Alanis, Louis, TSgt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE.
When I was growing up, my neighbor Ruben Garza always talked about joining the USAF. He was a year ahead of me in High School and when he graduated, he left to serve. Ruben never did encourage me to join by hard selling, but he did a good job of planting the seed.
One day, I went to visit another neighbor, Wally Gonzales, and I mentioned that Ruben had enlisted and he had already shipped. Wally tells me that he has a brother who is MSgt Gonzales also in the Air Force. Wally tells me that his brother loves being in the USAF and that his retirement is coming up, soon to get out, and he explains the benefits with his limited knowledge. When he mentioned that his brother had traveled all over the world, I just knew that the decision had been made for me right then and there. That was the selling point for me.
The following year, mid term of my high school senior year, I enlisted under the Delayed Enlistment Program, and to this day, I do not regret my decision.
Thank you Rueben Garza and MSgt Gonzales...

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I have always loved aircraft and knew that the only way that I would experience them was to join the military. So I enlisted, went to the MEPS and ended up in the job selection booking section. I was so excited to finally get my wish and fulfill my dream, UNTIL:::::: the recruiting sergeant tells me that I was color blind. So what does that mean, Sir? Well son, it means that you can't be allowed close to any aircraft cause of all the colors on the electrical systems and weapons. Since you can not distinguish between colors, we have to offer you another option. I thought that the world had ended. But he said, there are a lot of other very good options available to you. The thought of being a cook struck me and I freaked out. Eventually he convinced me to still enlist and I did. I took an open General and ended up being a Cost Accounting/Real Estate Accounting Technician. During my last 8 years, I volunteered to be a recruiter and my duty was to recruit enlisted personnel initially. I truly enjoyed the entire recruiting process and program and gave it my 150% effort and was very successful. It was no long after that the group selected me to seek Officer candidates for Engineering, Pilots, Navigators and Nursing Programs.
I was truly fortunate when I was notified that I had enlisted a fellow name Richard Crawford who was the 3,000,000th person to join the USAF. I was told that General Benny Davis wanted me at a special parade to commemorate that occasion. I was given a plaque which I still retain as a special memento of that day.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
Ironically, I wanted to ship to Vietnam, but was not sent there. The closest that I came to the combat zone was at Korat RTAFB, Thailand. I look back and still feel that I did not truly do the most for my country by not having served in a combat zone.
Perhaps it is for the best or so my friends tell me. I was somewhat reckless in my younger years and would probably have been killed, Who knows, but my conscious still bothers me at times.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
I have a personal saying that goes like this~~~~There is no worse duty station than the one that you are at, and no better than the one you are going to, Until you get there and the cycle repeats itself.
In terms of my favorite, I want to say BMT at Lackland AFB rates up there as my most favorite. It was during this training phase that I saw myself as a career airman, I liked the discipline and uniformity. I learned to live and deal with all races, all colors and attitudes. I made my first friends who shared something in common with me, and that was to get past the fear and unknown that BMT is. I learned that not all men can function under pressure and that the bigger guys are not necessarily the strongest, not the smallest the weakest. Most importantly, I loved BMT because it made me grow up and forced me to stand on my own two feet because in BMT, you either make it, they break you and then succeed on their terms, but mostly on your own convictions, guts, and fortitude.
I do not have a least favorite. I enjoyed them all because all my duty assignments offered me something special that I could not have experienced had I not been sent there.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
The travel stands out the most for me because next to my love of fighter planes, traveling was my main attraction to the USAF. In terms of achievement, my most memorable was when the 417th TFW left Ramstein AB, Germany. I was tasked with doing a complete real estate accounting review for the wing. It took almost 6 months, and finally presented to my Squadron Commander, who forwarded up the chain of command. Eventually, it ended up in D.C. HQ USAF, and was used as a basis for another wing to be relocated to Ramstein. I thought that was very cool.
I have been awarded, Commendation Medal (2) and am proud of them, but I feel it was just my job. I always gave the most effort and do not feel that the medals needed to be given to me because of my attitude and my commitment to my job.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Standard medals, and a couple of commendation medals. Not sure how I earned them because I was just doing what was expected of me.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
The person who had the most positive impact on me was my 3350th Recruiting Squadron Commander, Lt Col Crawford. We were having a very casual conversation one day and I told him that I felt time was passing me by. I explained that many of my High School class members had opted to continue their education and were more successful than I was. I was having one of those "what if" moments as I like to call them. Col Crawford starts counseling me and the opened himself up with his doubts as well. He tells me that he also evaluates himself and compared himself where he is now and where his college friends are now. He told me that his friends are Engineers, Doctors, Professors with their Doctorates and that he feels the same way as I do. I was surprised to hear him say that he also had self doubts and he showed me that we all wish we were something better. The explained that it is a commonality among all men and women that at one point or another, we will assess ourselves. I was totally unprepared for what he was saying because he was a rated fighter pilot. I thought he had reached the pinnacle of his success, and was surprised to hear him say that he had been passed over for full colonel, and was worried he would retire and not be promoted. It weighed heavily on him, I could tell. At that moment, I admired this man and knew that we are all the same, our dreams, and expectations and hopes are not dictated by our rank or privileges, but who we are, what drives us and what we view as important. I miss Col Crawford, and I hope that he made full bird, for his sake, because on that when he spoke to me as just two men, no rank or uniform, he became a 4 star General in my eyes.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
I always maintained a good attitude while on active duty. Perhaps the funniest thing I can remember was the day that we were all ordered to get Flu Shots at the Base theater or club. Not sure where anymore what building it was, but we were all lined up to get the shots. Suddenly, some huge Airman passed out and fell forward, and the next thing you see is the domino effect of airmen falling forward, until the line was controlled again. I reminded me of a cartoon, and to this day, I feel this huge mass falling on top of me and me toppling the guy in front over.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
After my retirement, I was unsure of what to do and what job to apply for. The Air Force allowed me to lead a sheltered life and I was totally out of touch with the civilian economy and work force. My first job was as a retail clerk for Radio Shack, and after a year was promoted to Store Manager. I did not really like the hours or headaches associated with that position, resigned and applied to be a college recruiter, and was accepted. After 18 months there, a friend offered me a position with Keebler Cookie Company, and after 14 months was hired by another food manufacturer, Bunge Foods. I enjoyed that job the most and after 7 months with them, they transferred me to Arizona, where I was assigned Utah and Arizona, and Mexico as my sales territory. The company realigned two years later and I was laid off. Unsure of what I wanted to do, I decided to take a few months off and determine what direction to pursue. Since my background was Sales, I looked for jobs in that market segment. I worked for AT&T, Kaiser-Kalt, and ultimately ended up with a company called Insight. The job entailed cold calling on customers and offering them computer products and related services. I worked for them six years, became very ill, and had to quit. After two years of illnesses, I returned to the workforce and was hired by ADT Security Systems. I retired from there after 24 months in that position.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I have belonged to the Air Force Sergeants Association, and resigned my membership.
I am a member of the American Legion,
I am a lifetime member of Disabled American Vets. I credit this agency for giving me help when I was applying for military disability.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
Military life is hard, although it may seem like just a job, it isn't. The pressures and responsibility that go along with even the most minor job are what drives us to always be ready and accepting of our role in the overall scheme of things, called the US Air Force. I developed a mindset while in the Air Force that prepared me for the rest of my life, essentially, assume responsibility, accept the fact that there will always be someone higher on the totem pole, perform the your best ability, and that my integrity and credibility are the two most important personal driving factors in my life.
Be adaptable, honest and patient and teach those that learn from you; taking into consideration that you are the role model or you have not business teaching anyone.

Accept that once you are out of the service, a whole new world awaits and the differences can be challenging. Lastly, there are no friends like those that you make in the military and who shared the same experiences. Cherish those moments and memories.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE AIR FORCE?

Incidentally, I met a young fellow who was on Delayed Enlistment and he asked me this question. These are the identical words I said to him.

It is all about attitude, do not base yourself on others, enjoy the enlistment, nothing is perfect and live you life to the fullest, within the confines of your new environment. Have fun, but be serious because the role you have taken upon yourself is more than you ever had before, the role of being part of a select group of people tasked to help preserve and save our nation.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
I am glad to have joined this association because it helps me keep in touch with others who share/shared the same experiences. It helps me relive my days when I was in uniform and places that I have been to, my duty and friends, past and present, Helps me remember those who are still able to communicate with me and those who have left this world and left an indelible impression on me.
I still stay in touch with those who are members and wish that it was easier to find others that I can't locate.