PORT ISABEL — Being a member of the Air Force was a long held dream of Lisa Villarreal.
The Port Isabel native knew she wanted to join the Armed Forces in middle school after her brother, Ernesto, enlisted in the Marines.
She wanted to be a part of something that would provide her with structure and help her grow as a person.
But it would be awhile before she would join.
After high school, Villarreal worked different jobs.
She was a waitress and a cashier.
On her off time she would paint and play video games.
It was one of her hobbies that would lead to her meeting her husband.
Villarreal had been playing online video games for a couple of years and had been in contact with another player, Jackson Robbins.
They became friendly and soon he decided to fly down and meet her in person.
They fell in love and eventually moved in together.
During this time, Villarreal decided it was time for her to make a career change.
“I knew I needed to get into the Air Force as soon as I could,” Villarreal said.
For the past six years she had been working jobs that didn’t fit with what Villarreal saw for herself.
“I wanted to find a career and better myself,” she said.
In November, Villarreal fulfilled her dream and enlisted into the Air Force.
“I just felt something right with the Air Force,” she said.
She graduated from basic training at Lackland and then went on to the Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi.
“I finally felt accomplished,” Villarreal said. “I really couldn’t have done it without the support of my parents and grandmother.”
She is now working in customer relations and support for personnel on the Dyess base in Abilene.
In a year, Villarreal said she wants to go back to school and get a degree in teaching.
“I really want to be a teacher for like pre-k or kindergarten students,” Villarreal said.
She said she likes teaching and was inspired by her young niece, Mae.
