Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Sgt. Amalia Zuluaga and U.S. Army Sgt. Sebastian Zuluaga, Headquarters and...... read more read more
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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - It is a rarity for a dual military married couple to get promoted in the same month. A couple at Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Phoenix, took that rarity to a new level.
U.S. Army Sgt. Amalia Zuluaga, from Chicago, is a human resources specialist, and U.S. Army Sgt. Sebastian Zuluaga, of New York, is an aviation operations specialist working dual positions as the TF Phoenix command sergeant major’s driver and as a door gunner for the unit’s VIP flight company.
The couple was inducted into the non-commissioned officer corps Aug. 15. Sebastian has been serving the Army for three years and attended the promotion board in May – a month before his wife.
“We were competing to see who would get promoted first,” said Sebastian, joking with Amalia about their experience.
He said it was that friendly competition that encouraged him to work diligently to achieve the next rank in his career.
“It was nice to be promoted together,” said Sebastian.
Amalia agreed that it was a wonderful experience. Her support and motivation helped him to accomplish his achievement in rank in less time than herself.
“It felt weird because it took me double the time to get the rank as my husband, but I was very proud of him,” said Amalia.
Amalia reflected on how this day was made more memorable by being promoted on their daughter’s first birthday.
“It was the best feeling in the world to get promoted on our daughter’s birthday,” said Amalia. “I thought I was going to be sad because I was not there with her, but it turned out wonderful.”
Sebastian also reflected on the bittersweet moment of being away from his daughter and having the pleasure of joining the corps of non-commissioned officers.
“I wish my little girl could have been here to watch us get promoted,” said Sebastian. “Not only was it a special day for our daughter, but also a special day for my wife and I. Years from now, we will look back and remember that day as the day that we both got promoted to sergeant.”
Amalia and Sebastian said they both look forward to learning how to become good non-commissioned officers and make a difference in the lives of soldiers around them.
| Date Taken: | 08.15.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.02.2011 01:42 |
| Story ID: | 76329 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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