Raising up one of your own – New pilot takes first flight at home unit

Photo By Maj. Matt Murphy | 2nd Lt. Isaias Rivera, center, stands proudly with the aircrew of his first home base flight at Muniz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Matt Murphy)  

PUERTO RICO

11.22.2017

Story by Capt. Matt Murphy 

156th Wing

The 156th Airlift Wing is proud to have a new addition to its pilot corp. with 2nd Lt. Isaias Rivera as he takes his first home base flight at Muniz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico.

“We’re getting a steady stream of pilots. Our recruiting efforts are paying off,” said Col. Carlos Borges, operations group commander for the 156th. “Young blood – it’s the way it should be to keep the unit alive and moving forward.”

Borges said Rivera is a special case. “He’s prior maintenance. It shows how important it is to give our own guys a chance. We’re really proud of him. We raised him up,” said Borges.

It is no easy task to jump from the enlisted corp. to the officer corp. Rivera never had the right opportunity before and when a master sergeant said they needed pilots, he wasn’t going to let this opening pass him by.

“I’m living a dream. My family is military, my dad served, my sister is a captain in the Army. Belonging to the military is in my blood,” said Rivera. “I’m the first in the Air Force and the first to fly.”

Rivera’s first flight training pilot is the 198th Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. Evaristo Orengo.

“The first flight is very interesting for pilots. They develop that notion of being a flyer with the unity and dealing with the crew; especially a new crew,” said Orengo. “It’s great, it’s great. We are glad to have him here.

Standing calm and confident, Rivera shows no sign of being nervous about his flight. “It’s my first time flying with people I know. It is a unique experience. I’ve been in the unit nine years,” said Rivera. “Now I can make the guys in the back get sick.”

After the crew brief on board, Rivera took his seat in the cockpit and away went the WC-130H with the 156th’s newest pilot on his first home flight looking forward to many more.

• Date Taken: 11.22.2017
• Date Posted: 11.22.2017 14:52
• Story ID: 256349
• Location: PR