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17th Training Wing Spotlight: Staff Sgt. Yomar Santiago-Henriguez

By Senior Airman Abbey Rieves, 17th Training Public Affairs / Published November 19, 2021

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Yomar Santiago-Henriguez, 313th Training Squadron Distributed Common Ground System course instructor, poses for a portrait in his classroom on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 17, 2021. As a building manager Santiago-Henriguez, spearheaded fixing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system inside a sensitive compartmented information facility with collaboration of the 17th Civil Engineering Squadron and SCIF’s special security office. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves)
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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Yomar Santiago-Henriguez, 313th Training Squadron Distributed Common Ground System course instructor, poses for a portrait in his classroom on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 17, 2021. As a building manager Santiago-Henriguez, spearheaded fixing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system inside a sensitive compartmented information facility with collaboration of the 17th Civil Engineering Squadron and SCIF’s special security office. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves)

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Craig Houchins, 17th Mission Support Group command chief and Staff Sgt. Yomar Santiago-Henriguez, 313th Training Squadron Distributed Common Ground System course instructor, pose for a photo on Goodfellow Air force Base, Texas, Nov. 16, 2021. Santiago-Henriguez was coined for his outstanding performance as an instructor and efforts leading to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning repairs inside a sensitive compartmented information facility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves)
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U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Craig Houchins, 17th Mission Support Group command chief and Staff Sgt. Yomar Santiago-Henriguez, 313th Training Squadron Distributed Common Ground System course instructor, pose for a photo on Goodfellow Air force Base, Texas, Nov. 16, 2021. Santiago-Henriguez was coined for his outstanding performance as an instructor and efforts leading to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning repairs inside a sensitive compartmented information facility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves)

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GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --

1. How does your job support the 17th Training Wing's mission?

As a Distributed Common Ground System course instructor, I contribute directly to training the future of our Air Force. I have helped build a course that brings an entirely new way of teaching and learning to the Air Force. It brings an aspect of collaboration among the different AFSCs that I never got to see in my career before now.

2. What do you find most rewarding about your work?

I enjoy working with the Airmen as they are getting ready to head out into their careers. I can impart my experience and knowledge from my time in, including little information that I wished to know before my first duty station.

3. What has been your biggest challenge in the military, and how did you overcome that challenge?

Before coming to Goodfellow AFB, my biggest challenge was shift work. I have always worked some form of shift work. The hours themselves did not particularly bother me, but after a week of 12-hours shifts, I would often want just to stay home and do nothing but relax. I overcame this with the support of my family.  Without my family supporting me, I could have quickly just fallen into a slump.

4. What has been your most memorable experience in the military?

It's hard to choose a single memorable experience throughout my career. Joining the Air Force got me out of a small town with nothing but dead-end jobs. That experience in itself is excellent. 

5. What is one piece of information or advice you would like to pass on?

Ask for help! I see Airmen bite off more than they can chew so often. I was one of them. You're not in this alone and there is always someone willing to help.

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