allow Americans serving in uniform to seek help confidentially and, if necessary, outside of the chain of command. “Today, our hard work has paid off. Thanks to the tireless advocacy of Teri and Patrick Caserta, and bipartisan support in Congress, our efforts will help us confront military suicide head on and save the lives of other young servicemembers,” Kelly says.
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NEWS
Moulton, the bill’s author, adds, “America’s service members shouldn’t have to settle for a broken system that’s incapable of providing them with the mental health support they need, and today’s vote means they no longer have to. This bill is an important piece of Brandon’s legacy — one that will save the lives of so many great American heroes. I’m proud of his parents for fighting to make sure that families of other service members never have to share their experience, and I look forward to continuing to do this work alongside them.” Brandon Caserta died by suicide on June 25, 2018, on the flight line at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. After his death, his parents and friends discovered six notes in which Brandon attributed his suicide to persistent hazing and bullying from some members and leaders of his Navy helicopter squadron. The Brandon Act expands the existing law that regulates how service members are referred for mental health evaluations, to provide a confidential channel for service members to self-report mental health issues. The process would protect the confidentiality of service members, similar to the restricted reporting option that protects victims of sexual assault. The Brandon Act is supported by several original co-sponsors, including Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Rep. Kaialiʻi Kahele (D-HI), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) and Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA). Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) is an original co-sponsor of the companion bill in the Senate. Additional members of Congress joined in supporting amendments to include this measure in the NDAA. Teri says she was in tears when she and Patrick heard the news. “We’re elated,” she says. “It’s definitely needed,” Patrick adds. “There is a lot more work that needs to be done to get suicides down to zero in the military. There are 25 a day. The public doesn’t really know this. It’s not that anybody is keeping this a secret. It’s just not a good subject to write about, obviously. We
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Teri and Patrick Caserta advocated for the Brandon Act, which will make it easier for servicemembers to seek mental health care. (Photo by Dennis Murphy)
want to put a stop to it. It’s unnecessary for all those deaths to happen.” The Peoria couple did not know this was a problem until Brandon’s death. “I had no idea,” adds Patrick, who was on active duty for 22 years and in Navy recruiting for 15. “I don’t understand why I didn’t know.” Labor of love The Brandon Act’s passage was a labor of love for the Casertas. Patrick and Teri unsuccessfully sought help from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. In a moment of desperation, the couple bought a new car, hopped in it, and drove to Washington, D.C. “In 2019, we were allowed in Capitol Hill without an escort,” says Teri, who also received advice from Peoria Mayor Cathy
Sound of Freedom | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
Carlat, Councilmember Bridget Binsbacher and Lesko. “We went door to door for the most part. That’s how it started. Ironically, the chief of staff at Congressman Moulton’s office had this tragedy happen to him, too. “He sat down and talked to us, what they could do and how to work with them. After that, we went to Martha McSally’s office. The act passed the House and, due to Arizona laws, she lost the election and her staff had to leave right away.” That was a “crunch time,” she says, when The Brandon Act went to committee in 2020. It did not make it through. However, Kelly took over and “ran with it on the senate side,” she says. “We got to meet with him personally and by Zoom,” Teri says. “Rep. Moulton took the House and Kelly took the Senate. They
NEWS Where to get help The Veterans Crisis Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be reached by calling 1-800-273-8255, press 1. Services also are available online at veteranscrisisline.net or by text, 838255. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Find more information about the Lifeline at suicidepreventionlifeline.org or call directly by dialing 1-800-273-8255, too. It’s also possible to text TALK to 741741 to text with a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
were able to get it passed in the House and the two of them worked together and was able to get it in the Senate. They did outstanding work on this. Sen. Kelly is retired Navy and Congressman Moulton is a veteran. They convinced everyone that this needed to be done.” ‘Amazing’ Teri describes Brandon as amazing, kind and generous. He was athletic and enjoyed swimming and karate. Year-round, he played football, whether it was tackle or flag. “He lived by his karate code words, which are honor, respect, patience and kindness,” she says. “Trust me, he lived by those words.” At the funeral, Brandon’s karate instructor (Charlie Rogers from Arizona Ameri-
can Institute for Self Defense Arts) said he was the most “mentally tough kid he ever met,” Patrick says. “The swim instructor said the same thing. They didn’t even know each other.” Most of all, Brandon was thoughtful. “He would bring home homeless kids,” she says. “He’d stay after school and help out special needs kids on his own. He had several friends like that. He just always helped anybody. That was his attitude.” Living out his dream When Brandon showed an interest in joining the military, Patrick didn’t approve, but he was supportive. “We were faced with the dilemma of, do we say no and he’ll join anyway when he turned 18, or support him and give him everything he needed to succeed,” he says.
“We chose to support him and give him everything he needed to succeed. I think any parent would do that if they could. Brandon’s college was paid for. He could go to any school he wanted.” Patrick and Teri preferred that Brandon attend college. “I knew Brandon would come around and say, ‘You never went to college. Why do I have to go to college?’ So I went to ASU and I got two degrees. I went, basically, to encourage him to go to college. It was rough, too. “We really wanted him to go, but he really wanted to be a Navy SEAL. He had a plan. He was in shape. He passed the testing perfectly. That’s what he wanted to do We supported him and that’s how he ended up there. We were dead set against it, but the only way to be a Navy SEAL was to join the Navy.” The couple say Brandon’s story can be used to save others. “This is an important story,” Terri says. “This is a victory for the service members. They’re going to benefit from this. Future veterans will benefit. Active duty will get the help they need. “We want to work with the VA and Congress to get more help for active duty. We need to decrease veteran suicides, too. The biggest key is how to ask for help, get help and learning that people want to help you. That’s the biggest thing that a service member needs to understand. Help is out there.”
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NEWS
Turning Lives Around Mark O’Shea wants to improve the lives of veterans BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Sound of Freedom Executive Editor
M
Operation Prevent 22 founder Mark O’Shea with his wife, Tiffany, and Chris Flanders, co-founder and outreach coordinator. (Photo courtesy of Mark O’Shea)
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ark O’Shea peppers his conversation with the phrase “comfort zone.” He says he does not attempt to tackle new challenges, but his words point elsewhere. Calling his teenage self shy, O’Shea joined the military to turn his life around. “I was very timid,” he says. “I was very quiet. I avoided confrontation at all costs. I wasn’t doing well with the people I surrounded myself with. I didn’t have any confidence in myself whatsoever. “I thought about joining the military when I was young, but I was always so small. I didn’t seem like it was in the cards.” Eventually, he did it — and he calls it the best thing he has done. Others might say the same. As a result of his service, he founded Operation Prevent 22, which provides resources and monthly outings to provide the companionship veterans may have lost and the safe space they need. O’Shea collaborates with other local nonprofits and organizations to accomplish this. “The statistic, which I hate to say, is that 22 veterans a day take their own lives due to PTSD, depression or anxiety,” says O’Shea of Avondale. “They can’t get a lot of help, or they don’t know where to get the help. We’re out there. It’s hard to find a lot of it. There was a year
NEWS stretch when I was in a dark, dark place. I didn’t think I was ever going to get out of it. I tried to get help at the VA, but if you don’t stay on them, you’re not going to get help. You have to be a thorn in somebody’s side. If you don’t have that will to keep going, that’s when people get lost. They fall out of the system. They’re swept under the rug and that’s when bad things happen.” One day he woke up and decided that changes were needed, not just for him, but for other veterans. “I went to check myself into a rehab facility because I was super depressed,” he says. “I found a lot of the civilian ones cost a lot of money. I don’t have that kind of money. At first, I got really upset. I got to the point where I wanted to seek help, but I got shut down because of money.” Gaining experience O’Shea and his wife, Tiffany, met when he was 17 at Glendale’s Great Skate, where he was working. O’Shea says he did well when he graduated high school
and found a good job. After two years, he joined the Army in 2010 — the year after he and Tiffany were married. “I had to push myself into something completely foreign,” he says. “I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now, if I hadn’t done that. I have a family I probably wouldn’t have. Everything I have that’s good came from the decision to join the military.” He served in the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, which was reflagged in 2014 to an expeditionary military intelligence brigade, the first of its kind. The unit specializes in the acquisition and analysis of information with potential military value. “I went to Afghanistan right after I got to my unit,” he says. “Basically, I went to airborne school, picked up my wife and drove to North Carolina. Two months later, I was in Afghanistan for a year. “She didn’t see me for a long time. It worked out really well. I got my combat patch right away. I ranked up, respect wise, right in the beginning. I learned quickly
that being timid wasn’t an option. You have to be aggressive. Once or twice, I wasn’t aggressive, and it wasn’t a good decision. Once I figured that out, I was a new person.” After the military, he jumped into a new career and adjusted relatively well, but still had dark days. He suggests taking the bull by its horns; not easing into everyday life, as it makes it harder to adjust. “You get stuck,” he says. “You get stuck, and you don’t know what to do. My thing was to get unstuck before I actually got stuck. I have different techniques to get through it.” Longtime mission O’Shea started his organization in August 2020, but his work began in 2014. When he left the military, he realized “how broken and thinly stretched” the Phoenix VA was. “We didn’t realize the severity until we were left without the help we needed for seven years,” he says. “As the years went on, we realized this is
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NEWS “I want more people to come so they can see that it’s not just some random thing that people won’t enjoy. I want them to be comfortable enough to want to come. It’s hard when you’re very reserved. These events force me to get out and do things. Sometimes, I just want to stay home and be by myself. But this makes me go and it’s healthy.” the norm for veterans. We watched our fellow veterans slowly travel down that dark road and eventually end their lives. We decided last year that we are going to do everything in our power to help prevent veteran suicide.” O’Shea’s goal is to help veterans and their families until each one has the help and camaraderie he or she needs. Occasionally, spouses and children are invited to his events so they can network with others. Operation Prevent 22 has three principals: O’Shea, Tiffany and Chris Flanders of North Phoenix. “We’re simple,” he says. “We organize these events and pay for them to go. We tell them this is where your money goes. I buy the shirts I sell from an online company. My wife and I cut out all the vinyl. We make the shirts, and we send them out. We try to cut costs as much as we can.” He’s hoping in January to host veterans at Topgolf around the 15th. “It’s a little pricey, but I think it would be fun,” he says. “I’d also like to rent a pontoon boat on Lake Pleasant and do some fishing in the summer — something that’s inviting to people. “I want more people to come so they can see that it’s not just some random thing that people won’t enjoy. I want them to be comfortable enough to want to come. It’s hard when you’re very reserved. These events force me to get out and do things. Sometimes, I just want to stay home and be by myself. But this makes me go and it’s healthy.” O’Shea’s plan is to purchase land near Prescott or Sedona and build small cabins or tiny homes for a veteran retreat from “that life that everyone’s so stressed out about.” The community is a rather pricey endeavor, he says, but it will be worth it. The homes, he hopes, will have solar energy with phone chargers and select other amenities. “I want to spend time with them in a different environment,” he says. “We all need time to get our minds right and talk. Hopefully, I can have volunteer counselors who can come out and help with coping mechanisms and yoga. That actually helps. It helps get your mind right. The biggest part is to get them out of here and somewhere else.” Operation Prevent 22 Avondale operationprevent22.com
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NEWS
CommUNITY Support Airmen celebrate during the Fiesta Bowl Parade
S
ince 1971, the Fiesta Bowl Parade has grown as an Arizona tradition, becoming the highest-attended single-day event. Every year, the parade attracts more than 2,500 men, women, children, floats and balloons. The event showcases a pageantry of brilliantly colored floats, giant balloons, equestrian units, charitable groups, local celebrities and marching bands who make their way through Central Phoenix. This year’s theme was “Gold Standard: A Commitment to CommUNITY” and Luke Air Force Base airmen joined. U.S. Air Force airmen assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, participate in the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade December 18. Since 1941, Luke AFB has been a partner in Arizona, integrating its members with various programs throughout the surrounding communities to bolster partnerships and show appreciation for supporting the base. (U.S. Air Force photos by Tech. Sgt. Franklin R. Ramos)
U.S. Air Force airmen assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, hand out U.S. flags to attendees during the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade.
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Weimer, 56th Fighter Wing command chief, Luke Air Force Base, gives a U.S. flag to an audience member during the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade December 18. This year’s parade theme was “Gold Standard: A Commitment to CommUNITY,” in honor of the Fiesta Bowl Organization’s impact and support to bring Arizona communities together for 50 years.
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NEWS
Open Arms Airmen welcome Afghan citizens to the U.S. BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS DOMINIC TYLER 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
A
irmen from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, welcomed the first arrival of Afghan citizens as part of Operation Allies Welcome. “The words ‘Allies’ and ‘Welcome’ hold great power and purpose here,” says U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Dan McGuire, 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander. “We are making good on our promise to protect and defend those who enabled our efforts throughout the War in Afghanistan.” U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Makaila Duffey, 56th LRS logistics planner, is one of 76 airmen assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, deployed to Holloman AFB to support our Afghan allies. “There were times I would greet the guests off the plane…I would get so overwhelmed with the different emotions I would see on their faces,” Duffey says. “Many of them were exhausted from the long journey, fearful of a new place, and some were crying tears of joy; but most of all I saw the huge smiles and the love they would send back our way with gratitude and happiness.” As a logistics planner, Duffey says that much of her job consists of planning deployments for other airmen, whether it’s tracking who’s coming in or sending them down range where they’re needed. Last August, she was asked to be a part of Task Force Holloman.
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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Makaila Duffey, 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics planner, stands with the U.S. flag at Luke Air Force Base. Duffey is one of 76 airmen from Luke AFB who deployed to Holloman AFB in support of Operation Allies Welcome. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan guests at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan guests essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dominic Tyler)
McGuire mentions that Duffey was eager and willing to take on this sudden deployment, despite the short notice and demanding job requirements. Duffey had three days to notify her family and get her personal life in order. Upon her arrival to Holloman AFB, Duffey worked 12-hour days, seven days a week tracking accountability of all personnel coming in to support OAW. “Being a logistic planner, I was pretty familiar with the deployment process,” Duffey says. “But with it being my first deployment, I was still nervous, but very eager to go. In the end, it’s all about the outlook and energy you bring to the fight that will make the experience 100% worth it.” Hundreds of airmen across the country left their families to support the Afghan al-
Sound of Freedom | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
lies. According to U.S. Northern Command, the Department of Defense is tasked to provide transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for up to 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This operation is an initiative to follow through on the nation’s commitment to its Afghan allies by providing immediate support and a safety here in the United States. “I couldn’t imagine what the guests have experienced; losing the place that has been their home,” Duffey says. “It has been an honor to be a part of something so life changing for many and being able to welcome them with open arms; to offer them protection and a place where I would hope they feel safe and welcomed.”
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January 8 & 9 - Free Native American Art Fest January 16 - Free Concert by The 8 Tracks January 22 - Kiwanis Trout Fishing Derby Feburary 26 - Litchfield Park 10K/5K Race
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NEWS
U.S. Air Force Airman Basic Richard Jimenez, 56th Contracting Squadron contract specialist, and his wife, U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jenna Jimenez, 308th Aircraft Maintenance Unit analyst, at Luke Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Phyllis Jimenez)
Family Ties
W
hat were you doing when the world came to a screeching halt? Coronavirus disease 2019 stunned the world, bringing unforeseen challenges that dramatically changed the way people went about their daily lives. However, for families like the Jimenezes, the pandemic was an opportunity to reflect and reevaluate their paths in life. “It really took the whole world coming to a stop for me to realize something was missing,” says U.S. Air Force Airman Basic Rich-
26
Those who sign up together, serve together BY SENIOR AIRMAN PHYLLIS JIMENEZ 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ard Jimenez, 56th Contracting Squadron contract specialist. Richard, 37, his wife, Jenna, 30, and their son, Amarion, all signed to join the U.S. Air Force in July 2020. There are many reasons people choose to raise their right hand and take the Oath of Enlistment — from education to job stability to a desire to serve their country — it’s common to see kids join the military straight out of high school. For the Jimenez family, joining the military was a light at the end of a dark tunnel. “For us, the motivation was survival,”
Sound of Freedom | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
Richard says. “We instinctively did what any other family would have done in our position; find a way to make it out of that pandemic together.” Before the pandemic, the Jimenez family lived a typical American life. Richard was in the transportation business; Jenna was ready to kick start a career in real estate, and Amarion was in school studying to become an auto technician. When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, the Jimenez family fell on hard times, forcing them to adjust
NEWS their plans for the future. “We lost everything,” says Airman 1st Class Jenna Jimenez, 308th Aircraft Maintenance Unit analyst. “(The Air Force) brought us back to our feet and restored our hope and humanity. We don’t take it for granted.” According to Jenna, joining the military is something she had always wanted to do, but the timing just never seemed right. But after doing some research and talking to different recruiters, the Air Force fit their family needs like a missing puzzle piece. “We chose the Air Force out of all the branches because we got an amazing recruiter who answered all of our questions without sugarcoating anything,” Jenna says. “It checked every box that needed to be checked. We all got awesome jobs. I’m so happy that we did this. It was absolutely in the cards for us.” According to Richard, Jenna’s idea to join the military inspired himself and Amarion to get on board. Also impacted by the family’s decision is their 4-year-old daughter, Leila. To ensure the youngest Jimenez was cared for, the family staggered their departures for
U.S. Air Force Airman Basic Richard Jimenez, 56th Contracting Squadron contract specialist, and Airman 1st Class Jenna Jimenez, 308th Aircraft Maintenance Unit analyst, show a photo of their son, U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Amarion Jimenez, 714th Training Squadron student loadmaster, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Phyllis Jimenez)
basic military training. Jenna says that although Leila is still too young to fully understand all the changes, the
three recruits made sure she understood that they would be back. As a military wife, military mom, and female service member, Jenna says she would eventually encourage her daughter to also join the Air Force. “Even now, as we pass the flight line, she sees the planes and she’s like, ‘I want to fly,’ and I actually want to push her toward that,” Jenna says. “I want her to give to her country, and I want her to learn discipline. Discipline builds character.” There are many reasons people join the military. Life happens, years pass, and many think a career in the military is something they could, should or would have done. It is stories like that of the Jimenez family that reminds us it’s never too late to walk into a recruiter’s office and give the military your all. “In the middle of the pandemic...the Air Force gave us a way out,” Richard says. “I would have never thought in a million years, this would be our path. I thought (a military career) was a long time gone. Never let anyone convince you that age, young or old, dictates what you are able to do and not do.”
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• Discovery Center - Resources for relocation, transition, employment, housing, schools, and more! • AMVETS – Provides medical records screening and assistance with VA disability claims • Personal Development Information & Resources - Like us on Facebook: Luke A&FRC • Military & Family Life Counselor Assistance • Financial Counseling Education • Relocation & Sponsorship Services • School Liaison Officer - Addresses educational issues involving military children and youth in the local school community
Contact us for further information: (623) 856-6550 Email: 56fss.fsfr@luke.af.mil 7282 N. 137th Ave. Bldg.1113 Luke AFB, AZ. 85309 “We’re never the wrong place to go!” *Limited Services for DoD Civilians and their families
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F E AT U R E
A FAN of HISTORY
Eagle Scout project on permanent display at museum BY BILL QUEHRN Airbase Arizona Flying Museum Docent
W
ilber and Orville Wright may be best known for making the first sustained flight by a manned heavier-thanair powered and controlled aircraft near Kitty Hawk North Carolina in 1903. But their greatest contribution to aviation was their fan-driven Wright Wind Tunnel developed in their Dayton, Ohio, bicycle shop in the winter of 1901-1902. A working model of the Wright Wind Tunnel, built by Gibson Gallares and his team as an Eagle Scout project with Gilbert Scout Troop 322, was recently donated to Airbase Arizona Flying Museum at Falcon
ATED LOC
IN THE CI T Y OF SU RISE RP
The West Valley Veterans Success Center is located in City of Surprise Resource Center on the AZ TechCelerator campus, 12425 W. Bell Road, Suite 124.
Learn more at surpriseaz.gov/veterans
It is a hub for connecting military and veterans to services and benefits, offering a full-time AmeriCorps member specializing in veteran benefits navigation services and a part-time Be Connected Navigator that works to provide connection to veteran supportive resources across Arizona.
Services are offered in partnership with the Arizona Coalition for Military Families, Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, Northern Arizona University, Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, and Rio Salado Community College.
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A model of the Wright Brothers wind tunnel built by Gibson Gallares and his team as an Eagle Scout project with Gilbert Scout Troop 322. (Photo courtesy of the Airbase Arizona Flying Museum)
Field where it will remain on permanent display. Carefully reproduced by the scouts, the Wright Wind Tunnel model was little more than a pine box with a fan mounted on one end. The balances on which the wing shapes were tested inside the Wright Brothers box, by blowing air across them, were fashioned from worn out hacksaw blades and discarded bicycle spokes. Yet the data gleaned from those somewhat crude wind tunnel tests marked the first time anyone had measured the lift and drag produced by various wing shapes with sufficient accuracy that their calculations could be useful in aircraft design. The principles they developed in their wind tunnel over a century ago have been used in aircraft design ever since. “We are honored to have assisted Gibson and his team, and are very pleased to be the recipient of this excellent project,” says Commemorative Air Force Col. Dave Kennerly, who advised Gibson on behalf of the air base. He noted a scout’s Eagle project is the last step toward achieving scouting’s highest rank. History fans will find two large hangars at Airbase Arizona Flying Museum filled with historic, even iconic, airplanes from the French biplane fighter aircraft the Nieuport 28 to the B-17 bomber. Cabinet displays, storyboards, videos and frequent presentations add to the bounty of available information. The museum eschews cordons or ropes around the planes, and it offers opportunities to step inside two of them, when they are not actively flying or in maintenance. Guests can purchase a ride on the museum’s B-17 or five other planes for an experience they will never forget. Museum visitors should visit the latest fan, which an Eagle Scout attached to a pine box. The story of the box ties into the history of aviation. Airbase Arizona Flying Museum 2017 N. Greenfield Road, Mesa 480-924-1940 (museum/PX) 480-462-2992 (rides and flights) azcaf.org 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday
The City of Peoria is a champion of Luke Air Force Base and works hard to protect the Base to ensure their mission’s viability for years to come.
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F E AT U R E
PHAT
From left, Navy veteran Lucy Wong, Army veteran Kristen Hart, PHAT Scooters CEO Tim Moran, Air Force veteran William Taylor and his son, Elijah.
Surprise Veterans find ‘freedom’ through electric scooters BY ANNIKA TOMLIN Sound of Freedom Staff Writer
G
(Photo by Annika Tomlin)
iving lives in PHAT Scooters’ DNA. The Phoenix-based company asked veterans to send emails describing how a PHATTY G3 Electric Scooter would change their lives. The contest was supposed to have one winner, but CEO Tim Moran was touched by the entries.
“Our electric scooters would allow veterans to reengage in society with their family and or get around the community,” Moran says. “They all wrote three really heartfelt emails back to us in response to our contest so we felt that we should give away a PHAT Scooter and we have two gifts for the others.” Army veteran Kristen Hart, who served
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 |
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F E AT U R E from 2003 to 2011, won the scooter, while Air Force and Navy veterans William Taylor and Lucy Wong, respectively, received gift bags. The “gift bags,” however, held fobs to their own PHATTY G3 Electric Scooters. Hart took hers for a test drive around the parking lot of Ability 360, which partnered with PHATTY Scooters for the contest. “We just couldn’t make a decision,” Moran says. “Your outpouring of emotion made us pretty emotional. We want to thank you so much for all that you have done and thanks to Ability 360 for what they do for vets and the community.” Hart, Taylor and Wong were shocked by the news and did their best to hold back tears of joy. On a fixed income, Hart and her husband adopted three foster children and enjoy spending time as a family. Due to neurological issues affecting her leg and her husband’s debilitating knee injuries, they struggle to keep up with their children. One of them is on the autism spectrum and loves to bike. Hart says she was joyful about the prize. “We are really used to giving and just to receive something is a blessing,” she says. One word describes her gift: “freedom.” “Freedom to move around and move about especially with her, (my daughter Bryleigh,)” Hart says with her 8-year-old daughter by her side. Wong was exposed to toxic chemicals on active duty. As a result, she developed systemic scleroderma, an autoimmune disorder that affects the skin and internal organs characterized by the buildup of scar tissue in the skin and other organs. In her response email, Wong wrote that a scooter would give her the freedom to shop for groceries at a store a mile from her home. Previously, she had to bike or walk, which caused extreme fatigue. “I have stories to do and places to go,” Wong says. “My partner and I, we want to take the drone with me on the scooter on the bike route and have the drone follow me. I want to do a story and give it to the owner of PHAT Scooters. We want to give him the footage. So, we are excited about doing that.” Taylor ensured his three children had everything they need. With limited resources, Taylor heads to the VA for health and coun-
32
Army veteran Kristen Hart takes her daughter, Bryleigh, for a spin on the PHATTY G3 Electric Scooter by PHAT Scooters. (Photo by Annika Tomlin)
seling services. Ability 360’s staff told Taylor about the contest. He was shocked — to say the least — when he was revealed as a winner. “I thought I was going to get a T-shirt or something, but it really made this year flash before my eyes and everything that I’ve been through,” Taylor says, as tears formed. “I’ve been working hard and fighting for me and my three kids. There is light at the end of the tunnel — it’s been exciting.” The scooter means a lot to him. “It means that God is watching over me and there is a lot of good things in the future,” Taylor says. “This is just a sign that there are breakthroughs that are happening. I just have to keep my head up and keep pushing forward, especially for my kids.” Moran is proud of the PHATTY G3 Electric Scooter and the contest. The company worked for five years to improve the vehicle. “It has a ton of torque, so you can get up any hill, which has been part of the problem with many other electric vehicles out there,” Moran says. “The range has been extended so you get 30 to 35 miles on a charge. We just added all the features that our customers suggested over the last three years.” The features include added safety mea-
Sound of Freedom | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
sures; a new display, turn signals and stop signals; under lighting so others can see riders from the side; an improved headlamp and “all the telematics inside the front breastplate so we can also know where it is,” according to Moran. One of his favorite improvements is the scooter’s soft back. “I’m a larger person so having the hard tail was tough on my tail, so we went to a softer back,” he says. “We changed the footplates so you can change your look whenever you feel like it. That’s what makes it really different is power and safety.” Moran says his company donates 18 scooters through charity, primarily in the Valley. “We try to stay local but sometimes not,” Moran says. “We give another 24 gift bags, roughly a $500 value, away to charities that can’t afford it. We also give charities a 25% discount, if they do a live auction of our scooter.” Like PHAT Scooters, Moran says charity is embedded in him. “All of my companies have a designated gifting plan, which companies don’t generally do,” he adds. “For us, it is part of the community, and we are responsible to give back what we can.”
F E AT U R E
A myriad of musicians worked on “I’m With You,” including from left, Danny Rader (acoustic), Nick Buda (drums), Jerry McPherson (electric), Jeff Coplan (bass/producer), Jaime Tate (studio owner/engineer) and Chris Ferrara (scratch vocalist). Brett Gillian, far right, represents CreatiVets. (Photo courtesy of CreatiVets)
‘It’s Real and Emotional’ CreatiVets empowers wounded veterans to heal through the arts BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Sound of Freedom Executive Editor oel Shewmake has written songs for the likes of Brad Paisley, Montgomery Gentry, Gary Allan, Lonestar and Jerrod Niemann. He calls being in a room with Purple
Heart recipient Adam Mitchell an “honor.” The two penned the single “I’m With You,” as part of a monthly project helmed by Nashville-based nonprofit CreatiVets and Big Machine Label Group. They release a new veteran-written track on the 20th of every month to pay tribute to the 20 veterans and active-duty members who die by suicide every day. “I’m still flabbergasted that I would be allowed to get in a room and share in the stories and be a part of Adam’s process,” says Shewmake, also the featured artist on “I’m With You.”
“I would like to keep being involved.” Written by Purple Heart veteran Mitchell and his mentor Greg Pihs alongside Shewmake and fellow songwriter Brian Davis, the song is meant to serve as a form of therapy for the involved veterans. For Mitchell, finding the program was fate. Since sustaining several injuries to the head and neck while serving overseas in 2005, he has struggled with communication, memory and balance, and continues to navigate the difficulties around post-traumatic stress.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 |
SEE SONG PAGE 35
Sound of Freedom
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F E AT U R E SONG FROM PAGE 33 “It’s real and emotional,” Mitchell says about “I’m With You.” “Writing is an easier way for me to express myself.” Mitchell is new to music, although he does jot down lyrics to clear his mind. He has played the drums since 1993, and is learning the guitar. Shewmake, however, is a longtime songwriter. He moved from Cookeville, Tennessee, to Nashville to pursue a career in music among the millions of others who desire the same thing. To become successful, Shewmake networked with other songwriters. “If it hadn’t been for songwriting, I wouldn’t be able to manage my emotions,” he says. “I know I can put words on paper just to let some of the emotions out. It can be a terrible song. It’s just nice to get some of that stuff written down, even if you throw it away. “If I couldn’t do that, it would have been a harder life.” Throughout Shewmake’s career, he has had his fair share of rejection, but proj-
ects like this one with Mitchell make it all worthwhile. “You get to see what music is supposed to be doing,” he says. “For 20 years, I’ve had my eyes focused on whatever goals. I wasn’t seeing the impact of what you’re doing. This really helps me a lot to see the impact of what we’re doing, and the people being moved by it.” A twist of fate Mitchell stumbled across CreatiVets while looking for a veteran-based music learning program. After a deep dive, the music fan found CreatiVets “extremely intriguing.” “With my TBI (traumatic brain injury), music has helped me remember things easier and more vividly,” Mitchell says. “When I was able to start the writing process of my song, I honestly had no idea what I wanted to write about. I started telling a little of my story and then was able to easily fixate on what I wanted the message to be. I wanted it to be based around my kids and let them know that no matter the
COY OTE
obstacles in life, I will be there for them. I have always tried to see negative events more as lessons than being wrapped up by the event itself; thus making the line, ‘I’ve learned from the best on who not to be,’ my favorite.” Founded in 2013, CreatiVets has helped more than 1,000 combat veterans — with more than 500 veterans participating in its songwriting programs. Mitchell admits he felt a little vulnerable because he exposed something so real to him. Since his experience with CreatiVets, he got over his fear of showing his true self. “When people hear my song, I just hope they can relate to it and make it their own,” he says. Mitchell served in the infantry in the Marine Corps from 2002 to 2006, mainly out of Washington and Twentynine Palms, California. CreatiVets creativets.org
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Sound of Freedom | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
F E AT U R E
Maj. Nicholas Rallo, F-35 instructor pilot with the 944th Operations Group Detachment 2, exceeded 1,000 flying hours in the F-35, making him the first pilot at Luke AFB and the second in the Air Force Reserve to reach this milestone. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Louis Vega Jr.)
Hitting a
Milestone Luke fighter pilot tops 1,000 F-35 flying hours
BY CAPT. MONIQUE ROUX 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
M
aj. Nicholas “Jakal” Rallo, an instructor pilot with the 944th Fighter Wing, became the first Luke Air Force Base F-35 Lightning II pilot to attain 1,000 F-35 flying hours here. Rallo is an active guard reserve member with the 944th Operations Group Detachment 2 and is integrated with the 63rd Fighter Squadron through the Total Force Enterprise that keeps Luke’s mission going. “I am honored to be a part of Det 2 and to work with our partners in the 63rd Fighter
Rallo poses with his parents in front of an F-35 Lightning II after he became the first Luke Air Force Base F-35 pilot to attain 1,000 flying hours in the Air Force’s newest 5th generation fighter aircraft here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Louis Vega Jr.)
Squadron,” Rallo says. “I am lucky to have such a great team to work with and to have been one of the first pilots at Luke to transition to the F-35.” After 10 years as a fighter pilot flying the F-16C and a brief time flying the MC-12W, Rallo got the opportunity to transition to the F-35 in 2015. Rallo’s achievement also makes him only the second operational F-35 pilot in the Air Force Reserve and the fourth in the entire Air Force to reach 1,000 hours in this aircraft. “I am humbled to be in the first group of
F-35 pilots to achieve this milestone,” Rallo says. “I love being a member of the Air Force Reserve and to be able to call Arizona my home.” His 16 years of active duty and reserve experience has given him valuable knowledge that he leverages to train incoming fighter pilots. “I love the job I do training the Air Force’s best fighter pilots,” Rallo says. “Our Total Force Integration makes us unstoppable and I believe that achieving big goals is just a matter of time, persistence, focus and hard work.”
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