Spc. Raul Sanchez and Sgt. Rebekah Ramirez, both of Gilbert, Ariz., were recently promoted to their new ranks while working here at Camp Bondsteel as part of the 160th Finance Detachment, Phoenix, Multi-National Task Force-East in Kosovo.
Both were promoted in December before the start of the New Year. Sanchez was promoted to the rank of specialist and Ramirez was promoted to sergeant.
Sanchez and Ramirez, both members of the Arizona Army National Guard, are in Kosovo, serving on a NATO peace-support mission. Their unit helps provide financial information and support to all Soldiers in the U.S. task force. Sanchez works as a finance office cashier and Ramirez works as a military-pay technician.
"This is a new step for me in learning leadership and responsibility, a new step in this journey," said Sanchez, who was pinned by Capt. William Abbott, Palmer, Alaska, 160th Finance Detachment commander.
This is Sanchez's first deployment. He joined the Arizona Army National Guard in 2007, and is currently a full-time student at Arizona State University in Tempe. He is currently pursuing a double-major in vocal performance and vocal therapy with a minor in political science.
Ramirez is deployed here with her husband, Spc. Frank Ramirez, who also works in the 160th Finance Detachment, as a Defense Travel System specialist who submits travel vouchers so Soldiers can be reimbursed personal money they spend for government travel expenses.
Ramirez was pinned by Sgt. Richard Paul, another finance office cashier, who happens to be her husband's best friend and was his squad leader while they deployed to Afghanistan in 2007-2008.
"I am excited to reach the rank of sergeant - I've been waiting for this a long time!" said Ramirez. "It was also really cool to get promoted with my husband present and that it was on our two-year wedding anniversary!"
This is Ramirez's first deployment. She joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard in 2001 and left in 2006, when she went to Arizona for a border patrol mission and met her husband. She then transferred to the Arizona Army National Guard. She works full time in the Arizona National Guard U.S. Property and Fiscal Office as a travel voucher examiner and military pay technician.
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