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Romanian couple learns and graduate together at Maxwell Air Force Base Officers Training School

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tammie Ramsouer
  • 42 ABW
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  Many people arrive as cadets but leave as newly appointed officers at the Jeanne M. Holm Center for the Officer Accessions and Citizen Development, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base.

The school takes many individuals, from recent college graduates to enlisted Airmen wanting to become officers, but sometimes leadership and training instructors are caught off guard by some of the cadets. 

It is difficult for leadership to get to know all the cadets, said Lt. Col. Lori Rasmussen, Officer Training School Detachment 12th training squadron commander.  There isn't a lot of time to interact with them one-on-one, especially when they are in the beginning phases of their training. 

Rasmussen recounted a time when she got to escort some cadets to the Tuskegee Airmen Museum.  The tour offered a change in pace for the cadets, which also gave her a chance to mingle with them, to get to know them better.  She recalls meeting two unique cadets.

"We were standing by a P-51 Mustang, and I just started asking questions about their life and how their families are doing," Rasmussen said. "I had not seen their name tags yet. I proceeded to ask them both if they were married and they said 'Yes'. I asked them 'Where is your spouse? How far away are they?', and they both smiled. I asked them why they were smiling and so they pointed at each other and said 'That is my spouse.'"   

The couple introduced themselves as Cristina and Alexandru  Bunescu. Being a joint spouse herself, Rasmussen was intrigued by the couple and began to ask more questions.  

Discerning their accent wasn't native to the U.S., Rasmussen asked them where they were from and how they came to the U.S.  She said, this led to a 20-minute conversation about their native country of Romania and their desire to serve this country.  

"We both have bachelor's degrees, but it didn't get us very far," said 2nd Lt. Cristina Bunescu, OTS Detachment 12 graduate. "My husband and I both saw how fast people could excel in the military and be rewarded for doing hard work. So I decided to enlist in 2008, and I felt the need to give back to the country that took me in."

When Cristina joined the U.S. military she initially wanted to become an officer, but Cristina said she couldn't because she didn't have her citizenship. 

As Cristina continued her enlistment she became a naturalized citizen. Once she obtained her citizenship, she applied to OTS.  Her husband followed in her footsteps.

"It didn't take long to see how rewarded she (Cristina) was by serving our great country, and I wanted the same," said 2nd Lt. Alexandru Bunescu, OTS Detachment 12th graduate.  "I had been serving the military in a civil service position at Africa Command while Cristina was stationed in Germany. I had worked closely with generals and retired generals and looked up to them as mentors. Having those people show me how rewarding it is being an officer is what made me want to follow in their footsteps."

Alexandru was denied entrance the first time he applied to OTS, but didn't quit and decided to apply a second time.  It was then that Cristina said, "If you're going for it, I'm going for it" and both were selected for OTS in 2015.  

Arrival to OTS was something new for both the Bunescu's and the instructors. Cristina said that on the first day of training, her instructor came up to her and asked if Alexandru was her brother or husband.  He (instructor) was surprised to find out that Alexandru was her husband.  This hadn't happened in OTS before. 

Although training at OTS is both physically and intellectually challenging, the Bunescu's were determined to not give up or quit.   

"I knew that if she could do it, I could do it," Alexandru said. "It was comforting to know she was here experiencing the same things I was."

Rasmussen has high hopes for the newly graduated couple and their new adventure as officers.

"When I look at the Bunescu's their support structure is one another as they make their way," Rasmussen said. "The fact that they are so service oriented and grateful to want to give back, is something I think we need to have more of in our military."

"It's a great opportunity to give back and be thankful for what you have," Cristina said. "My husband and I plan to make it our lifelong career and mentor and inspire as much as we can to other service members."

For more information about the officer training on Maxwell Air Force Base, contact the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development Officer Training School at 953-3498.