Front
the From Letters Latina my biggest supporter, without hesitation took
my daughter to Puerto Rico in order to care for her
in our absence. In the Latin community, family is
everything and having a strong support system back
home allowed us to serve our Country without
limitations or distractions. Being separated from my
family was no easy task, but this assignment came
as a blessing in disguise.
While stationed in Korea I focused on my
Aeducation, got involved with the community,
s a young 18-year-old recent High School
While we began to settle into our lives as young
volunteered and became the “go to” Airman within
graduate, I had many aspirations and was
parents with growing responsibilities, our foundation
my unit. I worked on improving programs and
eager to begin the next chapter in my life.
was shaken by unraveling trying times. As a young
standardizing processes resulting in my leadership
The summer of 2006 I moved in with my High
Airman I made mistakes that almost cost me my
recognizing me with quarterly awards and later
School sweetheart of two years (now husband of 12),
career in the Air Force before it began. I was
named the Major Command, PACAF Airman of the
I worked three jobs and was a full-time college
demoted and being considered for an administrative
Year! This assignment sparked a new-found love and
student majoring in accounting. While I was
discharge…my financial stability and independence
commitment to the Air Force that propelled me to
somehow managing to maintain my sanity,
hung in the balance of my leadership. As fate would
new heights. Since then, I have been blessed with
adulthood proved to be quite challenging. We worked
have it, my unit received a new Commander with
amazing leaders and mentors who have continued to
long hours to pay our bills and could barely afford
a fresh perspective who saw something in me even
mold me into the person I am today.
my tuition while having no social life. After almost a
I failed to see…potential. With the change in
In 2012 I completed Airman Leadership School
year of this vicious cycle, I knew something had to
leadership came a second opportunity to make
earning Distinguished Graduate honors and in 2017
change. Raised as an Army brat and having
things right, to prove not only to myself, but to
I graduated Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
witnessed first-hand the many benefits the military
everyone around me that I deserved to be here. I
with the highest honor, the John L. Levitow Award. In
provides, it seemed like the most logical option to
overcame those obstacles by focusing my efforts on
2018 I earned my bachelor’s degree with honors in
explore.
growing and becoming the best version of me. I
Psychology and am currently working on my
On April 10, 2007, I enlisted in the Air Force as
expanded my knowledge base becoming the subject
master’s in Organizational Development and
a Personnelist and was assigned to Andrews AFB in
matter expert in my section while always keeping a
Leadership. I can honestly say I have been afforded
Maryland as my first duty station. Within days of
positive attitude. Slowly but surely, I was on my way
unbelievable opportunities and am grateful to serve
arriving I spontaneously married my High School
to making a full recovery, however, the Air Force had
our great Nation as a proud Latina! LS
sweetheart who had accompanied me in my travels
bigger plans for me.
to help get me settled. A year later, my husband
In February of 2010 my husband was tasked to
joined the Army Reserves and we were overjoyed as
deploy for one year and in October of that same year
Want to comment or have any questions on
we welcomed a healthy baby girl into our family.
I received orders to Korea. My mother, who has been
this article? Email us at info@latinastyle.com
52 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol. 25, No. 4, 2019 By Sasha Alejandro
NCOIC, Retentions, DEROS Mgt & Promotions
Stationed at Aviano AB, Italy
U.S. Air Force
TSgt Alejandro and her daughter,
Yasmine, pose for the Randolph Youth
Center Newsletter during the Military
Child Appreciation Month festivities.
Randolph AFB, Texas. April 2018.
Picture depicts the J1 (Personnel/Admin) Team,TSgt Alejandro (center), led by a
Colombian Colonel for PANAMAX16 where the primary responsibility was to
maintain 100 percent accountability at all times. (Ft. Sam Houston, TX, July 2016).
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