The President and CEO of hubby's company, Joe Robles Jr., is retiring today. I think it's sad for the company to see him go. I may not be working at USAA but I know how good of a person and a leader he is. He's just like an average Joe. I've seen him in so many occasions and events at USAA and he is very down to earth and humble person. I really admire his leadership and he has established a successful strategy for USAA. Stuart Parker, a longtime USAA executive and a former Air Force pilot who flew combat missions in the Gulf War, will replace him. Farewell, Major General Joe Robles!

Check out Randy Beamer's look at USAA top boss Joe Robles, who's retiring this week at the age of 69.

 

Facts about Joe Robles:

Robles was a USAA board member from 1990 to 1994 while on active duty, and joined USAA in July 1994 as special assistant to the chairman after retiring from the U.S. Army as a major general. He was named CFO and controller in September 1994, and added corporate treasurer to his responsibilities in 1995. He assumed the position of president and CEO in December 2007.

Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Robles joined the U.S. Army in 1966. For the next 28 years, he served in a variety of command and staff positions, including active duty posts in Korea, Vietnam, Germany, and Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in the Middle East. Most recently, he served as the director of the Army budget and as commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One).

During his military career, Robles was recognized numerous times for service and honor. He received the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

In 2009, The Christian Science Monitor named Robles the "No. 1 Veteran in Business" and American Banker named him "Innovator of the Year." Robles serves on the boards of directors of DTE Energy, the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital, the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children's Hospital Foundation, and the P16Plus Council of Greater Bexar County Foundation. He is a member of the FM Global Advisory Board and the Texas Governor's Business Council. Robles holds a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from Kent State University and a master's degree in business administration from Indiana State University. He and his wife, Patty, have three children.

Read More

Read More

Last Saturday we went to Lackland Air Force Base for the first time (first time for me & Akesha) since we've been here in Lone Star. Hubby drove us around a little bit, then afterwards we went grocery shopping at the Commissary.
It is the only entry processing station for Air Force enlisted Basic Military Training (BMT). It shared this status temporarily with Amarillo Air Force Base during the Vietnam War until Amarillo AFB's closure in 1968.
Lackland Air Force Base is home to the 37th Training Wing (37 TRW) which operates a variety of training squadrons. Within the 37th TRW is the 37th Training Group (37 TRG) which oversees the 5 technical training schools on the base, and the 737 TRG which oversees the Basic Military Training squadrons.
It is best known for its role in being the sole location for U. S. Air Force enlisted Basic Military Training (BMT) for the Active Duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.

Read More

Nellis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in North Las Vegas, Nevada. It is seven nautical miles (13 km) northeast of the central business district of Las Vegas. Nellis is the location of the United States Air Force Warfare Cente and is a major training location for both U.S. and foreign military aircrews.

Read More

The 96th Bomb Squadron “Red Devils” started their proud heritage as the first American aero squadron to drop bombs in combat on June 12, 1918. The squadron continued its list of firsts through Gen. Billy Mitchell’s naval bombing trials in 1920 and 1921 and the Army Air Corps’ long-range goodwill flights to South America. The 96th deployed with the 2d Bombardment Group to fly combat missions from the Mediterranean Theater in support of the 12th and 15th Air Forces in World War II. The 96th defended the United States during the Cold War, flying B-29s, B-50s and B-47s until 1963, when it was deactivated.

In the winter of 2002 the 96th deployed to support Operation Enduring Freedom, flying more than 360 combat sorties with an outstanding 98 percent mission effectiveness rate. During Operation Anaconda, the nation’s longest ground operation since the Vietnam conflict, the squadron led the way in employing more than 2,100 weapons against entrenched terrorists. The 96th deployed again in the winter of 2003 and simultaneously supported Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. During Operation Iraqi Freedom the 96th led the largest CALCM strike in history shooting more than 140 missiles, while also integrating the Joint Direct Attack Munitions with CALCM on the same strike aircraft for the first time. The 96th’s pivotal role in Operation Iraqi Freedom provided shock and awe on night one by helping eliminate Baghdad’s fortifications and decimate Iraq’s most critical and highly defended targets. This destruction, along with close air support of coalition ground forces, ensured regime change and breathed democracy into the lives of the Iraqi people. Today the 96th Bomb Squadron continues its mission to “provide world-class B-52 aircraft and combat ready warriors to project devastating and sustainable airpower anytime, anywhere.”


Posted by: GREG

Read More

These are some of my Naval pictures when I was in the Navy reserves. This is when I was drilling on the USS Hornet. I was receiving some award on this ship. This ship is now a museum stationed in Alameda California.

Read More

Here are some photos taken when went to see the Air Show this year. Featuring the KC-10 Extender.
The KC-10 Extender is an Air Mobility Command advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces. Although the KC-l0's primary mission is aerial refueling, it can combine the tasks of a tanker and cargo aircraft by refueling fighters and simultaneously carry the fighter support personnel and equipment on overseas deployments.
The KC-10 can transport up to 75 people and nearly 170,000 pounds (76,560 kilograms) of cargo a distance of about 4,400 miles (7,040 kilometers) unrefueled. The KC-10 has three large fuel tanks under the cargo floor, one under the forward lower cargo compartment, one in the center wing area and one under the rear compartment. Combined, the capacity of the six tanks carry more than 356,000 pounds (160,200 kilograms) of fuel - almost twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker.
The large cargo-loading door can accept most air forces' fighter unit support equipment. Powered rollers and winches inside the cargo compartment permit moving heavy loads. The cargo compartment can accommodate loads ranging from 27 pallets to a mix of 17 pallets and 75 passengers.

Read More