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Muslim Airman breaking boundaries, stereotypes

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alexandria Mosness
  • Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  The young staff sergeant talks to the passengers at the Passenger Terminal here, telling them about the amenities offered and answering any questions they might have. After he is finished with the task at hand, he goes off into a room by himself, and he prays.

Staff Sgt. Edger Gaitan, 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Passenger Service Representative is not only an Airman 24/7, but also a converted, practicing Muslim.

However, these two important roles have not always been a part of his life. His journey into the Air Force led him to his faith. Gaitan is the first of his family to be born in the United States.

"My parents are from Latin America, and they came to America to live the American dream," he said. "I wouldn't have the ability to join the Air Force or to live the American dream if they didn't come here."

As a payback, Gaitan, who is deployed from Joint-Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, joined the military.

"This is my way of saying thank you to Uncle Sam," he said. "Plus, I like to travel."

Though he joined the Air Force right after high school, Gaitan was not entirely sure what to expect.

"I didn't know anything about the military," Gaitan said. "My dad was in the military in Guatemala, and he had made hints about the military. When push came to shove and I had to make a decision, I thought, 'that sounds pretty honorable,' so I joined. After me, a slew of family members signed up as well."

Although Gaitan thought he was going to be in a different career field, he says he loves his job.

"I can't complain," said the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., native. "With all the opportunities that I have, I'm happy."

An assignment to Turkey presented Gaitan with his next life-changing decision, this one regarding his faith.

"I converted to Islam from Roman Catholic," he said.

Though it was a change, he said his family was open and accepting.

"My parents were very accepting of my conversion to Islam," he said. "It is about how you approach the subject. If you come at people with peace, love and an open heart, no matter who you are, you will be more open to the subject at hand."

When talking about his mother, Gaitan's love and respect for her became very apparent.

"My mom is 100 percent the person I look up to," he said with pride. "That woman right there - as hard as she worked so we could live comfortably. She did it for her family. She did it for all the right reasons. She taught me if you are right, it is going to be okay. She showed me how to be a good person, and give warmth, and be sweet to other people. Be kind no matter who it is. She was my inspiration to work so hard. We are still very close. I am a Mama's boy."

After Gaitan finishes his deployment, he will get married in Egypt in November. However, this isn't the everyday marriage most military members are used to seeing - Gaitan has never met his future bride.

"It is an arranged marriage," he said. "In Islamic culture, they don't believe in dating. I have a very good friend who is Muslim and he had just gotten married. He asked me what my interests were in marriage. We talked about it, and he told me about his niece. He asked if I was interested and I was. I know her personality, her family, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

With current events happening in the world, Gaitan does feel the pressure to have to explain his religion.

"I am always justifying Islam," he said. "I always have to explain things. People are blown away by me because they can't understand how a former Catholic, American Hispanic can practice Islam. But it strengthens my convictions when I help people with the stereotype."

But through the open dialogue Gaitan has kept with his coworkers, he has been rewarded with their understanding.

"They say 'Sergeant Gaitan, I've learned a lot from you, and I am more tolerant now'," he said. "I don't want to force Islam on anyone, but just teach people the truth about Islam and help them understand it more."

And one of those people to ask the questions is a mentor of Gaitan.

"I asked the same questions about Islam," said Master Sgt. Daryl Davis, 376th ELRS Passenger Terminal NCOIC. "And, that is when he went into teacher mode. He has different facets about him. He can be a kid messing around, a little rough sometimes, and there are other times where he pierces you with his eyes and talk about religion."

He is the type of individual who will teach you something you don't understand, he added.

"I nominated him for NCO of the month, and one of his bullets was he brought a Muslim group together to form a prayer group for Ramadan," Davis added. That's the type of person he is."

With the requirement to pray five times a day, Davis said Gaitan managed to find the balance between the mission and his religion.

"The mission comes first, but after the mission requirements have passed, he will do his praying," he said.

Gaitan's commitment has been like a mirror for others who look at their own life.

"Through his dedication to his faith, he has helped me self-reflect on my life," Davis said. He is a teacher, student, kid, and a very serious philosopher," Davis explained.

The six year Air Force veteran loves to run, read, and learn about politics and the world, he said. He is also studying to get his degree in secondary education.

"I have actually learned to write and read Arabic on this deployment," Gaitan added. "It is still a little rough right now, but I am practicing."

But a new language is not a new feat for him, as he is also fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish.

When people learn about Gaitan's many talents, they don't know how to react.

"They freak out...they think I am a ball of mess," he said with a laugh.

He recalled having to speak Turkish on the job to some Coalition forces, and his coworkers were astonished that he spoke not only Spanish, but all his various tongues.

One of Gaitan's most memorable moments in the Air Force was when he realized the bigger picture.

"I was working in Turkey with a lot of NATO forces," he said. "At that point, I realized I'm not just pushing pallets and cargo. I am doing so much more. I saw what Air Mobility Command really does and tt all came into perspective."

As for the aerial porter, he plans on staying in the military for the full 20 years, he said.

"America's not perfect, no country is," Gaitan explained. "But it gives me the freedom that if I am Catholic and want to become Muslim, I can. If I want to practice as a Muslim, I can."

"I can do a world of wonders," he exclaimed. "I can break the stereotype and show them the type of person I am. Just because it is a different culture and different religion does not mean I have to fit the stereotype. I can promote peace and love."