Photo By Master Sgt. Ryan Conroy | Staff Sgt. Genesis Gorre, a recruiter with the 339th Recruiting Squadron, located in...... read more read more
At 12 years old in a village outside Cebu, Philippines, he never imagined he would be here … sitting in his office next to a board of dozens of refrigerator magnets of the countries he’s visited.
Whether a far-fetched, wild imagination or dream too big, he couldn’t see himself in a job with a guaranteed salary, that job paying for his college degree and allowing him to travel to more than 20 countries by the age of 26 – on vacation with pay.
That dream became reality for Staff Sgt. Genesis Gorre, a recruiter with the 339th Recruiting Squadron, located in Port Huron, Michigan.
Gorre’s father worked in maintenance for an ice pop company for 10 years in the U.S. to acquire visas for his family to follow him to the land of opportunity -- Los Angeles, California-- in 2003 at 12 years old.
“Without my dad, I wouldn’t be here,” said Gorre. “It was a culture shock … everything was so new to me. My first year in school was definitely challenging trying to adapt to American culture.”
Here, Gorre refined his English and finished public school with plans to get a degree in cyber security. In 2013, he realized that going to college and working a part-time job to pay for school debt wasn’t the life he imagined for himself.
He had three plans for the future at that point: Go back to school for his bachelor’s degree, go to work full time to find a career or join the U.S. Air Force. His friend was in the Air Force at the time and he noticed his friend had a guaranteed job during a recession and the opportunities for career progression were plentiful.
It was an easy decision, according to Gorre, and he enlisted in 2013 as an avionics test station and components specialist. These Airmen are in charge of inspecting and maintaining everything from aircraft radar and weapons control to the testing equipment essential to the maintenance process.
The Air Force sent him to Spangdhalem Air Base in Germany for his first duty assignment to work on F-16 Fighting Falcons. This is where his love affair with traveling began.
“It was so cheap to fly and travel all over Europe,” said Gorre. “I never imagined as a kid growing up in the Philippines to get to experience all these different places.”
Here, he took advantage of another Air Force benefit, the Information Tickets and Travel office, which offers service members discounts on vacation and travel packages. Additionally, he utilized a program call SAPI, or Single Airmen Program Initiative, which provides Airmen who are not married with further discounted trips to connect with other single Airmen, while stationed away from home.
Through these Air Force programs, Gorre was able to visit London, United Kingdom, Majorca, Spain and Paris, France, just to name a few.
“I met my girlfriend in London, I was able to travel to Majorca twice and visited the Louvre in Paris to see the Mona Lisa,” said Gorre, while highlighting his favorite travel destinations.
Gorre credits the Air Force with this lifestyle, noting the 30 days of paid leave each year as a major benefit for any active-duty Airman.
Now, as a recruiter Gorre uses his life as a shining example for potential recruits.
“I realize that my role in the Air Force is critical now,” said Gorre. “This is my opportunity to help people who were in the same situations as me … those without direction or need a change in pace to their lives.
“I’m changing their lives,” continued Gorre.
At this time, Gorre has visited more than 20 countries and promises there is more to come as he continues his Air Force career.
“The Air Force has changed my life around and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” said Gorre. “Before I had nothing … now I’ve traveled, I’m four classes away from my bachelor’s degree and I have no debt to my name.”
Gorre’s elevator pitch for anyone on the fence to joining the Air Force is simple:
1. We set you up for success.
2. All your basic essentials: pay, housing allowance, food and education are taken care of by the Air Force.
3. Experience – for those who decide to stay in for four or 20 years, the life and career experience the Air Force gives you in next-to-none.
For those inspired by Gorre’s story, visit www.airforce.com to begin a journey in the U.S. Air Force.
| Date Taken: | 01.08.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 02.25.2021 17:58 |
| Story ID: | 389928 |
| Location: | NEW CUMBERLAND, PA, US |
| Hometown: | CEBU, PH |
| Hometown: | LOS ANGELES, CA, US |
| Hometown: | PORT HURON, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 221 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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