WASHINGTON — As a District of Columbia Army National Guard operations officer and UH-60 Black Hawk pilot, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Alora is a role model for young adults who embrace goals, contingency plans and options.
“I joined the U.S. Army originally serving active duty in 2010,” Alora said. “I was an aircraft electrician who was drawn to aviation, public service and a college education — and why not do all three simultaneously.”
He was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for six years before relocating back home to California and eventually transferring to the D.C. National Guard. Reflecting on his dynamic military career, he is reminded of his own family’s response to significant challenges.
“I’m a first-generation Filipino American. My mother and grandmother moved here to the United States in the 1980s, and we had to learn how to adapt and contribute,” he said. “I’m proud to show people that someone like me can climb the ranks as a U.S. Army aviator making a positive difference.”
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders across various nationalities and ancestry — Filipino, Southeast Asian, Asian Indian, Polynesian, Korean, Chinese and Japanese — have a rich legacy of honorable service in the United States dating to the War of 1812.
“I think too many Americans either forget or don’t know the number of key leaders in the AAPI community who have made profound impacts in defense and overall society,” he said.
During World War II, his paternal grandfather served in the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, part of a highly trained military unit focused on Japanese suppression and defense in the Pacific. In 1942, three months after the start of the Battle of Bataan, his grandfather was a prisoner of war in the Bataan Death March, a grim reality of war where POWs were sometimes tortured and killed.
“My grandfather’s courage inspired me to serve my country,” he said. “Knowing he’s part of American history makes me very proud. And I think there’s much more space and precedence for AAPI representation in the military. Yes, we’ve faced challenges like every other minority has faced, but that shouldn’t deter us.”
Relevance and diversity are more than words and commemorative themes for Alora. In addition to an active presence in the National Capital Region, DCARNG Aviation comprises four units with AAPI visibly represented in all sections, from pilots and maintainers to administration and operations.
“I’ve drilled with several different National Guard states, but I think the D.C. National Guard ranks high in diversity. Not only in terms of race, but all the protected backgrounds to include religion and sexual orientation,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Rooks, state Army Aviation officer, D.C. National Guard. “I’m always proud to tell people that I’m a Capital Guardian because of the diversity that we have and what that represents. Diversity is a strength because it brings a significant number of perspectives, and all those factors will only strengthen an organization. How we all contribute to fight our nation’s wars.”
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