Wounded airman wants decision on staying in

[unhappycamper]

Despite being severely wounded in a bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2005, Tech Sgt. Israel Del Toro wants to stay in the Air Force.


Wounded airman wants decision on staying in
By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Nov 7, 2009 16:25:52 EST

After spending almost four years recovering from a bomb blast in Afghanistan, Tech. Sgt. Israel Del Toro wants to stay in uniform and teach others to be a JTAC like he was.

Whether he’ll get to is anybody’s guess.

First, the Air Force has to allow Del Toro, who also went to Bosnia and Iraq as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller, to continue serving. His case is winding its way through the medical evaluation process right now.

Del Toro, who has had more than 100 reconstructive surgeries for burns that cover 80 percent of his body, expects the board to declare him 100 percent disabled. He is hopeful — almost confident — that the Air Force will also give him a waiver.

The concern for Del Toro really is whether the Air Force will pay him the $90,000 re-enlistment bonus offered to airmen in his Air Force Specialty Code.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/11/airforce_del_toro_110709w/