Sanchez
The IZ Badge Office is one of the Joint Area Support Group-Central’s most challenging work environments. This office has many people working together to accomplish their mission. However, there is one person in particular that manages many of the situations that arise and helps to ensure that customers are serviced in a timely manner.
When visiting the Badge Office at Ocean Cliffs it is likely the first person to greet you will be Staff Sgt. Axel Sanchez. He is the Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of the waiting room. Sanchez says, “I make sure applications are properly filed out; customers have the correct documentation, identification and passports.”
Sanchez, a native Spanish speaker, quickly developed a report with the Peruvian Triple-Canopy security force whose job it is to ensure the safety of everyone attempting to acquire an International Zone badge. This report helps him to manage the controlled chaos that is a constant at Ocean Cliffs.
This isn’t Sanchez’s first opportunity to manage stressful situations. During his first deployment he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in the spring and summer of 2003. Back then his mission was recovering disabled vehicles on the road to Baghdad during the initial invasion. He personally recovered over 150 vehicles on his way north.
Sanchez began his Army career as an active duty Soldier in 1999. He spent five years as a diesel mechanic and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas; Korea and finally he finished his active duty enlistment at Ft. Sill, Okla. Sanchez currently serves as a mechanic in Maintenance Platoon, Headquarters Company 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He has been a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard since 2006.
Sanchez was born and raised in the village of Bananera, Izabal, Guatemala. As a child he attended school there and enjoyed playing soccer in his spare time. His father worked in the local banana plantation to earn a living for the family. In 1985 the Sanchez family decided to move to America in search of a better life. There were already Guatemalans living in Norman so they settled there. When he arrived in Norman Sanchez was 15 and spoke very little English.
“It was a challenge attending school; it took me about a year to learn English through communicating with others and watching movies,” said Sanchez. Even with the adversity of not being a native English speaker he still managed to graduate on time from Norman High School in 1990. After living in the U.S. for 18 years and serving his adopted country he finally earned his American citizenship. The process of becoming a citizen is tedious. Sanchez had to pass the application and approval steps of the process to reach the interview. During the interview Sanchez was screened for his English speaking and writing abilities. This step also includes answering American History Questions. Finally, he took his oath to become an American citizen in 2002.
After high school Sanchez majored in aviation for two years at Rose State. His goal was to become a pilot. However, after his second year of college Sanchez started a family. He and his wife Maria have two children Emily, 14, and Alex, 5. They live in a of suburb Oklahoma City.
In his civilian career Sanchez is a mail carrier for The U.S. Postal Service in Edmond. Sanchez says “I walk about four miles a day, making more than 200 deliveries.” He began his postal career in 2003 after he completed his active duty military service.
Regardless of the mission that Sanchez is given, those around him can always count on him to perform it to the best of his ability. He never compromises his values and tries to treat his soldiers with fairness and respect. His adaptability to changing situations is an asset to the JASG-C and the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. America is fortunate to have Staff Sgt. Axel Sanchez.
