SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --
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.”