NCO Academy rededicates flight to American hero

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachelle Elsea
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Airey NCO Academy class 12-3 recently rededicated their Thunderbolt Flight to Technical Sgt. Israel Del Toro, 342nd Training Squadron tactical air control party instructor, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, the only 100 percent disabled active-duty Airman.

Sergeant Del Toro was severely burned on more than 80 percent of his body when an improvised explosive device struck his Humvee. He was on a mission with the Army in Afghanistan, attempting to ambush Afghan insurgents.

He has spent the last few years rehabilitating and overcoming the prognosis that he would never walk again or breathe without a respirator.

It was an obvious decision to make when selecting an individual to dedicate the room to.
Sergeant Del Toro attended the ceremony and even spoke at the class's graduation.

"Technical Sergeant Del Toro was honored to have the flight dedicated to him," said Senior Master Sgt. Raymond Jock, NCO Academy Director of Operations. "He said that he felt that he was just another NCO and having things of this nature done in his name was truly an honor."

During the graduation luncheon Sergeant Del Toro relayed the story of his accident and his road to recovery.

"His bottom line message to the students was that as NCO, it is their job to never quit and give up," said Sergeant Jock. "They must continue to fight just as he did. He was a true testament to how one must strive to be the best and continue to serve our great nation."

The Academy will continue to ask each class that comes through the course to dedicate a flight to a deserving Airman. There are seven remaining.