Tiers of Leadership: Women's History Month recognizes young Airman

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Editor's Note: This is the first article in the Tiers of Leadership series honoring the service and accomplishments of women assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing during Women's History Month. This week the Airmen Tier will be highlighted by a member of the Expeditionary Force Support Squadron Airmen 1st Class Christina Jimenez.

First & Last Name, Rank: Christina N. Jimenez, A1C, USAF

Deployed Unit: 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron

Position: 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, Food Service Journeyman

Home unit: 49th Force Support Squadron/ FSVF Holloman AFB, NM

Hometown: Born in New York, NY raised in Lancaster, PA

College: High School- Manheim Township, College- Currently attending Ashford University

Jimenez joined the Air Force for a lot of the same reasons most people join the military, to get away from home, travel, see the world and to attend school. On March 13th, it will be her two-year anniversary since joining the United States Air Force and it will also be a special day as she will be promoted to the rank of Senior Airman.

Jimenez competed and was selected in an early promotion program known as Below-The-Zone. This program recognizes elite airmen who stand out from their peers and perform duties at a level above their current rank.

While deployed to 'The Rock' Jimenez managed to keep busy by participating in several events and functions on base. She began attending The Rising Four Airmen's Council where she has been an active member since December.

The Rising Four Airmen's Council is a forum where airmen can express their views, as well as enhance their professional development and increase community involvement for all E-4s and below.

"This is a way to see what you want and get to do the things you want on base and meet new people and airmen, as well as attend professional development classes," said Jimenez.

Elections for The Rising Four executive council were held in February, where Jimenez was elected as President of The Rising Four.

"From working here at the DFAC, I meet a lot of people and I know a lot of people from different squadrons," said Jimenez. "I figured that it would be a good job for me because I network and I have a lot of good ideas that I wanted to throw out. I know that I wanted to help people and becoming president seems to be the best way to help all the airmen for their morale and to just have fun while we are here."

Jimenez expressed that she strives to make a difference in other airmen's lives and likes to host different events on base.

"Don't count the days, make the days count," she said. "Put in the time and effort to do something good for someone else."

Along with being The Rising Four President, Jimenez is also a member of the base Honor Guard.

"I really got interested from watching the Honor Guard perform at my home station and I remember thinking that I wanted to be that sharp and perform at the high level that they perform at," she said. "It was really a sight to see."

"I've been involved with Honor Guard since I got here in November and I have learned a lot and I am going to take that back to my home station and try to get involved there," said Jimenez.

Jimenez conveyed that she enjoys being independent and that was one thing her dad had implemented into her life and that it is important to stand on your own two feet with or without somebody else there.

A quote that Jimenez often refers to that was attested by Abraham Lincoln, 'You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.'

Jimenez believes that this quote suggests that 'those' who ask questions and go out and find the answers for themselves is highly encouraged.

"At the end of the day you sit and listen to what everyone says and you take it for word value but you need to stop and think about what that means for you and evaluate it," said Jimenez. "I'm a big believer in 'why' I like to ask questions."