From first place to First Shirt

Marc Polanco, second from the right, bursts out of the starting gate on a champion quarter horse at the World’s Championship Quarter Horse Classic Trials at Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, July 21, 1994. Polanco's racing days were an interesting chapter on his path to becoming a first sergeant in the Arizona Air National Guard. (Courtesy photo)

A First for Morocco

Royal Moroccan Air Force Maj. Mouloud Chihani performs a preflight check on an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Tucson International Airport before a training mission July 7, 2010. Chihani and three other Moroccan pilots are the first F-16 pilots in their air force and will lead the way to establish a new squadron of block 52s when they return home this July. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)

Padres’ 162nd Night

Student flight members from the 162nd Fighter Wing man a recruiting booth at Kino Memorial Stadium during the Tucson Padres’ Air Guard appreciation day game June 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hollie Hansen)

Padres’ 162nd Night

Tech. Sgt. Chandra Smith, a member of the 162nd Fighter Wing and former member of the Air Force’s Tops in Blue performance team, sings the National Anthem at Kino Memorial Stadium for the Tucson Padres’ June 5 Air Guard appreciation day game. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hollie Hansen)

Padres’ 162nd Night

Chief Master Sgt. Shane Clark, 162nd Fighter Wing command chief, gets ready to throw out a first pitch at the Tucson Padres’ Air Guard appreciation day game June 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hollie Hansen)

Padres’ 162nd Night

Col. Mick McGuire, 162nd Fighter Wing commander, follows through after throwing a first pitch at the Tucson Padres’ Air Guard appreciation day game June 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Dave Neve)