LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- Three of the four siblings, Senior Airman Caleb Mailhiot, Staff Sgts. Danielle Perez and Kevin Mailhiot are a part of the 913th Airlift Group, Air Force Reserves. The youngest sibling, Airman 1st Class Samuel Mailhiot is assigned to the 189th Airlift Wing, Air National Guard.
“When I first joined at 17 years old I wanted to be a Loadmaster, but I hesitated about deploying,” said Caleb Mailhiot, 327th Airlift Squadron loadmaster. “Now that I’ve deployed once in my previous career, I would love to do so again. Having been provided the opportunity to do my dream job with the [913th AG] I said, ‘sign me up.’”
The Mailhiot siblings’ military roots are deep rooted in Little Rock and give an added meaning of ‘brothers and sisters in arms.’
“My father was a huge influence on our decision to serve in the military,” said Caleb Mailhiot. “He served 12 years in the active duty Air Force with three deployments to the Middle East during the Persian Gulf era.”
“I believe working with family creates a stronger bond,” Caleb Mailhiot said. “As a family, we look out for each other, but being coworkers allows us be efficient as we know we can count on each other.”
According to Caleb Mailhiot, since he works directly with his sister in the squadron she is always “pestering” him and admittedly returns the favor.
The oldest sibling, Danielle Perez, 327th Airlift Squadron commander’s support staff personnelist is training to deploy with the unit to support Operations Freedom’s Sentinel and NATO’s Resolute Support.
Kevin Mailhiot, an air transportation specialist with the 96th Aerial Port Squadron, is currently deployed to Southwest Asia.
Their father mentioned how proud he was of their accomplishments and their desire to serve our great country as a member of the Air Force. Each trip to Lackland AFB for a Basic Military Training graduation ceremony was definitely a special occasion that brought back lots of memories.
Not only did the sibling grow their desire of military service from their father, it seems the seeds have been planted in their own children.
“I’m my son’s hero when I’m in uniform and he is sure to tell everyone he meets,” Caleb Mailhiot said. “At four years of age he is proud to say he’s going to be Air Force when he grows up and he is always excited to see his aunt and uncles in uniform. Any time we see anyone in uniform he is excited that they are ‘just like Dad’.”
The siblings’ father was thrilled that his children saw something through his active duty service that influenced their life decisions. He call his kids his ‘Warrior Airmen’ and mentioned that military service, “is a family commitment that only those that have served truly understand.”