WEBVTT

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(uplifting music)

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- Personally, I joined
because of the great things

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that our military is doing.

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Originally, I'm not a born
United States Citizen,

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but I came to the United States

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from Cameroon where I was born,

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seeing the great things
that America is doing

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in the lives of people
from other countries.

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You don't get to know that
'til you're not from America

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and then the Americans leave
home, come out, and help you,

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and they help your country
with their democracy.

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I wanted to be part of that team,

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and to me, I think
that's the greatest thing

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that somebody can be so selfless

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as to think about other people

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who aren't even from their country,

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so honestly, that was my number one reason

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of joining the United States military.

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My love for aviation, after growing up,

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that's one of the things I wanted to be,

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either be a pilot, an
astronaut, or a doctor.

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And being in the Air
Force, we're air power,

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so aviation sounded to be the best thing

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because I felt that I was right there

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and they were the right people

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that would guide me to be a pilot.

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If you are in the Guard,

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I believe that it's the state's way

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of saying thank you for
your service to the state

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because as military members,
we raise our right hand

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and voluntary to serve
our state and country,

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and if the state is rewarding us

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through that thank you for your service,

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there is free money for
you to go to school.

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I think that we should be honored

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to take what the state is giving us.

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I think the members should be looking

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at that program like that.

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This is an opportunity for
me to sort of develop myself,

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and funding for flying is expensive.

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STA hadn't paid for my flying fees,

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I probably wouldn't have been,

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had the number of hours that I have now

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that gave me the endorsement
towards getting hired

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at KC-135 Squadron at Selfridge
Air National Guard Base.

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My name is Staff Sergeant Clifford Mua.

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I am a medical logistics specialist

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attached to the 127th Medical Group

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out of Selfridge Air National
Guard Base, Michigan.