PHOENIX — The City of Tempe, Ariz., honored 58 new members of the United States military, during a ceremony at the Tempe Arts Center May 11, 2015. Of that number, 10 of the honorees are brand new members of the Arizona Army National Guard and seven are new members of the Arizona Air National Guard.
Each of the honorees received a challenge coin and words of gratitude for their service from Mark Mitchell, mayor of the City of Tempe, marking this important event in their lives.
Pvt. Ali Alazzawi, an Arizona Army National Guard enlistee, is an Iraqi immigrant whose family came to the United States in 2009 through the interpreter program. He is excited to be part of the United States military and a member of the Arizona Army National Guard.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” Alazzawi said. “My father is a veteran and on my mother’s side my uncles are military men. Unfortunately I couldn’t do this in Iraq because my father said we had to leave. This is not like a regular job, it’s service and duty!”
Airman Johnathan Maggard, an Arizona Air National Guard enlistee, expressed the pride he and his fellow honorees felt about this ceremony and their decisions to join the military.
“We are all very excited to be here and to face the challenges that lie ahead,” said Maggard.
Retired Brig. Gen. Richard G. Maxon, former Assistant Adjutant General for the Arizona Army National Guard, addressed the honorees emphasizing the importance of their decision to raise their hands and defend our Freedom.
“You are joining the greatest team in the world, the U.S. military,” said Maxon. “Less than one percent of our Nation’s citizens are serving in our military. That is a very small number, 99 percent are dependent upon the one percent. It’s a very, very, high burden to place on a very small number of people.”
Following the brief ceremony leadership from the Arizona Army and Air National Guard took a few moments to address their new troops, providing encouragement and mentorship as these Soldiers and Airmen embark on this new adventure in life.
For more information about the Arizona Army National Guard call 602-267-2800 or www.aznationalguard.com. For more information about the Arizona Air National Guard call 602-267-2311 or visit www.az.ang.af.mil/careers.
Date Taken: | 05.11.2015 |
Date Posted: | 05.12.2015 19:34 |
Story ID: | 163079 |
Location: | PHOENIX, AZ, US |
Hometown: | TEMPE, AZ, US |
Web Views: | 102 |
Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Tempe salutes future service members, by SFC Monette Wike, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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