First Lieutenant Aaron Contreras

When First Lieutenant Aaron Contreras enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 2000, no one could have known what was right around the corner. While at basic training, the infamous attacks of September 11, 2001, occurred, bringing a whole new meaning to Aaron’s service.

As Aaron recalls, “I will never forget being out at the range conducting basic rifle marksmanship and having the drill sergeants tell us that two planes had been flown into the World Trade Center.” With a newly fortified desire to serve as an officer in the U.S. military, Aaron began the ROTC program while finishing his undergraduate degree.

Upon graduation, Aaron decided to enter flight school where he was trained as an Apache helicopter pilot and subsequently deployed to Afghanistan. Leaving his wife and two daughters back home in Idaho was the toughest decision Aaron could make, and the reason why he recognizes the sacrifices they made as equal to the one he himself made. Now back with his family in Moscow, Idaho, Aaron is completing his law degree with which he hopes to continue his service in the U.S. Army as a JAG officer.