Airmen, Sailors graduate from leadership school

Thirty-four Airmen and two Sailors graduated from Tinker’s Airman Leadership School last week.

Graduates are:

110th Attack Wing

Senior Airman Tera Eckert

137th Logistics Readiness Squadron

Senior Airman Steven Stewart

138th Maintenance Operations Flight

Senior Airman Mark Starks

193rd Special Operations Support Squadron

Senior Airman Stephen Kamau

507th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Senior Airman Adrian Condit

Senior Airman Bridgette Young

507th Civil Engineer Squadron

Senior Airman Denzel Hull

Staff Sgt. Rory Witt, Distinguished Graduate

507th Maintenance Squadron

Senior Airman Phillip Crouch

513th Maintenance Squadron

Senior Airman Jasmine Fuller

Senior Airman Jake Stewart

545th Propulsion Maintenance Squadron

Senior Airman Andres Valdivia

552nd Air Control/Networks Squadron

Senior Airman Ryan Nieraeth

552nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Senior Airman Joshua Beekman, Distinguished Graduate and Academic Achievement Award winner

Senior Airman Wesley Coleman

Senior Airman Robert Wagner

552nd Maintenance Operations Flight

Senior Airman Jace Heaslet

552nd Maintenance Squadron

Senior Airman Roberto Alvarado

552nd Operations Support Squadron

Senior Airman Brianna Dean

Senior Airman Joshua Meeks

72nd Aerial Port Squadron

Senior Airman Daisy Smith

72nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron

Senior Airman Christopher Miracle

72nd Dental Squadron

Senior Airman Jacob Barth

72nd Force Support Squadron

Senior Airman Brittani Mitchell

72nd Medical Operations Squadron

Senior Airman Jacklyn Cordaro, Freedom Citation Award winner

72nd Medical Support Squadron

Senior Airman Sophia Snapp

72nd Security Forces Squadron

Senior Airman Collin Gendron

Senior Airman Matthew Mckenna

960th Airborne Air Control Squadron

Senior Airman Adam Giradot

Senior Airman Brandon Hansen, John L. Levitow Award winner

963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron

Senior Airman Tavy Davenport

965th Airborne Air Control Squadron

Senior Airman Evan Dasher

Senior Airman Teirsa Kopczinsky

966th Airborne Air Control Squadron

Senior Airman Ernest Leggs

Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron THREE

Petty Officer 3rd Class Nikki Garcia, Sharp Image Award winner

Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron FOUR

Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles Fletcher, Distinguished Graduate and Leadership Award winner

Freedom Citation

(Written by Senior Airman Jacklyn Cordaro, 72nd Medical Operations Squadron)

I am a Cordaro.

I have answered my nation’s call, raised my right hand just like the two generations of Cordaros before me. A name that has fought for this country over a span of 80 years.

My family emigrated from Sicily in the 1920s and embraced the American dream.

When World War II broke out, my Great Uncle Jerry enlisted in the Marines and fought in the Pacific. He lost his life on Iwo Jima.

My Grandfather Henson fought with U.S. forces in the Philippines. When the Philippine Islands were invaded by the Japanese, instead of surrendering, he picked up arms to defend his country and assist the American survivors mount a delaying actions through guerrilla warfare tactics. When the war ended, he was granted U.S. citizenship; however, before he was able to come to America, he was mugged and killed picking up his paycheck.

Later, the Korean conflict broke out. My Grandfather Joseph enlisted in the new Air Force as an aircraft mechanic serving in Japan, Guam and Korea. Alongside him, my Grandmother Jean served in the Navy as a WAVE in the administrative section at a base at Lake Michigan. Together they had 11 children and the call to serve was deeply embedded in each of them. My aunts and uncles served in the 1970s-80s as photo journalists, administrative, aircraft mechanics and dental technicians. Lastly, my father served in Desert Storm, going into Operation Southern Watch and finishing with his career with Operation Iraqi Freedom.

My family has taught me that freedom isn’t a privilege, it’s a duty. It’s honor, commitment and pride. The right to have freedom is something that has been fought over throughout history and paid for with the lives and sacrifices of those before me. Because of their bravery, I was blessed to be born with the freedom to choose whatever religion I want, say what I want, wear what I want, and come and go as I please. A right easily taken for granted because it’s something we live and breathe as Americans today. I wish to pay it forward, I bear the Cordaro name across my chest continuing the legacy alongside my cousins as the third generation to serve this country in hopes for America to remain the land of the free for generations to come.