Carrillo family honored for military, community service

  • Published
  • By Meredith March
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Changing stations and enduring deployment separations are sacrifices many military families have to make. The Carrillo family, stationed at Hanscom since July 2004, has been making their share while getting involved and serving in the community. For their dedication to both their military and family commitments, the Carrillos were named the National Military Family Association's July Military Family of the Month.

Master Sgt. Jose Carrillo and Tech. Sgt. Corina Carrillo, a master sergeant select, both of the 66th Comptroller Squadron, and their four children know that family life in the military offers unique opportunities and challenges for each member.

"The children have it tough," Sergeant Jose Carrillo said. "They don't have to go through the deployments and all of the background preparations when PCSing, but leaving their friends and schools is extremely tough on them. Being in the military demands a lot of us both and although [we] may not realize it, [our] children feel the brunt of it."

The Carrillos' young family has changed stations five times. Almost immediately upon their relocation to Hanscom, their second change of station in two years, Sergeant Corina Carrillo was tasked with a year-long deployment in Korea, said the award nomination package. Just eight months after she returned, Sergeant Jose Carrillo deployed for five months to the Area of Responsibility.

The Carrillos make the best of such challenges by keeping in contact with extended family and by communicating with each other, Sergeant Jose Carrillo said.

"Communication is a must. We discuss, as a family, each move as well as encourage our children to keep in touch -- whether by mail, email or by phone," the sergeant said. "I give our children a lot of credit as they have moved numerous times throughout our careers. Each time is tough, but they manage and know it is necessary for our jobs."

Another way the Carrillos thrive as a family is by serving in the community, the award nomination said.

In addition to volunteering for a two-year tour at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. to assist in setting up a new Financial Management schoolhouse, the Carrillos have made serving others a family priority.

"They have found an excellent coping mechanism: get involved," states the NMFA Web Site. "Whether it's Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity, clothing drives for Afghan children, sports they are involved in or Jose and Corina's dedication to mentoring Airmen for the Financial Management schoolhouse at Sheppard Air Force Base, the Carrillos jump right in."