All About Eric Haltom!
I consider myself an Arizona native despite the fact that I was born in Wellsville, NY. Oh, and the fact that I lived on and off in California and Arizona up until I was fifteen. Since then I have been an Arizonan, except for the five years I spent in the U.S. Army. Well after all that I still consider myself native. I always loved the color of our sunsets and the nice blistering breeze of a July’s wrath. Arizona has always been my comfort. There is just a certain calmness here that only comes out when you stop for just a few moments look out across the desert to the mountains with the sunset cascading on them like a golden shower that separates me from the rest of the conundrum.
Professional Life
I went to basic training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in Fort Sill, OK. My first duty station was a year in Korea, where I had the time of my life with some really crazy individuals. I originally joined in 1998 with a commitment of three years after two years I decided to re-enlist. I was able to reach a feat that not many do during non-war time. I was able to get a Sergeant promotion in less than three years. While in Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) I was with my fellow students in the chow hall and on one of the televisions a plane had just flown into one of the World Trade Towers. We could not hear the sound and all of us thought that a pilot had too may drinks before he flew out. Then the second plane hit and we all knew life was about to change. For the next two years nothing happened, and thirty days before my enlistment was over I was stop lossed. I had taken my team to Iraq where I spent five months and was released. That five months does not compare to the years my platoon spent over there, but it felt like a lifetime (If any of my old COLTs can hear me… I love you guys).
After leaving the military life had not slowed down one iota. I had difficulty finding work at first. Finally after a three month search I was called by the Department of Corrections. I had started Correction Officer Training Academy in February of 2004. I was proud to have been able to start off as team leader and finish as team leader without getting so much as a reprimand. I was assigned to Central Unit in Florence, AZ. Where I worked on second shift. I later moved to night shift although I had developed some posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms that had me more and more paranoid. So I had to leave that situation. From there I decided to go with something a little more safe. I was able to get a job with through a temp service working at American Funds which was a great situation for me, I was able to go to school and not have to be so paranoid that an inmate was running for me. American Funds hired me on permanent despite the fact that I was graduating soon and would be looking for work in the field. My temp contract was running out and they did not want to loose me over that.
Education
I went to Collins College for my Associate in Arts majoring in Graphic Design and graduated with honors as Valedictorian. I was proud that I had accomplished such an academic goal and will continue my academic goals at University of Phoenix. I am attending to attain my Bachelor in Science majoring in Web Development. My end goal is to become an anchor in the design and development world of web sites with a team that is proven and true. My intentions are to attain a long-term position in a Web Design and Development team and serve as an example for my son and future children as a responsible stable parent that they can look up to and be inspired by.