Brig. Gen. A.J. Stewart, Air Force Recruiting Service commander, presents a Recruiting Service watch to Tech. Sgt. Israel Del Toro Thursday at the AFRS Leadership conference in San Antonio, Texas. Sergeant Del Toro inspired more than 130 AFRS Airmen when he spoke about his past Air Force experiences. Sergeant Del Toro was a Joint Tactical Air Control Party operator when he was wounded during combat action in Afghanistan in December 2005 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The wounded warrior, who was only given a 20 percent chance of survival following the roadside bomb, vividly described the day he was injured, spoke about his recovery and said that the reason he has remains in the Air Force is because “the Air Force truly is a family.” Upon presenting the watch General Stewart said, “If I could have 330,000 Airmen just like you, this nation would never worry about anything. You are an inspiration.” Following Sergeant Del Toro’s motivational speech, the general charged his AFRS leadership to go out “and find 32,000 Del Toro’s to serve this great Air Force.” (U.S. Air Force photo/Ronn Linn)
Brig. Gen. A.J. Stewart, Air Force Recruiting Service commander, presents Lt. Col. Javier Casanova the Combat Action Medal Thursday at the AFRS Leadership conference in San Antonio, Texas. Colonel Casanova, who was also awarded an Air Medal, came under intense enemy fired during a combat search and rescue operation when retrieving wounded people in Fallusia, Iraq. The Combat Action Medal is awarded to Airmen who have been involved in direct fighting situations where they risked their lives in an enemy engagement. Colonel Casanova is the 349th Recruiting Squadron commander, headquartered at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ronn Linn)