MY EXPERIENCE IN THE US MILITARY.
with the US Air Force & the NY Air National Guard. Today, on the occasion of this special holiday in the USA, I want to share important times/events of my military experience- the things I learned in 4 years of active duty and over 35 years with the NY Air Guard at Stratton ANG Base.

 Astoria, NY. With my family. From R-L. Me, my dad, my step-mom (deceased), my brother and my sister.   Here I was on leave (vacation/break) after the Air Force Graphics Technical School at Lowry AFB (Air Force Base, now closed) in Colorado. Spring 1981.

 

My story. My beginning in the US military.

As a child growing up in Italy, I enjoyed reading comics. My favorite were Disney comics of Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. I also loved war comics, especially WWII aerial battles, dog fights, between American airplanes and the Luftwaffe- the German Air Force. I liked these battles so much that I copied them in my school notebooks and also on my desk at school- when the teacher wasn't there and/or paying attention. I liked drawing the  B-29 Stratofortress- to me an impossible aircraft to shut down because it was armed to the teeth. It had gun turrets everywhere! They were mounted on top of the fuselage, the belly, the back and the front of it. 

I never really thought that of one day I would join those American heroes and work for them in the US Air Force, although I would not fly on the B-29, or the more modern the B-52, at Griffiss AF Base, in Rome NY. And who would have taught that I'd spend over 35 years in the US Air Force?

I came to America with my family October of 1974. Then, six years later, also in October (1980), I signed on the dotted line for a 4 year commitment and joined the US Air Force. 

The following January, in 1981, at the age of 23, I left my home in New York City to begin a military career. What made me decide to go into the military? It wasn't the American comic book characters, it was a need to extricate- set myself free, so to speak, from the controlling grip of my parents. Don't get me wrong, my parents were good to me, except that they wouldn't support me financially if I I went to college to study art, which was my dream. I was also upset at them because they forbade me to write to my sweetheart in Sicily. They were afraid I'd get marry too young, So in order to follow my dreams, I joined the US Air Force, since I thought that it was the only way I could be independent and reach my goals.

And although I have to admit that I  was scared to leave home, my motivation and perseverance to reach for my goals, was stronger- it gave me the strength to do it, to leave home and be on my own. 

But I didn't know what to expect in the military, what I would experience, and I had no idea if I would make it. I knew that military life wasn't easy. I also was uncomfortable about my English skills, because when I came from Italy, at 17, I didn't understand a word that people spoke. They simply talked too fast! And while I translated their words in my head, they had already finished their conversation with me! I was lost! So, after 6 years in America, my English was still shaky- it wasn't perfect. I felt uncomfortable and insecure when I heard people who spoke southern dialects of English- I had a hard time understanding them. So the thought of an MTI, a military technical instructor, talking to me and giving orders in southern slang terrified me! It gave me nightmares!  I was afraid they would send me back, because of my poor English! But thank God, that didn't happen!

My Military Life Begins with the US Air Force

  

My military experience began at Lackland Air Force base, in Texas. I attended 6 weeks of basic military training. There I learned how to wear the uniform, use the M-16 rifle, march, and customs and courtesies (military discipline, how to address superiors, how to salute, etc.).

After the Air Force's basic training I spent several months at Lowry AFB, in Colorado, for technical training. I became a an audiovisual specialist, a graphic artist; I made posters, signs, slides, illustrations. etc. After this training I was hoping to be stationed in Italy, where I was born, or somewhere in Europe, but instead the AF sent me to Griffiss AFB, Rome NY. 

I worked there for the 485th Engineering Installation Group. I was a draftsman and on my time off I volunteered to do illustrations for the base newspaper. One of these was published on their front page for Halloween. I also painted two murals for that group and a large painting depicting (showing) the mission of the 485th engineers. I spent about 3 years at Griffiss, and  the last 8 months of active duty I was sent to Barksdale AFB, in Shreveport, Louisiana. I was a graphics artist there. I made signs, posters, slides, illustrations and drawings. I loved that job! But I missed home and Italian food! There was no Italian culture there! Then, in August 1984, I got out, I left the military 6 months earlier to attend college. Several years later, in 1996 I joined the NY Air Guard.  

 These two photos (above and below) were taken while I was in technical school, Lowry AFB, in Colorado. I volunteered to paint two murals, which I dedicated to the AF Aerial Exhibition Team, the US Thunderbird's. Spring 1981.

Why did I leave the comfort of home and join the military?

I did because I wanted to be more independent, support myself, have a job, and go to college. At home I felt I couldn't do that any longer. I was attending college and working on weekends. I had no time for relaxation and fun. I had no social life because I was too busy with school and work. In addition, my parents were very controlling, especially my step-mother. She often misunderstood me. This hurt and upset me at times. So, I was frustrated (upset) with my family situation, and I was tired and stressed from work and school. In fact, I had problems sleeping at night time. I renumber that I would go to bed and not be able to fall asleep for about 2-3 hours. So, I began running long distance, and my sleeping/stress problem went away. I became so addicted to running that after a year (in 1979, also October!), I ran in the NY City Marathon. So running was my escape. It relaxed me- my thinking was more calm, and I was finally able to sleep well. Later in life, running improved my reflective/prayer life- because I began praying more and more during my running. This helped me to have a spiritual time, a time with God. Anyway, back to the AF topic... at the end of 1980 I decided to go into the military.

 While on active duty in the desert of Saudi Arabia. Prince Sultan Air Base, 60 miles north of Ryad. I was there from June 7 to September 8, 2002. It was very hot there! During the day the outside temperature ranged from 100-120 degrees F! Thank God i worked indoor, in the dining hall, which had A/C. I supervised food service workers in one of the 6 dining halls on that base. There were over 6 thousand military. Americans, British and French. 

During Operation Southern Watch.
It was here, at the Kobar Towers Memorial, at Prince Sultan Air Base, that I stopped there every morning on my way to work. 
I went inside and prayed to the 19 Airmen that were killed in that terrorist attack.  

The Khobar Towers bombing was a terrorist attack on part of a housing complex in the city of Khobar, Saudi Arabia, located near the national oil company (Saudi Aramco) headquarters of Dhahran on June 25, 1996. At that time Khobar Towers was being used as quarters for foreign military personnel.
A truck-bomb was detonated adjacent to Building #131, an eight-story structure housing United States Air Force personnel from the 4404th Wing (Provisional), primarily from a deployed rescue squadron and deployed fighter squadron. In all, 19 U.S. servicemen were killed and 498^[1] of many nationalities were wounded.(Source: Wikipedia)

The civilian kitchen workers that worked with me (far right) at Desert Sands- one of the six dining halls where I was assigned, at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
Most civilians were from thirds world countries, like India, Bangladesh, etc. They worked for $1/hour, which according to them it was enough ($100/month) to support their families back in their countries. However, these civilians were not allowed to practice their religion/faith, and carry Bibles in public. Saudi Arabian laws prohibit it. If they did they would be arrested, beaten up, and sent back to their home countries. 

L-R, me, a civilian kitchen worker and my two military supervisors. 

 While stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base, in Saudi Arabia, I volunteered to teach English to the French Air Force, 
2 nights a week. These were some of my students.

MY ART WORK AT STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SCOTIA, NY

During the summer of 2005, my commander, Major Nicholas Dean, was in charge of the Services Squadron (now part of the Force Support Group)  at Stratton ANG Base. He knew that I was an artist, and he asked me if  I would be interested paint a mural in the base Fitness center. I agreed, and he asked me to make a sketch. I made one, he liked it and asked me to get Col. Tony German (now General German) permission to paint the mural. When Gen. German saw my sketch he said: "You have artistic license...as long as you don't offend anyone."  I was happy to hear that. And so I painted the mural. You can see in the image below. Several years later, Col. John Russo, Stratton's Vice Commander, asked me if I would paint the rest of the Fitness Center, and I did. Then in 2008 he hired me as a the Stratton's summer painter.  I began painting the outdoor walls of some of the biggest buildings at Stratton.I am a teacher in civilian life and working during the summer was a good deal for me. It was a good summer job. Col Russo hired me every summer, from 2008 until 2014.

 One of the graphics I painted in the Stratton Fitness Center.

The two murals you see below are the ones that Maj. Nick Dean commissioned me to paint in the Dining Hall

WHAT DID I LEARN IN THE AF?
The first thing I learned was the concept (idea) of teamwork. The MTIs (Military technical Instructors, in Basic Training), pounded it in our heads that we must cooperate, get along, respect each other and work together as a team if we wanted to succeed in the AF. 

Later in my career I also learned that a good leader is one who cares for his people and leads by example, not just his/her inspiring words. Because words are not enough without action. In fact, we in Italy we say: Tutto fumo e niente arrosto! Translated literally means: "All smoke and no beef!"  In English this idiom's meaning, or saying would translate into: "Actions speak louder than words". Therefore, a good leader is not  someone who is harsh, tough and/or mean, but rather someone who is the opposite. 

Unfortunately for me I learned this lesson late in my AF career, possibly 5-10 years ago. As a young airman and NCO (non-commissioned officer), being tough/rough was my concept, my idea of leader. I used to think that a good/effective leader had to be tough and mean. I was completely wrong. I was naïve (silly, unaware), to say the least! I didn't know any better! 

Today after 35 years in the military, as a husband and a father of two children (a boy 18, and a girl 26), and after as a teacher (who has taught already for 15 years)- I learned my lesson! Better late than never! 

Good leaders lead by example, not just in the military- but also in all other circumstances in life, and especially in their families.  In addition, good leader, don't just care for their own people,  the people they lead- they also care their mission (job) and the well-being of their country. 

A good leader is also someone who allows his/her people to share their talent/knowledge/skills for the success of the mission/team. A good leader recognizes his/her strengths, but also his/her weaknesses and allows, lets the team cooperate, work together, so they can succeed and win together! And finally, a good leader admits his/her mistakes, makes amends (fixes the problems, apologizes when need be, etc.) and moves on, learns from his/her mistakes and tries not to repeat them, make the same mistakes again. 

My Gratitude (thanks).
Joining the military was not something I was looking to do, I did it because, at the time (1980) it was the best option (choice, alternative) that I had if I wanted to reach my dreams. It was not easy, and I was scared too, but it was one of the best things I have ever did, because it allowed me to grow, to mature, and learn many lessons that would serve me well in life and made me independent. 

I have been lucky/blessed that the AF has provided me with many good/outstanding leaders and experiences. Thanks to the AF I visited many places, many countries that I may have never had the opportunity to see. I was in Texas, Colorado, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Wisconsin, and in countries like Italy, Germany, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. At night time I flew over the Pyramids in Egypt. 

I was also blessed to have had many wonderful supervisors, bosses and great leaders. I will mention several here. The most recent one is my chaplain supervisor/boss Ch. (Chaplain) Maj. Jake Marvel, for being kind/caring, smart and effective in making our chaplain team at Stratton more efficient/effective and ready! Ch. Capt. Choquette for his kindness and new ideas!  Chief Master Sargent Mark Shaible and Senior Master Sargent Greg Mihalko for helping me in using the MICT inspection tool, for answering my questions and leading me in the right direction.

Then my colleague Chaplain assistant and my mentor Technical Sargent Jerry Henderson (who reached his dream- he is now an officer chaplain in the active duty Air Force!)- the one who taught me many things when I first joined the chaplain's team in 2007. Thanks Jerry! I appreciate your skills, patience and wisdom! You've been a friend! 

And Staff Sergeant Chad Alaimo and Senior Airman Mancuso for their computer skills- without them I would be stuck with in the stone age with a paper and pencil only!

I will never forget Ch. Lt. Col. Luce for visiting me when I was away on active military duty in Saudi Arabia during the summer of 2002. His smile and presence was reassuring and comforting to me.

Maj. Nick Dean for letting me use my artistic talents in the Base Dining hall by letting me paint the two murals there, and the Fitness Center. He is also the one who had confidence (trust) in me and promoted me to the rank of MSgt! 

General Tony German who gave me artistic license to paint the Fitness Center at Stratton. And Col. John Russo who hired me as the summer painter at Stratton and let me paint most of  the building from the summer of 2008 until 2014. Chief Cristiano for saying hello, his constant smiles and positive attitude.

WHAT DID I GAIN FROM THE AF AND THE AIR GUARD?
The most important rewards that AF has given me, were not the medals (I have quite a few), and/or the pay, but rather the sense of appreciation- the feeling of being accepted and respected. 

That's the reason why I stayed in the military for over 30 years! The AF and the NY Air Guard valued me, and allowed me to use and to share my talents/skills. This was very satisfying and rewarding for me- it is something I will never forget.  So, Thank you AF and Air Guard for this wonderful experience! God Bless you all and may God Bless America too!

However, I must say that without the support from my family, especially my wife and my two children, I would never have been able to spend 30 years in the military. Also thank my dear friends, Maria and Giuseppe  and their son Carlo Viglione and his family for always being there for us, me and my family. God Bless you all! And God bless the 109th Air Wing and the NY Air Guard!

 

MY WORK in the NY Air Guard, at STRATTON ANGB with the CHAPLAIN's Team, The SERVICEs Squadron, and the AUDIOVISUAL Shop (graphics/photo shop).

I began serving at the Stratton Air national Guard Base in 1988, after a short stint (tour, time) with the Air Force Civil Engineering Reserves (Jan 1986 -Dec. 1988) at Griffiss AF Base in Rome NY (now closed). 

I joined the Audiovisual (graphics/Photoshop) team at Stratton in Dec 1988 until November 1993. I left the military for 3 years because of the Persian Gulf War.  I was afraid that the AF might deploy me there, send me away to support this war. So I separated (left the military) because I didn't want to take the chance of leaving my wife and our 4 year old daughter, alone here in the US, where we had no family members who support them. At the time, my wife didn't speak English, because she came from Italy soon after our wedding in 1988.  I was allowed to leave the military because Guard members, those who have received an honorable discharge from active duty, could leave the military for good personal reasons.

I came back to Stratton ANG Base January 1996 as a services specialist. I joined the Services Flight/team, now part of the Force Support Group at Stratton. I worked there as a food service person. In this unit (team, squadron) I fed the troops' bellies! I prepared and cooked delicious foods! As a staff sergeant and technical Sargent I cooked, and later as I got more rank (responsibility), as a Tech (technical) sergeant and master sergeant, I supervised other cooks/kitchen workers. 

Working as a senior NCO for the services Flight was hard because I had to stop cooking, something which I like to do, and instead concentrate on supervising and do administrative work, taking care of paperwork. Two things I despise, I don't like at all! 

Furthermore it was a very challenging job because quite often many of our people got deployed (they had to leave to serve at other bases), and we were left short manned (didn't have enough people to do this job). So our workload was tripled! We had to work three times as hard/fast. 

That is why in 2007 I was ready to quit! I was burned out and ready retire from the AG. I was so upset at times that I wanted to leave for good! This feeling was very strong when I had to deal with two supervisors in that flight that were often mean and rude. I will not mention names because payback (revenge) isn't my point (objective) here. But I mention it here because I want others (the future leaders) to learn from my negative experience, so they avoid the same mistakes that bad leaders make, and those are: being tough and rude, since these negative attitudes don't help anyone. In fact, being mean and rude does only one thing; destroys trust and the team concept. It breeds (causes) many other problems; makes others upset, angry and/or depressed. It makes everyone in the team feel like losers-hence obliterating (destroying) the mission (our work)! 

In other words, bad leaders will cause the unit, the team to fail. 

So, I was tired and burned out in 2007. The chaplain team needed an NCO (non-commissioned officer) and I took the job that August. Hence, with this unit (team) I stayed another 9 years! I served my last UTA (Unit Training Assembly, or military duty weekend) with the Air Guard in March of 2016.

Why did I stay with chaplains almost another 9 years? Because with this team has made me I feel one of them. I was welcomed right away! Now I can say that I been part of the team who feed spiritual/emotional food to our troops. I feed the eyes with my graphics/art work, then I fed the bellies/stomachs, and lastly I fed the spirit!

This was indeed an honor and a privilege for me to share all of these gifts/talents in the Air Force and the NY Air Guard! So, today I am grateful to them because it gave me the opportunity to use my gifts, my talent.  Thank you!

Whilegetting one of the two annual Ecumenical Services ready, at Stratton ANG Base Dining Hall. 2015.

In the photo above, me with an Air Force brother who wants to stay incognito- anonymous- for security reasons. I'm not worried/afraid! My protection is above and below me!

IMPRESSIONS CAN DECEIVE, and BULLYING CAN COME IN MANY FORMS! I want to share two events in my life with young people, our future leaders.

As a child, I grew up in Sicily, and when I came to America I was a teen, and I remember that many people asked me if I was in the mafia!  Sometimes hearing this question annoyed me, for the simple fact, that most Sicilians are not Mafiosi, not mafia members. However, many people make this generalization, as if every Sicilian is connected to organized crime! So, oftentimes, in reply to that question, I'd say to them: "Yes, and you'd better watch what you say or we'll cut your face!
I could never be a mafia guy because my parents thought me never to resort (use) violence, unless in self-defense (only to defend myself). 

However, I must confess that once as a child I aided a capo mafia (the mafia boss) in my town. If I remember well, it was a Sunday afternoon. I could have been no more than 10 years old, and while I was playing with my friends across the street from the town's café, a middle aged man, the local capo mafia, called me over. I heard him say: Beddu, veni ca'!
Hey handsome, come here!
I got scared, and I think I was shaking! I thought he wanted to kill me! I quickly looked around me, I looked at my friends, then I pointed at my chest, and looking at the man from across the street, as if to say: Are you talking to me? He responded and said: Si! Veni ca! Yes! Come here! I had no choice but to obey! So, as I approached him, like a little sheep, I felt  that I was going to the slaughter (killing). I think, he said this:
Fammi un favuri beddu, vai no' tizio e ci rici ca ci vogghiu parrari. U canusci? U sai unni sta'?
Do me a favor handsome, go to this mans' house (after he told me his name) and tell him that I need to speak to him. Do you know him? Do you know where he lives? Of course I knew him, he was my neighbor! Upon hearing that non-threatening request I was relived! I almost peed my pants! So, I told him:
Si u canusciou! Yes! I know him! And I left running like a rabbit chased by a hunting dog to the man's house.

Let me tell you another story that took place in my life during my active duty with the US Air Force, during my second assignment at Barksdale AF Base, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
I was there from 1983-84. I was a young senior airman of 24-25 years old. Well, there was a born-again Christian TSgt who would come and visit me while I was working at my drawing board in the AF audiovisual graphics office  He wanted me to become a born-again Christian like him, abandon (leave) my Catholic faith and switch to his. According to this NCO I was doomed as a Catholic, and the only way I could save myself was to switch faith- to his, because his faith, in his opinion, was better. In fact, he often put down my faith and the catholic Church. He offended and humiliated me. However, I was scared because he had more rank than me. I had 3 stripes, I was a SrA (senior airman, a young member of the AF), and he was a TSGT (a technical sergeant, almost a senior member of the NCO core). So I didn't know what to do. 

WHY DID I TELL YOU THESE TRUE STORIES? I told you the first one, because too often we pre-judge others based on their looks, national origin, race and/or social status. I thought that that capo mafia was evil, that he would kill me and/or beat me up. But he didn't. In fact, when he died the newspapers in Palermo (the capital city of Sicily, with over 1 million people) reported that he was the only capo who died in his own bed by old age! And he always tried to settle issues/problems without violence. At his funeral there were more than 10 thousand people! The town had only 3 thousand residents!
We also think that the poor/needy, refugees and immigrants, are worthless and insignificant. And we sometimes, consider (think) that the rich and the affluent are superior, are better and/or more significant or important. The vast majority of the people in the US Air Force and the NY Air National Guard treated me with fairness. The only time I was treated badly it was by two bad supervisors, two NCOs and an officer. I guess bad apples are everywhere. When we see/experience them, let's not be afraid to report them to our superiors, and if no one listens, go to the Chaplains, and if need be, fill out a complain with higher headquarters. You are not alone in the US Air Force and the Guard. I know it is so from experience.