Living the dream

For centuries, the American Dream has enticed people around the world to move to the United States to live and prosper. For a new Patriot Wing Airman, this dream became a reality.

“To be an American is an honor, it’s a privilege,”SrA. Maurice Ojwang said. “Many people still believe America is the land of opportunity, and it truly has been for me.”

During his childhood, SrA. Ojwang, a 439th Airlift Wing financial services technician, had only imagined the United States as portrayed in movies.

He was born and raised in Naruku, Kenya, until he was 19, when he decided to move to the United States without his immediate family. Once he arrived, he quickly observed the positive attitude of Americans and wanted to replicate that.

“My first major culture shock was the ‘can do’ attitude exhibited by most Americans. I was in college with people twice as old as me and they were just transitioning into new careers,” SrA. Ojwang said. “Not letting circumstances slow down your progress is definitely an American mentality that is evident every day.”

It wasn’t long before SrA. Ojwang adopted the same mindset. He landed a full-time job and became a full-time student at Springfield Technical College. Then, he realized he didn’t just want to live the American Dream; he wanted to give something back.

“The more I asked about the military, the more I became interested,” SrA. Ojwang said. “I decided to join the Air Force because I wanted to make my own contribution to America, and also challenge myself.”

He served four years on active duty as a finance technician and resource advisor at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., before reenlisting as a reservist at Westover.

In that short time, he was awarded two Air Force Achievement Medals for his remarkable efforts working in finance and supporting the nuclear mission.

“It just goes to show you how everything and everyone in the Air Force matters. I worked in an office, so it was nice to see my part in the big picture.” Ojwang said. “It might be a small part, but it’s nice to see how it affects the whole mission.”

Now an American citizen, Ojwang said the hardest part about being away from home is being away from his family.

“Of course I miss my family,” Ojwang said. “But America has made up for that, when it comes to being able to pursue the things I want to and even just having the opportunity to do so. A lot of my peers take it for granted, but I always remind them that it could be worse.”

SrA. Ojwang said the constant moral support from his family has allowed him to feel great about his choice to move to America.

“Not having to worry about food, where the next meal will come from, security, or having somewhere to live, is a tremendous opportunity,” he said. “I can’t emphasize that enough.”

Now that the Airman has more free time as a reservist at Westover, he plans to live out more of the American Dream by earning a bachelor of arts in finance and biology.

“It really has been a land of opportunity for me,” he said. “I’m going back to school, I've traveled, and I've bettered myself not only materially, but mentally. It’s been a blast. I thank the military for that.”