97 AMW Hispanic Heritage Spotlight: Marcia Sanchez

  • Published
  • By Amn Dallin Wrye
  • 97 AMW/PA

Earning a degree is a milestone in any person’s life; to Marcia Sanchez, executive officer of 97th Maintenance Group, it was a milestone for her whole family tree.

Sanchez is a fourth generation Mexican-American and recently achieved a goal she has been working toward for years.

“I was the first woman in my family to get a master’s degree,” said Sanchez. “It was a lot of hard work and I am very proud of it.”

Not only does she take great pride in her accomplishments, but she also tries to connect it to her heritage.

“I am very proud because not many people in my family had the opportunity to go to school,” said Sanchez. “They had to give up education to provide for their family.”

Sanchez also recalls the physical labor her family performed during her upbringing. She said her family did whatever they could to help make life easier for her and the generations to come, no matter how difficult the effort at hand was. They were working toward her future.

“I always think of all the hard work my family has done to get me where I am today; I don’t have to work in the fields like they used to,” said Sanchez.

Sanchez said hard work and diligence are a part of her family’s heritage. The Air Force’s core values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do are part of the Airmen concept. This is something Sanchez focuses on in her duties at the Maintenance Group. As civilian employees are a vital part of the Air Force family, the rich diversity embraced by the 97 AMW helps ensure mission accomplishment.

“I am proud to be part of this organization; everyone is working together toward a bigger goal,” said Sanchez.