Meet Chico Romero — 2016 Veteran
Pablo Romero, known in the US Air Force as Chico, served for 24 years and ended his Air Force career with a medical retirement. He started his career in the Air Force with the Air National Guard in Puerto Rico where he decided to begin active duty to see the world. He sought to fulfill the dream he promised his dad one day to be part of the USAF Air Demonstration team "The Thunderbirds". He promised this to his dad when they saw the team in El Castillo Del Moro when the Thunderbirds performed a demonstration.
He began active duty with his first assignment at McChord AFB in the state of Washington. This was a complete change of climate from tropical weather to raining and cold but didn't stop him. During his first duty assignment he received Airman of the Month and Armament Specialist of the Year. He also was part of the Alert Force of 318FIS and the detachment in Castle AFB, with which he did a few rotations.
He also helped close the FIS Squadron and on his second assignment went to Holloman AFB. There he also excelled by winning Airman of the Month on several occasions and was elected translator for the Air Force. This position took him to several places in South America. During his time at Holloman, Desert Shield and Desert storm started. He participated in the movements of F-15s to theater. When he returned, he received orders to Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan.
In Okinawa he was part of the 12FS, "The Dirty Dozen", in which he was involved in several Air Force programs. At the same time he was hand-picked to represent PACAF in the William Tell Competition. He was the only member of his team to receive a Zero Discrepancy Award and was also selected Most Valuable Team Member. He was also chosen to train the JASAF on the armament system on the F-15 in joint service program. In this role, he trained over 150 Japanese airmen and over 30 pilots. He also trained side-by-side with the Australian Air Force for about three months. He also was the first weapons person to finish the full-cut training program on the F-15 making him an example and asset to his unit which he demonstrated in several deployments with the Kadena Team representing PACAF.
When his time in Okinawa was over, due to his achievements and a recommendation from his new Commander, he was put in charge of a few programs with the A-10. These programs included cross-training and developing new training for new airmen. Later, the desert called to him again, so he returned, but this time with the A-10. The desert was different this time as one his friends died during a scheduled aircraft inspection. Chico helped during the first 30 minutes of this injury trying to keep his friend calm and dealing with his wounds. When the transporter van to Germany arrived, he succumbed to his wounds and died. It was a very sad moment for the "White Knight", but life for Chico continued.
He was assigned to Close Air Support Alert Duty for downed pilots or troops in trouble. On one occasion his airplane returned with some damage but even the pilot didn't know what happened since the A-10 is akin to a flying tank. After returning from his desert assignment he was selected as Airman of the Year for Moody AFB. He also received news he had been picked to be part of the A-10 East Coast demo team performing over the East coast of the U.S. During this time he submitted his package once more for the USAF Thunderbirds. His previous applications had to be withdrawn due to other assignments. What he didn't know was his airshow performances with the Thunderbirds were being observed. One day at Andrew AFB his demo pilot surprised him with a call to come to the operations building. When he did, he was hired on the spot for the 1998 Demonstration Season of the Thunderbirds. He met with the commander and maintenance chief of the team who gave him the news that he better pack his bag because he was going to be part of the Thunderbirds.
By February he reported to Nellis AFB and completed the 40 day Thunderbird initiation and patching. At the moment he got his patch the only thing he could see was the West side of the hanger. There he saw the flag of Puerto Rico and remembered the promise to his father. Unfortunately his father didn't get to see him get his patch but his mom and family did. He served in the Thunderbirds and Maintenance Operation Control and also as part of the swing shift line.
He finished his active duty career with the Thunderbirds but his connection with aviation was not over. He decided to pursue another of his dreams, to be part of an elite group of flying crew chiefs. As such, he would be able to fly the world in a KC-135 with 163rd Air Refueling Squadron. But this was interrupted after the attacks of 911. He volunteered to return to active duty to serve his country the only way he knew.
He once again put on his camouflage uniform and crew flight suit. He was hand-picked to go to New Hampshire to serve on a base for tankers flying from the East coast to the desert. He served several months as a crew chief, getting airplanes ready for departure or to be refueling stations in the air for fighter airplanes going to the desert. He returned home after this and volunteered to go to Turkey to participate in operations in which they served as air refueling for fighters still in combat in the desert.
After his third rotation he returned home and proposed to his lovely wife (Deanna) right after he landed - right there on the flight line - and she said yes. His attention to detail lead him to have his KC-135 R 57-1451 aircraft picked to go to Russia. There his pride and dedication to maintaining his aircraft in top condition gave him the honor of having his airplane selected from the fleet.
He then transferred to the 168th ARW in Phoenix where, as a Level 7, he was key to the unit as they changed from the KC-135 E model to the R model. He did his job with great pride but the dark cloud came over him once again. As he was getting his airplane ready to return to the Dessert he heard a loud pop from his back. The next day he could barely walk. He was scheduled for back surgery and was given a 90 percent chance he would go back to work. But as it turned out, he was subject to the other 10 percent. His surgery didn't go as planned and he had to be medically retired from his love and passion, the Air Force. After almost 24 years, between his time with the Guard and his USAF active duty, he had to say goodbye to a part of his life he adored and was to which he was so committed.
As time went by he decided to finish something he started in Puerto Rico. He decided he would get his bachelor degree He graduated with honors from Cal State San Bernardino in 2014. Not only did he finished his degree but also got his real estate license. He is now an assistant in the Phantom Realty group and is helping his sister-in-law who is his team leader.
Pablo not only excelled in his military career but also in his civilian life. He has been selected by his peers in the RC Community to fly his RC airplane in different airshows. He put together the second largest gathering of RC gliders in the United States. He has been involved in several community activities such as Norco Horse week and Mothers for the Military. Anything that involves the military he tries to either volunteer or participate as his health allows.
He is married to Deanna Romero and as a very proud father and step-father has four adorable kids: Cristobal Romero, Josue Romero, Tallianne Barnes and Braiden Barnes.
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Jeff Anderson
CEO/Founder, Rebuilding Warriors
