In the Spotlight

For some people when their goals or dreams don’t pan out, they become disheartened and will settle for something less. For U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Alan Pulido, from Kissimmee, Fla., when his dream of a soccer scholarship to college didn’t happen he was determined to find a new purpose.

“I thought of doing something bigger and better and that is why I joined,” stated Pulido.

Pulido works at the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron’s Unit Training Manager for the command support staff department. The 7RS is one of Naval Air Station Sigonella’s 39 tenant commands.

When he first joined in August 2008, Pulido started off as a maintainer for fuel systems. According to defense.gov, aircraft maintainers are “responsible for the perform pre-, post- and between-flight safety and function checks, including double- and triple-checking fluid levels, landing gear and flight control functionality, and running diagnostics on the electrical systems.”

While this is a vital job and mission in the Air Force, Pulido wasn’t completely satisfied working as a maintainer and so, when given the opportunity, crossed over to become a unit training manager.

“I was never mechanically inclined,” remarked Pulido. “But whenever I had to do additional duties that had to do with administrative stuff, it just came natural to me and I actually really do enjoy this job because it’s all admin stuff.”

Pulido is the first unit training manager for the 7RS and as such he has had to build the program from scratch which has been his favorite part of job.

“Staff Sgt. Pulido is the sole unit training manager at 7RS,” remarked Tech Sgt. Josue Mercadoberrios, the 7RS unit security manager and Pulido’s supervisor. “When he arrived in 2020 he built the squadron training program from the ground up, guiding all members and supervisors from 28 different career fields with their upgrade career training.”

According to Pulido his daily routine involves skill level upgrade training for members, scheduling training for members both local and formal training. Since the Air Force is no longer using their old training systems such as Training Business Area and Advance Distribution Learning System, Pulido is often developing in-house systems to facilitate training tracking.

“I’m constantly evolving with the training program here,” said Pulido.

In addition to his herculean task of building the training program, Pulido also holds multiple collateral duties such as the 7RS’s motorcycle safety representative, alternative resource advisor, physical training leader and combined federal campaign representative.

“What makes Staff Sgt. Pulido truly special is that he affects all personnel in the unit at the professional and social level,” remarked Mercadoberrios. “He provides members with great customer support and gains everyone’s trust.”

He has also takes the time to work on his associates degree from the Community College of the Air Force in his off time but the one thing he makes sure he still has time for is his original passion – soccer.

“Soccer is my passion,” explains Pulido. “I enjoy playing, watching, and coaching.”

While being stationed here in Sicily, Pulido says he and wife take time to enjoy exploring the island, participating in aquatic activities and taking advantage of the variety of geographical beaches Sicily offers.