WHY GIVE? INTERVIEW WITH
ASTRID SALIM (95), PARENT OF REIKA (26)
A Passionate Student, Parent, Volunteer and Supporter
Fly
SAS Provided the Foundation to Gil McMillan (05)
I ATTENDED SAS FROM 1999-2003 (MIDDLE OF 7TH grade to sophomore year). To this day, those years remain the most formative years of my adolescence. My closest friends were made at SAS, and many of us remain in close contact today. It is the great environment that SAS provides that fosters such endearing friendships. I will continue to be thankful for them and for everything SAS gave me. Those friendships are a huge part of why I have chosen the career path I have. I have been in the Marine Corps since graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 2009. To become a Marine Corps pilot, I completed flight school and received my wings and designation as a Naval Aviator in 2012. During that time, I also married my college sweetheart, a fellow Naval Academy alum who is also in the Marine Corps. Now, as a Captain in the Marines, I fly the UH-1Y “Venom� Super Huey. It is a Close Air Support Attack 28
SINGAPORE AMERICAN SCHOOL JOURNEYS
Utility helicopter. My primary mission is to provide ground troops with immediate air support with precision guided rockets and machine gun fire. I recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan, executing that very mission and helping close out the U.S. campaign in that region. Although the realities of combat are harsh, it goes without saying that it was an absolute blessing and honor to serve in that combat theater one last time with dedicated servicemen and women. But even through the trials that combat brings, it was my friendships forged at SAS that remained a constant pillar of support and motivation. So again, thank you SAS for providing an environment that shapes and molds young boys and girls into great men and women who can always be counted on to give their dedication and support whenever and wherever needed.
Semper Fidelis.
SPRING 2015
SPRING 2015
SINGAPORE AMERICAN SCHOOL JOURNEYS
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