Christopher Altura:
CLASS OF 1997
Killeen High SchoolClass of 1997
Killeen, TX
Southwest Texas State UniversityClass of 2002
San marcos, TX
Central Texas CollegeClass of 2000
Killeen, TX
Christopher's Story
College
After graduating from KHS in 97 I stayed home and went to CTC for the first couple of years. Not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life I jumped from major to major finally deciding on History. I was at a crossroads in my life as I was seriously contemplating enlisting in the military after my first year at CTC. A few of my classmates who were prior enlisted advised me to finish out my education and go in as an officer if I was serious about joining. I took their advise and transferred to Southwest Texas State (now Texas State)where I joined the Air Force ROTC program as well. After five years of undergrad I finally finished my degree in May 02 with a commission as a second lieutenant in the USAF to boot.
My two years at SWT were some of the most fulfilling of my life. I met and made friends for life, took those crazy college road trips, and most importantly I met my future bride-to-be.
Although I went there to take care of business so to speak, sometimes I got derailed by procrastination. There were several times where I pulled all-nighters to write 15-20 page papers due the next morning when I had all semester to get them done. Those nights, however, were filled with late night pitstops to Whataburger or Taco Cabana with friends just to take a break. There were also stretches of days where I didn't show up to class at all; where I decided just to sleep the day away.
I took road trips to all four corners of the Lone Star State as well. Just on a whim, during the middle of the school day I would hop in the car and bring a few friends to go down to the beach off Corpus or go to Austin to chill.
Of course I never thought I would meet my future wife at school. I thought it would be more like at work or just by chance like at a coffee sho...Expand for more
p or something. We met through a friend. Luckily for me they were roommates in the same dorm I was living in. Laura and I hit it off, but not immediately. At first we were the best of friends and from there it became more. It was subtle at first. I began walking her to her classes and eventually I would sit in on her classes. We have the same likes and dislikes and we sort of compliment each other in so many ways. She's the outgoing type who can bring me out of my shell.
Military
When I transferred from CTC to Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State) I also joined Air Force ROTC. After two years I completed my Bachelor's in History with a commission as a Second Lieutenant.
I was quickly rushed off to Vandenberg AFB, California just 45 minutes northwest of beautiful Santa Barbara in the middle of the Central Coast known as "Wine Country." I was stationed there from Jun '02 to Feb '03 where I received extensive training on how to destroy the world with Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM).
I arrived on station here at FE Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyoming on February 14, 2003. Worst time of year to be driving in Wyoming for the very first time as there was a lot of snow which doesn't go well with Mustangs.
I was a Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander from April '03 until July '05. Six months of it were spent as an ICBM instructor.
It is April '06 and I am back in the instructor shop. This summer it looks like I'll be either the chief of scripts or a flight commander back in the 320th Missile Squadron. Next month I'll be promoted to the rank of Captain. This time next year I'll be at either Vanderberg AFB, CA as an ICBM instructor or at Cape Canaveral AFS, FL doing space lift operations, either way both will be warmer than Wyoming.
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