Warrior of the Week: Airman 1st Class Marwin Luna

  • Published
  • By Tim Flack
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Airman 1st Class Marwin Luna can sum up the reason he joined the U.S. Air Force with one word: Opportunity.

"You can go as high as you want as long as you put your mind to it," said Luna, the latest Warrior of the Week at Grand Forks. "I believe in taking advantage of everything the Air Force provides for me."

Luna said the military offered him a way to provide for his family and great educational benefits.

The 28-year-old vehicle operator with the 319th Logistics Readiness Squadron enlisted in May 2009 after a rough spell. He had lost his job, been unemployed for nine months and had to move back into his parents' house. His girlfriend at the time, now his wife, suffered a medical emergency and Luna began "thinking about life ... the future."

"When I was accepted in the military, it was a blessing," Luna said.

Luna had spent more than half his life growing up in the Philippines. He saw incredible poverty first-hand in Manila, and believes that helped shape his philosophy on life and "contributed to my attitude."

That's part of the reason he volunteers with the local community, helping with clean-up projects and handing out school supplies with the Salvation Army.

"I put myself in their situation," Luna said. "If I'm in their shoes, I would want someone to help me."

He's also working on his Community College of the Air Force degree, which he should receive in coming months.

Luna's long-term goal is to cross-train into the medical field as a physical therapist.

He's also a big poker player and actually managed to pay for his honeymoon with his card skills. He entered the 319th Force Support Squadron's Texas Hold 'Em Tournament at the club last year and crushed the competition to take the grand prize: a $1,000 travel voucher.

Luna and his wife were originally married in a civil ceremony, but celebrated their "church wedding" last fall. He was able to take the travel voucher and plan a trip to Las Vegas, where his parents have a time-share.

His attitude toward hard work - whether on the poker table or in the workplace - helps set him apart. And it's a message he hopes to send to his fellow Airmen.

"Sometimes it feels like you're not being recognized, but just be yourself and do your job," he said. "Luckily my higher-ups recognized it for me."