Alonzo-Alt nearing end of Air Force basic training
March 3, 2011

By Mike Weland

 

Derrick Alonzo-Alt
Derrick Alonzo-Alt (second from right), places his mouth guard as he prepares for pugil-stick training during Air Force Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
Derrick Alonzo-Alt, a 2010 graduate of Bonners Ferry High School, is nearing the end of a rigorous 8 ½ weeks of Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

 

According to his grandmother, Linda Alt, Derrick is doing well and on pace to graduate with honors. In two weeks, Linda, Derrick’s dad Russ Alt and grandpa John will travel to San Antonio, Texas, for his flight’s graduation, scheduled March 17 and 18, and for a few day’s visit of the cultural and historical sites in the region.

 

Derrick will learn where the next phase of his Air Force training will take him in about a week, but he’s hoping to spend the next 72-weeks of his Air Force career at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, to become an air traffic controller.

 

According to Linda, you can see more photos of Derrick, including his baby photo, by looking up “AF Wingmoms”* on Facebook.

 

Click on photos, and an array of young children will appear. Not so long ago our babies, now grown and training to serve and protect our country.

 

Airman Derrick Alonzo-Alt
 Derrick is the young Airman propped up against a big stuffed bunny. Not to embarrass her grandson, she’s not asking that anyone votes for him, but she’d sure appreciate it if you’d click on his photo and make a comment.

 

Not that she’s proud of him or anything.

 

* In irreverent enlisted military parlance, Air Force airmen don’t like to be called soldiers or sailors, but “Airmen.” Those in other branches of the service often referred to them as “wingnuts.”