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Support Airman of the Week: A1C Mata

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  • By Staff Reports
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

Airman 1st Class Louis Mata, 82nd Training Wing country liaison officer and native of Miami, has been in the Air Force for one year and is the Support Airman of the Week at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for the week of Sept. 13-19, 2016.  

 

Most significant accomplishments:
1.  Joining the Air Force.

2.  Buying a car.

3.  Moving out on his own.

4.  Getting married.

5.  Getting ready to receive his first child.

6.  Completing his Career Development Course ahead of schedule.

Airman’s story:

 

Mata joined the Air Force after graduating high school. In July 2015, he departed for Lackland Air Force Base for basic training. After graduation, Mata proceeded to Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi for technical training in information management.

 

Upon successful completion of technical training, Mata received his first assignment to Sheppard working in the International Military Student Office. Since his time there, he completed his CDC upgrade training ahead of schedule and is currently working on his core task upgrades.

 

For the last year, he has been working in IMSO gaining invaluable knowledge and experience working with their international allies, while building partnerships. Currently, one of Mata’s goals is to earn a degree in psychology so that he can become a behavioral specialist.

Supervisor comments:

 

“Airman 1st Class Mata is a country liaison officer for 386 international students representing 36 countries who are attending training at Sheppard Air Force Base,” said Ralf Taylor, chief of IMSO. “He runs the daily administrative operations of IMSO from pre-arrival to post-departure by in and out-processing international students. Airman 1st Class Mata also coordinates with military treatment facility for necessary treatment of international students and their dependents in accordance with their international travel orders allowing the students to return to class without distraction.”

 

“Additionally, he fulfills 24-hours nights and weekend stand-by duties providing support and resolving issues,” he said. “Airman 1st Class Mata processes international students’ academic reports capturing their progress and performance and transmitting to their respective embassies certifying their course completion; a true Air Force ambassador.”