JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Maryland –
Capt. Carlos Cueto Diaz, 11th Wing assistant staff judge advocate, was recently named one of the Active-Duty Air Force winners of the 2015 National Organization for Mexican American Rights Meritorious Service Award.
According to NomarInc.org, the NOMAR Meritorious Service Award honors Hispanic American military members and Department of Defense civilian employees who have supported the DoD mission in a manner that epitomized the core values of their military service while simultaneously displaying exceptional support for the betterment of the Hispanic community.
Cueto Diaz was nominated for the award for organizing two recruiting trips to Puerto Rico for the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps involving visits to three separate law schools and promoting the hiring of Hispanic Americans to military installations or DoD components.
"I enjoy setting up trips like these because I love my job and they let me reach out to the Hispanic community and share my experiences with young law students," Cueto Diaz said.
The captain also volunteers at a food bank with the nonprofit organization, Alexandrians Involved Ecumenically -- Alive! -- and a significant portion of his time as a master financial education volunteer through the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
"When I first arrived here 11 years ago, I didn't know what a credit card or checking account was. I wish someone could have sat down with me one-on-one and walked me through how to establish myself financially," Cueto Diaz said. "Many [Hispanic Americans] that move here grew up keeping money under mattresses because they couldn't trust financial institutions."
The classes Cueto Diaz volunteers to teach contain essential information necessary for creating the financial foundation necessary for modern life in the United States.
Cueto Diaz said though he wears the uniform, he still feels indebted to those around him.
"I'm extremely grateful that my leadership has empowered me to volunteer my time and become part of something greater than myself," Cueto Diaz said. "Even though I put on the uniform every day -- and walk a little bit taller because of it -- I wanted to a little give back to the country and community that has done so much for me already."