Air Force Staff Sergeant Leon van Zyl comes to Paris from San Antonio enlisting avid-Air Force recruits since Jan. 2020.
van Zyl, currently a staff sergeant with the 344th Recruiting Squadron, jumped into the military life just more than eight years ago when he was working at Best Buy in San Antonio and, “I felt that I should be doing more with my life.”
Staff Sergeant Leon van Zyl, U.S. Air Force
“I decided on the Air Force, because San Antonio is a very big Air Force town since we have multiple bases there and basic training also takes place at Lackland AFB in San Antonio,” van Zyl said.
van Zyl credits the Air Force for adding structure to his life and the travel opportunities available “to travel with some of the best people in the world.
“When I first started my career I never thought I would get to see some of the places I’ve seen with my own eyes,” van Zyl.
Stationed at Tinker Air Force Base for eight years prior to coming to Paris, van Zyl’s first job was an Airborne Radar Technician on the E3 sentry early warning and control system (AWACS). He flew more than 2,000 hours and deployed twice to the Middle East.
During his time in the Air Force, van Zyl has had the opportunity to travel to several places including Washington state, Las Vegas, North Carolina, California, Florida, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and several others.
To encourage others to enlist in the U.S. Air Force, van Zyl said, “you have no idea how quickly your life can take off.
“I was a scared kid when I first joined, and I had no idea what to expect,” he said. “It was only a few weeks into basic training I knew I was going to love this job. It is a challenge. But it teaches a person about themselves. The Air Force gave me direction, and I can wholeheartedly say it is the best decision I have ever made.”
“As for retirement, due to the quality of life and travel opportunities the Air Force offers its members I will absolutely stay in until I retire in 11 years,” he said.
He and his girlfriend moved to Paris with their dog, Bonnie, and cat, Ghost. van Zyl was born in Pretoria South Africa and has lived in the United States since he was five years old. He has two brothers, one of which is deployed with the United States Army.
Submitted by U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Leon van Zyl: van Zyl third from the left.
van Zyl has taken part in Operation Inherent Resolve, Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
The local Air Force recruiting office, van Zyl said, has seen its share of a steady flow of new recruits.
“Due to COVID, it has been a tough few months,” he said. “However, things are going well; especially with things slowly getting back to normal.”
To learn more about the U.S. Air Force, and how to enlist, click here. To contact U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Leon van Zyl here.
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