News

Medical doctor sees service as enlisted medical technician as opportunity

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Aaron Soto Valencia is a man who jumps at opportunities. Going from being a credentialed medical doctor to an Air Force Reserve enlisted medical technician is one of those opportunities. How is that an opportunity you may ask? Well, opportunity is all in your perspective and from Airman Soto Valencia's perspective that opportunity opened up a whole new world.

Raised in Jalisco, Mexico, Airman Soto Valencia went to medical school at the University of Colima in Colima. Earning his bachelor in medicine. Before deciding on a specialty and continuing his medical training, Airman Soto Valencia decided to take an extended vacation in Salt Lake City to visit his brother. It wasn't long before he met in Salt Lake City a woman, Helga, whom he immediately fell in love with, setting his life on a new course. That was in 2005.

"I have a lot of gratitude to the United States," said Airman Soto Valencia. "I'm thankful for the opportunities offered in the United States."

Always interested in the military life, Airman Soto Valencia found himself driving by a Reserve recruiting station one day and took the opportunity to stop in and talk to a recruiter.

"I plan on going on active duty at some point, but at the time I stop at the recruiting station, I was unfamiliar with the different components in the military," he said. Airman Soto Valencia went to Air Force Basic Military Training in June, 2009.

Reserve or active duty, Airman Soto Valencia sees the Air Force as an opportunity for his family and for his continuing education. While he is currently still in training as a medical technician with the 446th AMDS, he is interested in possibly moving into nursing.

"Credentials for medical doctors in Mexico are different than those required here," said the father of four step-daughters. "If my credentials are accepted here, I would still need to take exams and be board certified," said the naturalized citizen, as of May this year.

As a qualified primary physician in Mexico, Airman Soto Valencia applied his skills in a medical clinic run by a friend. He also takes his skills around the world as a volunteer with Volunteers of America, a non-profit organization providing human service programs across the globe.

Now, he is based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, continuing his military medical technician training. That training began at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Airman Soto Valencia, a substance abuse counselor in his civilian employment in Utah, has been on orders as of late working toward his 5-level as a medical technician.

According to his supervisor, Master Sgt. Richard Yager, the 29-year-old airman will participate in the season training program at Madigan Army Medical Center here. Although he's still in training, Sergeant Yager doesn't feel like he's working with a newbie.

"I feel that he will be an asset to our unit. He has a very can do attitude," said the NCOIC of clinic services. "He wants to learn all he can and jumps right in to help."

Sergeant Yager considers a great attitude to be Airman Solo Valencia's greatest trait.

"His desire is something that is very refreshing. I don't usually see that with new personnel. They tend to hang in the background until asked to get involved. He would rather be in the mix, so to speak," said Sergeant Yager.

Being in the mix is how Airman Soto Valencia finds opportunity. And opportunity is something he never passes up.