 |
| News > Feature - Hispanic Heritage Feature - Staff Sgt. Loyda Martinez |
|
|
| |
| Photos | |
 |
Staff Sgt. Loyda Martinez, 65th Logistics Readiness Squadron NCOIC of personal property, poses for a photo at the Travel Managment Office.
|
Download HiRes
|
|
|
|
Hispanic Heritage Feature - Staff Sgt. Loyda Martinez
Posted 10/16/2012 Updated 10/16/2012
Email story
Print story
by Staff Sgt. Erica Horner
65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
10/16/2012 - LAJES FIELD, Azores -- Each year, the United States Air Force observes Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. As a service, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage and culture, and honor the contributions Hispanics make to our nation.
This year's Air Force theme is "Diversity United, Building America's Future Today."
By volunteering for a community service project as a teenager, one Lajes Airman paved the way for her future in the military.
Staff Sgt. Loyda Martinez, 65th Logistics Readiness Squadron NCOIC of personal property, was seven years old when her family left Honduras to seek better opportunities in the United States.
"My mom never went to college and I don't think she finished high school," said Martinez, who was the first person in her family to join the military. "She came here to give us those chances that she never had."
Martinez seized a chance to improve her life when she became part of the Explorer Program, which is organized by the Los Angeles Police Department.
At the age of 14, Martinez made the choice to volunteer within the program to better her community.
"It was a program for teenagers that were trying to make our community a better community to live in," said Martinez. "It was an incentive to stay out of gangs."
Since its establishment in 1962, Explorers have assisted law enforcement with search and rescue efforts, crowd and traffic control and daily report writing. To participate in the program, teens must maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average through the 12th grade, pass an oral interview and demonstrate a willingness to serve others.
"I had to learn how to salute, how to march and also learn customs and courtesies," said Martinez, who went on police 'ride alongs' and DUI stops while in the program. "There were 18 other police stations with the same program and we would compete against them."
Martinez stayed in the Explorer Program until she was 17 years old, and says that the program contributed to her joining the military.
"I definitely wouldn't be the person I am today without this program," said Martinez. "I felt that my parents came to this country to give me a better life and I felt that I could better myself in the military."
Martinez has three sisters and they all followed in her footsteps by volunteering in the Explorer Program.
"I'm really proud of who I am and where I come from and that I'm able to represent two different countries," said Martinez. "And I'm especially proud to be a Hispanic female in the military."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
