Isabel Cristina Hernandez

“ Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.” That is the Air Force core

values that have guided and shaped me for as long as I can remember. I have been in the Air

Force Junior Reserved Officer Training Corps for the past 4 years, and since then I have had

many experiences that have impacted me, but this one particular experience will forever stay

with me and that’s because of my old instructor Senior Master Sergeant Harold Colbert. This was

the last drill competition I had with SMSgt Colbert before he retired and I was fighting a battle

with food poisoning and all that was on my mind. That day was just winning Color Guard for

SMSgt Colbert just this one thing so that he can be proud of me. I pushed through the day for my

team. I was given multiple opportunities to sit out and take a break but I refused. I wasn't going

to let my team down. I pushed through and gave an amazing performance. My team and I were

so certain we’d won. We ended up not placing. The disappointment I felt was tremendous and

my team and I felt defeated. But SMSgt Colbert made me realize that winning isn’t everything. I

remember SMSgt Colbert telling me “You did something that no one would have been able to do

in your condition you put that aside and was therefor your team and that’s it's all about you going

up on that stage and made no mistakes and I couldn’t be prouder in my eyes you guys won.” “

integrity first” I did the right thing and I was there for my team. “Service before self” I put aside

my sickness to be there for my team and not let them down. “excellence in all we do” I

performed all my performances with 110%. These are the core values that have made me who I

am today.
 The person I was before I joined Afjrotc is completely different from the person I am

now. Back then I was going through different challenges, I was also not a very big rule follower

and I very much lacked discipline. I was in middle school and my parents weren’t on the best

terms. My stepdad had moved out of the house and my mom was trying to stay strong for me but

I was at the age that she wasn’t able to hide it from me anymore. So when my mom told me what

happened that’s when I started to rebel and feel so much hatred towards my Stepdad. All I would

do is start an argument with him. And I was only hurting myself and my mom because she didn’t

want me feeling so much hatred towards him. During that time my grades were slipping and I

was just not being the student and person I used to be. I was also going everywhere but my

house. If I’m being completely honest I was taking advantage that my mom was being very

lenient with me. I was always at friends' houses and came home late. But there was one day that I

went to my friend's house and I wasn’t the same ever again. After that, I was always home. I

didn't go out and I didn’t want to be touched by anyone but my mom. I never talked about what

happened to me to anyone not until I entered high school. When I entered 7th grade I wasn’t

looking for any friends until I met Julian. He brought back that spark and happiness that I hadn't

had in a long time. I was starting to get on better terms with my stepdad but not quite there yet.

My stepdad and stepbrother invited me to go watch my brother's home completion at John

Bowne Highschool and I went. I saw my brother perform and the second I saw him spinning the

rifle that’s when I fell in love with what he was doing. After that this motivation came that I

wanted to be in that program once 8th grade came I applied to go to John Bowne High School.

And applied for the Afjrotc program. and when I got accepted I was so excited and ready to start

fresh in a new school.

we had school online. I remember the first school “event” we had our freshman orientation. I

joined the Zoom call and found out stuff about Bowne and they divided us by our programs and I

joined the Afjrotc link. That’s when I met SMSgt Colbert I introduced myself to him and he

asked me if I knew anyone in the program and I said yes. I told him my brother's name and he

immediately got excited and he called me family. When classes started I was learning how to do

drill movements online and learning about aviation and the different types of aircraft the US Air

Force uses I was even doing community service online. I donated cans and gave back to my

community. Once I got into my sophomore year I started as flight commander. My first

leadership position wasn’t easy at first but I had determination and I gave it my all. Then later on

in the year, I joined the drill team, and following my brothers’ footsteps I joined the armed drill

team. It was January and I was given a letter to go up for a promotion board. I was so excited but

also nervous because I wanted a promotion. When the military ball came we announced the new

corps commander and promotions. I was promoted to c/ Staff Sergeant I was so happy and proud

of myself. With the new CC new jobs came and I was logistics commander. It was not easy I had

to learn how to utilize my team and learn how to put everything in the logistics room on file. We

had an inspector come from headquarters to inspect the corp and thanks to me and my team we

passed with excellence. At the end of the year at awards night I was given ribbons and a national

medal.

My junior year came and I had one goal for myself becoming an officer. We had a new

CC and I had a new job as Support Squadron Commander. I was in charge of overlooking 5 jobs

and had a Sgt working alongside me. I was making sure I was involved in everything that year

trips, community service events, everything. Around November I was called out and I was given
a letter to go up for the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer board. I was beyond excited and was

so prepared and I ended up getting promoted to C/SMSgt. Around December I found out SMSgt

Colbert was retiring after this school year. I was determined to make this year count and make as

many memories with him as that’s when I was picked out for the color guard team. At that

moment my team and I had one goal for ourselves: winning 1st place in color guard and

dedicating it to SMSgt Colbert. January came and there was a new round of board

recommendations going out and I was extremely worried if I was getting one or not. I was pulled

out of the gym by my two higher-ups and I was given my letter. I was being nominated for an

Officer board. All my hard work paid off. I was going up for an officer board. And I was

extremely nervous because of how badly I wanted it. I put my all into my board presentation and

essay. I answered all their questions and I made sure that I didn’t show them that I was nervous

at all. Now all I had to do was wait till military ball to see if I got promoted. When they were

announcing the promotions my heart sank to my stomach after hearing the announcement of

SNCO promotions. That's when I was starting to get anxious. The announcement of c/2nd LT my

name was the first to be called. I was overjoyed and so proud of myself I did all the hard work

I’ve put in the program for those three years finally paired off and was shown with my

promotion. Later on in the year, the drill team had competitions to go to in Brentwood NY, and

Bridgeton NJ. And we won many awards and dedicated it to SMSgt Colbert. At the end of the

year, there was a retirement party for SMSgt Colbert and he was choosing who he wanted to

perform color guard for him. And he picked me. It was such an honor to do color guard for him

and also very emotional. That was the last color guard performance I did before he retired and I

held in tears. I didn’t want to see him leave but I knew he had to for his health and it was time for
him to retire. I ended off the year thanking SMSgt Colbert for helping me become the person I

am today.

“Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do” are the United States Air

Force core values that will guide me for the rest of my life. I have my goals set for my future. Go

to college while doing AFROTC in college. Go to law school, and commission in the United

States Air Force as an officer and be a JAG Officer Attorney. I will be a first-generation college

student and I have to put my all into my career and education to make my parents proud and give

back to them for all the sacrifices they made for me to give me a better life.