Russian national adopts the US military

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Austin M. Duran
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A future Laughlin airman listens through another college class. He is a biology major, a hopeful optometrist, and uninterested in what he is doing. He ponders to himself the lack of purpose he feels as he scuffles from one course to the next. "This will be a good education, I have great grades and I'll get a secure job in society ... but why do I feel like this is nothing exceptional?" he thought.

Airman 1st Class Arthur Zilberberg, 47th Flying Training Wing air traffic control apprentice, is a nationalized American citizen from Uzbekistan. When he was two years old his parents brought him and their family to the United States. When he was eleven years old he received his citizenship. He didn't think it was a big deal, until people started to congratulate him.

"I had no idea that this was important, but when everyone started smiling and patting me on the back it made me realize something important just happened," said Zilberburg. "I felt like I had joined a new big family when originally I wasn't expecting anything at all."

In high school, the stocky wrestler and hockey player approached a recruiter about joining the military in an effort to give back for the sense of patriotism he got from becoming a citizen.

"I spoke to an Army recruiter in high school, and he told me a lot about the military," said Zilberburg. "But I wasn't sold on the Army and had decided to go on to college and get a degree. I thought that is what you do as a young man: go to college, be an adult and experience life, get a degree and a job. Although great for some, the fulfillment I thought I would find was not there."

After discussing these thoughts with his parents, teachers and his brother, who is also an airman, he decided to leave college and join the Air Force.

"I considered the Navy and the Air Force, but after speaking with those close to me, I decided that the Air Force would take care of me the best while serving and prepare me for life outside the military if I decided that was the path I would follow," said the soft spoken Zilberburg.

Although quality of life and duality of training were big winning points for joining the Air Force, Zilberburg still wanted to challenge himself.

"When it came time to fill in for our job preferences, I was told the jobs were listed from hardest to easiest. I thought to myself that I didn't want something easy; otherwise I wouldn't have joined the military. So I put down the first eight hardest jobs and was selected for air traffic control."

Thriving in this environment, Zilberburg says the military has not changed his personality, but has sharpened who he already is.

"I was a jokester before I joined and I am a jokester now," said Zilberburg. "I enjoy practical jokes. Texas is my home and I asked for assignments in Texas, and I'm more than happy to be here at Laughlin. I am more organized and efficient than ever and I'm far more productive. I am taking online courses with Oklahoma University, but have changed my major to administrative leadership. Biology could help me be a doctor, but the Air Force and my new major will help me become an influence."

Zilberburg loves the pride and camaraderie he experiences in the Air Force.

"We as air traffic controllers take a lot of pride in what we do," Zilberburg said with a laugh. "We stick together in our off time; hitting the gym is a personal favorite and we go out to the lake and fish and boat regularly."

Zilberburg claims the most important ability he has learned is to get serious when it is time to work.

"Air traffic controllers don't take each other too seriously and have a lot of fun together, but when it's time to work we are all business because aircraft and lives are under our control," said Zilberburg.

Zilberburg even went back home to Dallas via the recruiter assistance program to tell others of what he had experienced so far.

"I had only just finished Basic Military Training and technical school for air traffic control, but was thrilled to go back and tell everyone about what I would get to do in the Air Force," said Zilberburg.

When asked about what he hopes the people will take away from his story, Zilberburg replied with confidence with words from which many can learn.

"People should be inspired to go outside the norms and still expect to succeed. The norm for me was to go to college and get a job like so many people these days. I went outside the norm, dropped out as a junior, found a passion and a community unlike any other in the military, and I'm still able to pursue my degree. Unexpected can be a great thing."

Zilberburg peers intently at his screens and back outside from the control tower to cross-check aircraft positions. He rattles out ATC clearances, radio responses and collision avoidance instructions - holding in his hands the lives of dozens of pilots and student pilots zooming in a condensed airspace only a couple hundred feet apart.