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Spotlight

Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

The Defense Department pays tribute to the contributions and dedicated service of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, past and present, in defense of the nation during May and throughout the year.

Stories

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Resources
Related Link |

Presidential Proclamation on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month 

Presidential Proclamation on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month
Related Link |

Commemorating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month 

Commemorating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month
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Asian American/Pacific Islander Personnel in the Defense Department

By The Numbers Data By The Numbers Data

Asian American/Pacific Islander Service Members

64.8K Enlisted

14.6K Officers

1.3M Total Active-Duty Service Members

About 6 out of every 100 service members are Asian American or Pacific Islander.

53,179 Asian American/Pacific Islander DOD Civilians of 794,333 total Civilian Force.

Watch: Videos

Illustrated view of North America on the globe, with Fort Knox, Ky., pinpointed. Play
Generations of Service
1:18
Generations of Service
An airman in uniform shown from the shoulders up speaks in front of a black background. Play
Airman Discusses Career Journey
2:21
Airman Discusses Career Journey
Lt. Col. Ranjan Singh, the Equal Opportunity Program Manager for the 79th Theater Sustainment Command and a detective in the Sexual Assault Investigations Unit for the San Jose Police Department, is a first-generation Indian-American. Advocating for victims in both his civilian and Army career drives Singh to solve real world puzzles and embrace extreme challenges. Full Length version of this video coming soon. (U.S. Army Video by Sgt. James Garvin) Play
Indian American Soldier Shares Outlook
0:58
Indian American Soldier Shares Outlook
A PSA celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 26, 2022. (U.S. Air Force video by Senior Airman Jose Miguel T. Tamondong) Play
Airmen Celebrate Heritage
1:17
Airmen Celebrate Heritage
U.S. Army SSgt Kwa Win, a patrol and supply specialist at Torii Station, talks about his journey from refugee to U.S. Army Soldier, April 11, 2023, Okinawa, Japan. Originally from Myanmar, Win and his family had to flee the country when he was a child and moved to a refugee camp in Thailand, due to persecution. (U.S. Navy video by MC2 Kelly Meyer) Play
From Refugee to Soldier
1:00
From Refugee to Soldier
Being able to pass on her cultural legacy to her Air Force family has been a career highlight for Staff Sgt. Paris Lauvale, NCOIC of sustainments at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Expeditionary Force Support Squadron at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. Lauvale reflects on her journey and how she brings a little touch of home to each mission. (U.S. Air Force Video by Staff Sgt. Ashley N. Mikaio) Play
Samoan Airman Brings Flare to Workplace
2:27
Samoan Airman Brings Flare to Workplace
U.S. Army Spc. Jacquelyn Atienza, an aviation operations specialist with 11th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), talks about her position, goals and civilian life during an interview at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, May 25, 2022. 11th CAB Soldiers work with Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) to advise, assist and enable partnered forces in the enduring defeat of Daesh within designated areas of Iraq and Syria. (U.S. Army video by Spc. Zachary Danaher) (Parts of this video have been color corrected to enhance the subject) Play
Cultural Pride: Mom Recruits Daughter
1:47
Cultural Pride: Mom Recruits Daughter
black and white photo montage of service members Play
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage
0:20
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage
Air Force SMSgt Gurpreet Singh Bhambra offers his personal experience as a South Asian American for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Play
From India to the Air Force
3:15
From India to the Air Force
Army Staff Sgt. Kwa Win, a patrol and supply specialist at Torii Station, talks about his journey from refugee to soldier, April 11, 2023, Okinawa, Japan. Play
Refugee to Soldier
1:00
Refugee to Soldier
A Marine speaks. Play
A Father's Influence
2:15
A Father's Influence
Black and white photo of Marine in field. Play
Kurt Chew-Een Lee: Battlefield Valor
2:48
Kurt Chew-Een Lee: Battlefield Valor
In this episode, Sgt. Jane Hwang, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, discusses why she joined the U.S. Army, what makes her most proud of her heritage, and provides an Asian American Pacific Islander fun fact-of-the-day. The Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is an observance which spans the month of May and honors the service and sacrifices of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout the United States. (U.S. Army video by Bianka Lathan, with by Staff Sgt. Noel Gerig and Sgt. Nahjier Williams) Play
Army Sgt. Jane Hwang: Answering the Call
1:34
Army Sgt. Jane Hwang: Answering the Call
Lt. Col. Landon is a squadron commander, a pilot, an Airman, a father, a legacy and an Asian American; who knows he wouldn’t be where he is today without his forefathers. For Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Landon shared why the celebration of cultural differences not only marks the accomplishments of our past, but also inspires the next generations to keep making our world better. Play
Legacy: Pilot, Airman, Father
0:45
Legacy: Pilot, Airman, Father
Capt. Troy Meno, 532 Training Squadron intercontinental ballistic missile operations instructor, and his family talk about their Chamorro heritage and how that has shaped his Air Force career and values. Play
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage
1:08
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage
MAJ Dat Nguyen shares about his family's escape from Vietnam. Play
A Second Chance at Life
3:13
A Second Chance at Life
In recognition of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 1st Lt. Linda Le talks about how she's grown professionally and personally during her 15 years in the military. Le served in the active duty Air Force before joining the Mississippi National Guard, and is currently an Air Battle Manager with the 255th Air Control Squadron in Gulfport. (U.S. National Guard video by A. Danielle Thomas) Music courtesy: "Tears of Joy" Royalty free music from Fesliyan Studios Play
'More Than a Stereotype'
1:27
'More Than a Stereotype'
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Neil Ballecer, a first sergeant assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, discusses what Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month means to him, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, May 21, 2020. May represents AAPI Heritage Month, which celebrates the achievements and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to U.S. history and culture. (U.S Air Force Video by Staff Sgt. Bethany La Ville and SrA Brandon Cribelar) Play
Celebrating Tradition
1:02
Celebrating Tradition
Command Sgt. Maj. Thinh T. Huynh, the command sergeant major for the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. talks about immigrating to the U.S. from wartorn Vietnam and how he started off in the U.S. with nothing and rose to become a brigade command sergeant major as a part of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2020. Play
Rising Through the Ranks
1:50
Rising Through the Ranks
During Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Airman 1st Class Trung Nguyen, 172d Security Forces Squadron and formerly of the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, shared how his parents fled Vietnam's oppressive communist government to give their children a better life. Nguyen's father was captured by the North Vietnamese and imprisoned multiple times before managing to successfully escape. (U.S. National Guard video by A. Danielle Thomas) Music courtesy: "Tears of Joy" Royalty free music from Fesliyan Studios Play
For A Better Life
1:15
For A Better Life
In this episode, Pvt. First Class Milicent Paguirigan, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, discusses why she joined the U.S. Army, what makes her most proud of her heritage, and provides an Asian American Pacific Islander fun fact-of-the-day. The Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is an observance which spans the month of May and honors the service and sacrifices of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout the United States. (U.S. Army video by Bianka Lathan, with footage by Staff Sgt. Noel Gerig and Staff Sgt. Nahjier Williams) Play
Army Pvt. First Class Milicent Paguirigan: Answering the Call
1:30
Army Pvt. First Class Milicent Paguirigan: Answering the Call
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ian Agpaoa, fuels preventive maintenance team noncomissioned officer in charge, assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, fuels management flight, showcases what Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month means to him at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, May 22, 2020. May represents AAPI Heritage Month, which celebrates the achievements and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to U.S. history and culture. (U.S. Air Force video by Senior Airman Brandon Cribelar) Play
Airman Discusses Heritage, Mission
1:16
Airman Discusses Heritage, Mission
In this episode, Staff Sgt. Xiaoyan, Jiang, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, discusses why she joined the U.S. Army, what makes her most proud of her heritage, and provides an Asian American Pacific Islander fun fact-of-the-day. The Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is an observance which spans the month of May and honors the service and sacrifices of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout the United States. (U.S. Army video by Bianka Lathan, with footage by Staff Sgt. Noel Gerig and Staff Sgt. Nahjier Williams) Play
Army Staff Sgt. Xiaoyan Jiang: Answering the Call
1:17
Army Staff Sgt. Xiaoyan Jiang: Answering the Call