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No Ordinary Airman

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Lisa Ferguson
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Senior Airman Reni Angelova is no ordinary Airman in the United States Air Force. She has degrees in economics, languages, international tourism and law; speaks five languages; and worked as a teacher and a border patrol agent at one of the busiest checkpoints in Bulgaria - all before immigrating to the United States in June 2003. 

"I was born in Bulgaria in the town of Sandanski, blessed with great parents and a wonderful brother," Airman Angelova said. "My father is an engineer, and my mother is a teacher. My brother immigrated to the [United States] after winning a permanent resident card in 2001 from the lottery for green cards where thousands of people apply." 

Airman Angelova was working as a border patrol agent when her brother moved to the United States, and about a year later while working one night, she met an American Soldier. 

"During one of the night shifts while I was inspecting an American military convoy coming from Greece going up north in Europe," she said. "I had the chance to meet a member of the U.S military for the first time. Now the image of the American Soldier was not just the face from the news, symbol of hope and freedom - he was a real man standing in front of me with so much courage, enthusiasm and pride in his eyes of serving his country and the democracy around the world, that it made me wish to have the chance to feel the same way one day." 

A year later, Airman Angelova won a permanent resident card for the United States from the same lottery her brother had a couple of years earlier. She graduated from law school and crossed the ocean. 

"I joined the U.S. Air Force March 23, 2004," she said. "I came to Pope in July 2004 and was assigned to the 3rd Aerial Port Squadron, a career field that deals with air transportation." 

She currently works in the load planning and joint inspection section as a Joint Inspector. 

The Air Force has put Airman Angelova's vast background and language skills to good use, she said. 

"I just came back from my second deployment, where I was able to use my knowledge of languages and ensure the safe loading operations of non-standard Russian aircraft," she said. "I had the chance to be trained by knowledgeable supervisors who made sure that we were well prepared and felt comfortable in carrying out our duties and responsibilities." 

Airman Angelova said her varied background has helped her in all of her jobs over the years, from a teacher to a border patrol agent to an Airman in the air transportation field.
 
"Thanks to my first degree in economics and languages, I became fluent in English and Russian while still in Bulgaria which helped a lot when I left [Bulgaria to come to the United States]," she said. "The degree in law broadened my knowledge in understanding and implementing its principles later on as a border patrol agent, making me confident in communicating with a variety of people passing through the check point and in applying the regulations. 

"It seems that every job leaves something in us, and it is up to us how we are going to use it," she said. "Communicating with people from different ages and nationalities helped me feel comfortable and easily integrate in the society; the knowledge and the confidence from the education also, but the most important was the spirit and the will to make my wishes come true, the belief of my family in me and their support and encouragement." 

Airman Angelova now knows and understands why the Soldier was so proud to wear the uniform of the U.S. military. 

"For many people around the world, this uniform is a symbol of freedom, justice and human rights, or sometimes just a symbol of the friendly reassuring smile of the courageous men and women wearing it, that everything will be fine," she said. "I am proud to be part of the best military in the world. I have met many dedicated military members serving and keeping the good spirit and sense of humor, even in the desert which always makes me think how lucky we are to have them all. It takes special people to have this courage and dedication, and it's a privilege to be part of it."