Meet Luis Guillen-Diaz | Senior Enlisted Leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Luis Guillen-Diaz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luis, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
The most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make was to join the Air Force. Joining meant I’d have to leave behind my family and what was comfortable in order to give myself a chance to reach my goals. In addition, since I was the only member of my family to join the armed forces, I didn’t have an insider’s perspective as to what I could expect from basic training and military life. Moreover, prior to going to basic training, I had never traveled outside Miami by myself. Everything seemed brand new, and I had to learn how to figure things out on my own quickly. Leaving behind my brother, who was eight years-old at that time, was also tough. I often wondered how he was doing in school, who was taking care of him, and how things would be different between us if I was back home.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What makes my story unique is that I am part of the 1% of Americans who have served in our Armed Forces. My Air Force story began a few months prior to graduating from Miami Senior High in June of 1999. I clearly remember walking into a Marine Corps recruiting office somewhere close to downtown with the intention of signing the dotted line and become a proud Marine. However, I bombed a practice math test and that led the recruiter to turn me away as he thought I was not ready to pass the ASVAB, which is test required to join the Armed Forces. A few weeks later, I sat through a presentation an Air Force recruiter gave my social studies class on the benefits and opportunities available to those who joined – I was sold. Hesitantly, I explained my situation to her – that I struggled with Math and did not feel confident that I could pass the ASVAB. Fortunately, she encouraged me to set my fears aside and take the test as I could re-take it if I did not score high enough. I followed her advice, took the test, and the rest is history. A few months later I found myself in San Antonio, Texas going through basic military training.

A few things which make me very proud are the courage, commitment, and determination I have demonstrated throughout my military career. For example, prior to going to basic training, I had never traveled outside Miami, FL, especially by myself. Second, I had absolutely no clue what military life was like since I was the only member of my family who had ever served. Third, I’ve had to move six times during my 22-year career, which means starting life from scratch in a new state or country as I experienced when I got stationed at Incirlik Air Base in Adana, Turkey. While a permanent change of station, as it is referred to in the military community, can be refreshing, it can also be challenging as one has to leave behind his or her community and established relationships. Military life makes it impossible to set roots anywhere as one knows that a move is on the horizon in approximately 4-5 years. One positive thing about all this transitioning is that it builds resiliency and that is something that I am also very proud of. My military career has taught me that flexibility is the key to airpower, but it is also the key to adapting to change, which we all know is inevitable. This is definitely a skill that sets me apart from others who have grown comfortable in their environment and struggle with change. Even though these experiences helped me become more resilient, there were many times, especially during the moves, that I struggled with depression and anxiety. I had to rely heavily on my faith and relationship with God, seek out mental health support, make new friends, remain committed to my goals (going to school, learning how to play an instrument), and embrace new hobbies such as hiking.

I never intended to make the military a career. My vision was to join the Air Force so that I could make some money for school, receive training that I could use after four years of service, then return to civilian life. However, after a few years of service, I was blown away by the amazing educational and professional opportunities the Air Force offered me. I was able to receive tuition assistance to go to school so that I did not have to spend my Montgomery GI Bill, which I planned on using after separating. The Air Force also helped me feel as part of something bigger than myself through the service I was providing my country and local community. As an Airman, I embraced the core value of service before self and that led me to get involved with various community organizations such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Rescue Missions, and Meals on Wheels.

Lessons I’ve learned along the way:

1. Helping others succeed leads to personal success. So often we view success as personal recognition and forget that when others around us succeed, we also shine bright. No one accomplishes anything on their own.

2. Spend more time and energy focusing on things you can control rather than those that you cannot. Focusing on things you cannot control, especially people’s feelings, behavior, and attitudes can lead to frustration, depression, and time wasted.

3. Dwelling too much on past mistakes – what you should or could have done, will not help change anything for the better. This actually kills the human spirit. It’s healthy to look back so we can learn and grow from our past choices/behaviors – both the good and the bad, just don’t hang out there too long. I’ve learned that every experience, especially the most challenging and difficult ones, are great teachers that have helped me grow more than the joyful ones.

4. You will miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Don’t tell yourself, “No,” let others do that. There were various times where I did not allow myself to succeed because I felt incapable of slaying some of the giants in the my path. My journey has taught me that I’d rather fail knowing I gave it my all than to not even give myself the opportunity to succeed because I was fearful of the what ifs.

5. If you love what you do, it will not feel like work. I think this is what helped me devote 22+ years to the Air Force. I loved working with people and helping others through their struggles. If you choose a vocation that aligns with your values, goals, and strengths, rather than how much money you’ll make, you’ll have a more positive, satisfying experience and life will be good!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my friend Damian was visiting us for a week, we’d start by taking him to the world-renowned San Diego Zoo. One could literally spend an entire day there due to the hundreds of animals and various exhibits. All you have to do is check out the tv show “The Zoo” to catch a small glimpse of its beauty. Next, we’d take him to Old Town, which is referred to as the birth place of California. Here we would enjoy amazing authentic Mexican and Latin American cuisine, shopping, live music and shows, amazing tequilerias, and as a bonus, smoke a Cuban cigar! Following our Old Town adventure would be a trip to the ballpark for a San Diego Padres baseball game. After the game, we would go grab a mouth-watering steak at Ruth Chris’ Steakhouse then close out the night listening to live jazz at one of our awesome downtown live music venues. A trip to San Diego must include a trip to the beach and that’s why we’d have to take him to one of our most precious beaches, the world-famous Coronado. This island hosts various Naval military bases and is home to one of our elite military fighting forces, the Navy Seals. We could not leave Coronado without visiting the sophisticated Hotel Del, which was Marilyn Monroe’s favorite. At the Del, we’d have dinner on its newly built water-front deck while enjoying a glorious San Diego sunset. To cap of the trip, I would give my friend a personal tour of my home base, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and take him to the flightline so he could enjoy close-up view of our helicopters and fighter jets. While there, I’d have to play the song, “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins, to remind him that this is the exact location where the movie Top Gun was filmed.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When it comes to achieving success, it has been said that one alone does it, yet one does not do it alone. As I reflect back on my journey, there are a few individuals who have played a critical role in helping me accomplish my goals and aspirations. First, I would have to start by recognizing God Almighty for equipping me with the gifts and talents that have helped me achieve more than I could have ever imagined as an Air Force Airman. Without His presence in my life, I would not have been capable of overcoming the challenges I’ve encountered throughout my 22-year military career. First, is my faithful and loving mentor, Manny Guzman, whom I met when I was approximately 15 years-old. This man has been a rock in my life, who’s been there for me through the ups and downs of life. Throughout these past 27 years, Manny has helped filled the hole that was left in my heart when I lost my father at the age of 11. His continuous support, love, and encouragement have helped me to believe in myself and overcome personal and occupational hardships. Next is my amazing wife, Megan. Megan has supported, challenged, and encouraged me to pursue my goals and dreams. Furthermore, she has inspired me to believe in myself when I thought I was not capable of lasting one more round in the fight. Last but not least, I would like to recognize my brother Freddy. Through his resiliency and incredible accomplishments, he has encouraged me to dream big and not be afraid to fail. These are three individuals who undoubtedly deserve a big shoutout in my story.

Image Credits
MSgt Luis R. Guillen-Diaz