WEBVTT 00:05.201 --> 00:06.606 - I think it does take a certain type 00:06.606 --> 00:09.856 of individual to serve in the military. 00:10.094 --> 00:12.837 Yeah, you have to be able to take orders. 00:12.837 --> 00:15.504 You have to be able to acclimate 00:16.328 --> 00:18.495 to situations. 00:19.111 --> 00:21.766 Very quickly at times because a lot of times, 00:21.766 --> 00:25.266 safety is involved, people's lives matter. 00:27.520 --> 00:30.827 I think there is a similar call to service 00:30.827 --> 00:33.327 in my career as a CBP Officer. 00:34.332 --> 00:37.665 I put on a uniform, I give my 100%. 00:37.845 --> 00:40.595 And I do take pride in what I do. 00:41.243 --> 00:45.160 And I give my best everyday I come in. 00:46.459 --> 00:50.626 I joined CBP because I wanted to 00:51.144 --> 00:55.311 continue serving in some way for my country. 00:57.534 --> 01:00.001 Thinking about 9/11 and what happened, 01:00.001 --> 01:03.814 I had a ship mate who was killed at the Pentagon. 01:03.814 --> 01:06.294 And also a ship mate whose father 01:06.294 --> 01:08.794 was killed in the Twin Towers. 01:09.254 --> 01:12.126 And whenever I put on this uniform, 01:12.126 --> 01:15.506 I feel like I'm serving 01:15.506 --> 01:17.394 to protect our nation's border 01:17.394 --> 01:21.061 and hope that that would never happen again. 01:28.030 --> 01:30.447 - For me personally to serve, 01:30.481 --> 01:31.920 it started out when I was 18-years-old 01:31.920 --> 01:33.510 when I joined the US Air Force. 01:33.510 --> 01:35.677 And it continues on today. 01:36.846 --> 01:37.800 The reason I've stuck with CBP 01:37.800 --> 01:41.050 is I understand moving every two years. 01:41.161 --> 01:44.175 I was in 20 years and I probably moved at least eight times. 01:44.175 --> 01:45.703 Everybody who's ever served, 01:45.703 --> 01:47.215 even if you served four years or 20, 01:47.215 --> 01:48.910 you know you move quite a bit. 01:48.910 --> 01:50.630 This job has stability. 01:50.630 --> 01:52.583 And you can transition your military time 01:52.583 --> 01:54.135 into this time so you don't lose 01:54.135 --> 01:56.390 that four or eight years you might have served 01:56.390 --> 01:57.574 or maybe that 20. 01:57.574 --> 02:00.774 You get to benefit from a military government, 02:00.774 --> 02:02.629 a military experience moving into a government job 02:02.629 --> 02:04.879 where you can combine both. 02:06.232 --> 02:08.794 The first thing I've always found is camaraderie. 02:08.794 --> 02:11.086 Something that you may not always see in civilian life, 02:11.086 --> 02:13.070 but you definitely see it in military life. 02:13.070 --> 02:16.234 And that closeness, that dedication to service, 02:16.234 --> 02:18.170 dedication for the man and woman next to you 02:18.170 --> 02:19.816 means a lot when it comes to something 02:19.816 --> 02:23.983 when you're serving in a law enforcement function. 02:24.028 --> 02:25.192 Well, the uniform's a lot different 02:25.192 --> 02:27.774 than it was when I served in the US Air Force. 02:27.774 --> 02:29.908 I was an air plane mechanic for 20 years. 02:29.908 --> 02:30.981 I ever wore a weapon. 02:30.981 --> 02:33.409 I never carried a gun unless it was to qualify. 02:33.409 --> 02:35.696 But the transition from one to the other 02:35.696 --> 02:38.696 wasn't so difficult as it may sound. 02:39.465 --> 02:41.528 And the training was excellent. 02:41.528 --> 02:44.521 And the idea that I could serve my country similar 02:44.521 --> 02:48.688 as I did in the Air Force was a great thing for me.