Flying High: Local aviator makes waves in New Mexico Air National Guard

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

The sky’s the limit, so they say, but not for local New Mexico Air National Guard trailblazer Capt. Araceli Saunders, who has worked tirelessly to establish what has already amounted to a gravity-defying career.

“When I applied to flight school, I thought, ‘Yeah, right,’ but you might as well throw your name out there and just do your best. You never know where life is going to take you from there,” said Saunders, reflecting on how far she’s come. “God opens and closes doors, so maybe a door will open for you and you just got to take your shot.”

Saunders, a Los Lunas resident, was raised in Bernardo in Socorro County, and attended Belen High School. Her parents are retired NMANG Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas, who was the former adjutant general of New Mexico, and Martha, who served in the NMANG as a technical sergeant.

Saunders said being a pilot was always of interest to her, but she didn’t see it as something attainable at the time.

“You always see things like ‘Top Gun,’ for example, where the epitome of a pilot is like this big dude looking all cool, and you don’t really see examples of someone who looks like you,” she said.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://news-bulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Capt.Araceli-2-COL.jpg” title_text=”Capt.Araceli 2 COL” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#eaeaea” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|false|false” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#006020″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]

NMANG Capt. Araceli Saunders at Columbus U.S. Air Force Base in Mississippi in 2022 for flight school training. Submitted photos.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Saunders enlisted in the guard in 2009 as an HC-130 flight engineer, making her the first Hispanic female aviator within the NMANG.

Saunders was initially told she couldn’t fly due to height restrictions prior to attending undergraduate flying training, but a strong support system came to her aid, which eventually led to her getting a waiver allowing her to begin training as a military pilot.

“There were a lot of people advocating for me,” she said. “There’s this group called the Women’s Initiative Team that the Air Force has, and it’s made up of a bunch of volunteers, both men and women, who advocate for different issues that women have to deal with in the military. One of those is anthropometric designs of aircraft, because most aircraft and equipment are designed for your average male.”

Saunders then broke another barrier by being the first person within NMANG to qualify, attend and graduate from a highly competitive, accelerated U.S. Air Force pilot training curriculum, a press release states.

“It was honestly probably one of the hardest things that I’ve ever done in my life,” she said. “Seven days a week, you’re just on and doing your best every day.”

It’s interesting to note that Saunders is afraid of heights — a testament to her courage and willingness to not let anything hold her back from achieving her goals.

“My first flight was so scary,” she said laughing at the irony. “It’s miraculous what you’re doing though, defying gravity.”

Shortly after finishing her training, Saunders was assigned to her first deployment in Saudi Arabia, which she embarked on in December 2023 as part of the 188th Rescue Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base.

During the duration of her 120-day deployment, Saunders served as a search and rescue pilot, and she and her team traveled to several Middle Eastern countries and participated in multiple operations.

The purpose of a search and rescue pilot, Saunders said, is to provide air rescue to fellow personnel who become stranded due to an aircraft accident or other incidents. Air search and rescue is especially crucial when the person is in a spot that is hard to reach by vehicle or on foot.

Saunders said her team consisted of a triad including the HC-130J, which she pilots, a HH-60 helicopter and a team of pararescuemen.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://news-bulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Araceli_3.jpg” title_text=”Araceli_3″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#eaeaea” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|false|false” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#006020″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]

Capt. Araceli Saunders pictured with her deployed squadron in the Middle East.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://news-bulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Araceli_4.jpg” title_text=”Araceli_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#eaeaea” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|false|false” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#006020″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]

During Saunders’ deployment in the Middle East, A HC-130J aircraft and HH-60 helicopter begin to ascend from a runway.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

“I was excited to go and finally do what I had been training to do,” said Saunders of her deployment. “Luckily, we didn’t have any incidents while we were deployed, but we’re always prepared for the worst case scenario.”

Saunders and her team remained busy throughout their deployment nonetheless, as they also conducted various air drops and supply deliveries to a variety of bases and locations.

“The HC-130 has a lot of capabilities and we can put stuff in the back of the plane, so we’re able to resupply certain bases with blood, food and water,” she said.

Saunders and her crew were also able to participate in humanitarian efforts by air dropping supplies to areas in need.

“Capt. Saunders conducted nine combat airdrops to U.S. and coalition Forward Operating Bases in Syria and to Gaza, delivering 65 bundles carrying humanitarian supplies, and 51,800 pounds of blood, providing critical aid to thousands of survivors,” the press release read.

“We worked with several different countries to airdrop supplies onto the Gaza Strip. It was great to see all the countries working hand-in-hand and to see that we’re able to operate a mission of that complexity in a safe way,” Saunders said. “If we didn’t get the airdrops accomplished, then some spaces wouldn’t have water, so it’s super important that we can support those areas.”

Following her return, Saunders was nominated as the company grade officer honoree for the NMANG Airmen of the Quarter awards by 188th Rescue Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Timothy Skypeck.

In his recommendation, Skypeck wrote, “Captain Saunders was a hand-picked member of the Combat Search and Rescue Task Force forward deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia providing airborne alert for Operation Poseidon Archer enabling (31) coalition strikes on Yemeni bases, reducing the threat to international maritime shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.”

He also noted that Saunders became the first pilot in the 188th to execute an airdrop of the Air Force’s search and rescue tactical vehicle and 25 guardian angels, a non-aircraft weapon system.

Skypeck wrote, “the airdrop successfully tested U.S. Department of Defense rescue tactics in a high-threat environment.”

He also commended her agility to be rapidly deployed on short notice and her volunteer work spanning 110 hours as the 1st Expeditionary Rescue Group Battle captain, “where her diplomacy helped synchronize and enhance communication between operations, intelligence and maintenance in support of 4,000 air tasking order missions.”

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://news-bulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Araceli_2.jpg” title_text=”Araceli_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#eaeaea” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|false|false” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#006020″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]

Capt. Araceli Saunders embraces her husband upon her return home in early April from a 120 day deployment.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://news-bulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Araceli_1.jpg” title_text=”Araceli_1″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#eaeaea” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|false|false” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#006020″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]

Capt. Araceli Saunders pilots a HC130-J at Kirtland Air Force Base in August 2023.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Saunders appreciates the recognition for her work, but she emphasizes there are many within NMANG making great strides and that much of what they do is a team effort.

“You just show up and you try to do your best, but everything that we’re talking about right now it’s not like just I did things,” she said. “You rely on the support of so many people to make it happen.”

Outside of NMANG, Saunders enjoys spending time with her husband and three children and works as a commercial pilot serving as a first officer for FlexJet.

Throughout her life, Saunders has made it a point to always give it her all in whatever she is doing and to embrace challenging situations. These instances, though difficult at the time, provide valuable growth and help develop resilience and confidence that is beneficial for everyone, especially for those seeking to push their challenge line.

“It’s like working out. It sucks the whole time you’re doing it, but afterwards you feel pretty good about yourself,” said Saunders. “Just keep challenging yourself to do something different. You will get better a little bit each day, and you’ll surprise yourself at what you can accomplish if you are constantly pushing your own boundaries.”

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]