ARPC Airmen discuss military careers with youth group

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  • By Mike Molina
  • Editor
DENVER --  Tech. Sgt. Juan Williams grew up around the Air Force. His dad is a retired captain with more than 25 years of active-duty service. But at 20 years old, Sergeant Williams had no plans of following in his dad's footsteps. 

"I didn't want to join the military," he said. "I was in college. I was kind of anti-military." 

But something changed. 

"I found out my girlfriend was pregnant," he said. "I had no degree. I was going to school full time, working part time. I started thinking about paying for diapers, day care and medical care." 

After talking to his dad, Sergeant Williams said he decided joining the military was the right choice. 

"It was probably one of the best decisions I've made in my life," he said. 

Sergeant Williams recently shared his story with 17 young men and women not unlike himself. 

He and Senior Master Sgt. Ramon Roldan, two Airmen from the Air Reserve Personnel Center here, discussed careers in the Air Force with the Denver Youth Employment Academy's General Educational Development, or GED, preparation class at the North Lincoln Community Center on Jan. 21. 

The academy is offered to young people ages 16 to 21 through the Denver Housing Authority and is available to Denver youth who have dropped out of high school and meet an economic, academic or housing need. 

"(Sergeants Roldan and Williams) were able to identify with our kids," said J.C. Futrell, YEA coordinator and instructor. "A lot of our kids want to know 'Who are you?' and 'How can you relate to me?' These two gentlemen have come from a place where our kids would understand." 

Sergeant Roldan is a 32-year veteran of the Air Force and Army National Guard. He joined the Guard at 18 and later the Air Force to provide for his family, he said. 

He said he wanted to give the YEA group a message that the military can be a place for them to gain the discipline and stability they might need. 

"Even if you just do four years, it can open doors for you," Sergeant Roldan said. "The skills you obtain in the Air Force can better prepare you for later in life." 

Samantha Romero, a 21-year-old student at YEA, said she was inspired by the Airmen's stories. 

"They made me look at our country differently," she said. "They're really professional, but they didn't have great lives before they entered the military." 

An integral part of the YEA's mission is to provide young people with education and job training opportunities. 

"I think being able to offer our kids career options in the military is great," Mr. Futrell said. "And exposing them to knowledgeable professionals like (Sergeants Roldan and Williams) really allowed the kids to get something out of it." 

Despite being more than 20 years their senior, Sergeant Roldan said he felt like he could relate to the YEA group. 

"When I came in, all I had was a high school diploma," he said. "If I got through to at least one person, then my job is done." 

Sergeant Williams agreed. 

"It might be in the back of their minds; it might pop into their heads that the military is a choice for them," Sergeant Williams said.