JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- After she was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer in 2015, Tech. Sgt. Carmen Mena-Flores’, Commander’s Support Staff noncommissioned officer in charge, first words were, “this too will pass.”
Mena-Flores’ journey through an often fatal illness inspired her to help other wounded service members, and eventually led her to win the Chief’s Choice Award at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, July 2018.
“My daughter was two at the time, and all I could think about was being there for her and watching her grow,” she said. “My end goal was to survive. I am the type of person that goes big or goes home; this was not going to beat me.”
Roderick Schwald, a Recovery Care Coordinator with the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) Program, along with help from other leadership members, nominated Mena-Flores for the Chief’s Choice Award while working with her in the AFW2 Program; a congressionally-mandated and federally-funded program that provides care and services to injured, ill, or wounded service members both combat and non-combat related.
The Chief’s Choice Award recognizes outstanding contributions by Airmen in both their military and local communities.
Mena-Flores has been an ambassador and Recovery Airman Mentorship Program mentor with AFW2 since 2016.
“She graciously assist other recovering Airmen during their medical treatment, recovery and transition back to duty or civilian status,” Schwald said. “She is currently a RAMP Mentor for nine active duty and retired enlisted and commissioned wounded warrior mentees.”
As a mentor, Mena-Flores is paired with other recovering warriors; working with them and helping them share their stories.
“This builds strong relationships and trust,” Mena-Flores said. “Sometimes, all they want to do is talk, so I listen, and that goes a long way; sometimes, people just need to be heard.”
As an ambassador, Mena-Flores talks about her personal battle with breast cancer, and how leadership and AFW2 has helped her through her journey toward recovery.
“That is also why I decided to apply to be a mentor,” she added. “It is a way for me to give back to people who have been diagnosed with similar illnesses, not just breast cancer, and who struggle with their invisible wounds.”
Mena-Flores’ inspirational leadership resulted in at least three mentees asking Schwald how to become RAMP mentors themselves.
During her battle with cancer, Mena-Flores took college courses with the help of a full Wounded Warrior Scholarship from Colorado Technical University, saying that if she had not able to return to duty, she wanted to have a secure plan for her future.
“I am a very hopeful person and my faith helps sustain that, but had I not survived by battle and was unable to return to duty, I wanted to make sure my backup plan was already in place,” she said.
Mena-Flores eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in management with a concentration in human resources, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in project management; she plans to graduate in June 2019.
Mena-Flores is often invited to share her story during commander’s courses, teaching fellow Airmen how to be resilient in the face of personal hardship and struggle.
After six, six-hour chemotherapy sessions, three separate surgeries and 25 radiation treatments, Mena-Flores overcame her diagnosis and is now in remission. She has since returned to active-duty status and was promoted to technical sergeant, which she attributes in part to her leadership having faith she would make it through.
“Here I am… I am a survivor and I could not have done it without support from my leadership, my squadron, my family and friends,” she said. “It truly makes all the difference having support and people who genuinely care in your life.”
Mena-Flores was unaware of her acceptance, or even nomination for the Chief’s Choice Award.
“We were in our morning meeting with the commander, and I started crying as they presented me the award,” she said. “All these things were coming into my head; flashbacks of what fellow Airmen have gone through and are still struggling with, and how I have helped them in some small way through that.”
Mena-Flores said this award is motivating her to take care of fellow Airmen even more now.
“I do not do things earn recognition, but this award shows me I am doing the right thing by our people,” she said.
Not only does Mena-Flores perform highly within the AFW2 program, she excels in her job as well.
Schwald explained Mena-Flores led administrative support for nine launches and seven thousand satellite contacts, meeting mission requirements at a 99.9 percent success rate, ensuring the uninterrupted operations of a $22 billion constellation.
Additionally, she tracked, monitored and closed 40 higher headquarters staff action responses, beating the average deadline by three days and saving the unit an average of 72 hours each month.
Mena-Flores also developed a new readiness tracking program which automatically tracks 50 items, and drove the National Reconnaissance Office into 100 percent compliance on all individual medical readiness and ancillary training requirements.
Schwald also noted that Mena-Flores was instrumental in spearheading a working group to develop the first ever Office of Space Launch Visitor Operating Instruction, a document which is shaping future NRO launch attendance processes.
“Tech. Sgt. Mena-Flores’ short-term goal is to become a first sergeant, and judging by her accomplishments, professionalism and care for the mission and her fellow Airmen, I think she is heading in the right direction to reach her goal,” Schwald said.
In the end, Mena-Flores plans to continue to give back and motivate people who are going through personal struggles.
“I want them to know that if I can do it, they can too,” she said. “It is so easy for us to be negative, why not focus on the positive instead? Look ahead to the finish line; for many of us, our wounds are invisible, but we have the power to be invincible.”