An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

HomeNewsArticle Display

Face of Defense: From Army 'Brat' to Space Force Guardian

By MEGAN MILLS, NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA PUBLIC AFFAIRS / Published December 03, 2021

U.S. Space Force Sgt. David Kim, assigned to the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron, stands in front of his work site, Europe 3, a satellite communications facility at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Nov. 23, 2021. NAS Sigonella’s strategic location enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required, ensuring security and stability in Europe, Africa and Central Command.
PHOTO DETAILS  /   DOWNLOAD HI-RES 1 of 4

211123-N-OX321-1022 NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy (Nov. 23, 2021) U.S. Space Force Sgt. David Kim, assigned to the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron, stands in front of his work site, Europe 3, a satellite communications facility at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Nov. 23, 2021. NAS Sigonella’s strategic location enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required, ensuring security and stability in Europe, Africa and Central Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kegan E. Kay)

U.S. Space Force Sgt. David Kim, assigned to the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron, stands in front of his work site, Europe 3, a satellite communications facility at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Nov. 23, 2021. NAS Sigonella’s strategic location enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required, ensuring security and stability in Europe, Africa and Central Command.
PHOTO DETAILS  /   DOWNLOAD HI-RES 2 of 4

211123-N-OX321-1017 NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy (Nov. 23, 2021) U.S. Space Force Sgt. David Kim, assigned to the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron, stands in front of his work site, Europe 3, a satellite communications facility at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Nov. 23, 2021. NAS Sigonella’s strategic location enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required, ensuring security and stability in Europe, Africa and Central Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kegan E. Kay)

U.S. Space Force Sgt. David Kim, assigned to the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron, poses for a photo before returning to conducting maintenance on a satellite onboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Nov. 23, 2021. NAS Sigonella’s strategic location enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required, ensuring security and stability in Europe, Africa and Central Command.
PHOTO DETAILS  /   DOWNLOAD HI-RES 3 of 4

211123-N-OX321-1006 NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy (Nov. 23, 2021) U.S. Space Force Sgt. David Kim, assigned to the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron, poses for a photo before returning to conducting maintenance on a satellite onboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Nov. 23, 2021. NAS Sigonella’s strategic location enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required, ensuring security and stability in Europe, Africa and Central Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kegan E. Kay)

U.S. Space Force Sgt. David Kim, assigned to the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron, conducts maintenance on a satellite onboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Nov. 23, 2021. NAS Sigonella’s strategic location enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required, ensuring security and stability in Europe, Africa and Central Command.
PHOTO DETAILS  /   DOWNLOAD HI-RES 4 of 4

211123-N-OX321-1003 NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy (Nov. 23, 2021) U.S. Space Force Sgt. David Kim, assigned to the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron, conducts maintenance on a satellite onboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Nov. 23, 2021. NAS Sigonella’s strategic location enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required, ensuring security and stability in Europe, Africa and Central Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kegan E. Kay)

PRINT | E-MAIL
NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA PUBLIC AFFAIRS --

Space Force Sgt. David Kim, 25, has spent almost half of his life overseas, thanks to three branches of the military: His father served in the Army; he enlisted in the Air Force after high school; and when the chance came in early 2021 to be one of the first members of the military's newest branch — the Space Force — he jumped at it.

Space Force Sgt. David Kim
Job Title: Satellite Systems Supervisor
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Stationed: Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy
Unit: 7th Reconnaissance Squadron

What was it like growing up as an Army "brat"?

For me, it was an enriching experience because I did get to grow up in a lot of different environments. It's weird whenever people ask where you're from or what's home because I can't really give a solid answer. The majority of my life has been overseas; I have lived in Germany for 12 years total! I have my Korean heritage from my mom and dad, but based on the way I talk and act, I'm completely American. It's a bunch of cultural influences that can make it confusing for me. 

What was your father's path to service?

My dad was a Korean immigrant who served for 23 years in the Army. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 80s or early 90s, and after my sister was born in 1993, he needed a way to support the family so he joined. For my family, the military is one of those things that we are really grateful for. It gave us opportunities we really needed.

How did you decide to join the military?

The reason I joined primarily is I didn't have too much direction about what I wanted to do after high school. I didn't think going to college for an aimless reason was going to do me any good, so I decided to go to the military. My dad is the one who said I should choose the Air Force before any other branch. I enlisted right after I graduated high school while we lived in Korea at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan-Casey.  

How important has travel been to you?

My dad and my mom knew they would never be able to necessarily provide financial riches, but at least with the experiences that they were able to provide, we were able to go to so many different countries. They instilled the travel bug really early on to me. To me, knowing that some people don't have passports or have never been out of their state boggles my mind. I had to get a passport as soon as I was born so we could move to Germany! 

Right now if it weren't for COVID, I'd be going to a different country every other week. In my lifetime, I don't even know how many countries I've been to. Over 30 at least. If you get the chance, definitely go to Thailand! 

Is it ever hard to be overseas? How do you cope?

As a young service member, when you're overseas you go through a lot of stuff that sucks, like being isolated and being away from everybody, even if you do get to live in a cool location.

I got into Olympic weightlifting when I lived in Korea [during high school] because of CrossFit. … I don't have any numbers where I'll ever be able to go to the Olympics, but I just love the sport because it's a lot of fun and I like things that require you to get really nitty gritty with it and just pay a lot of attention.

If you're willing to put a bunch of weights over your head and stand it up, then I think you're more than capable mentally to do a lot of things that the military will ask of you. 

You served in the Air Force for four years. Why did you transfer into the Space Force?

I joined on a whim! My old unit was asking if anybody wanted to do it, and I applied because I thought it would be cool to say I was part of the newest branch. I didn't actually realize I was going to get it until I came over here [to Sigonella]. 

As a new branch, we're at that new frontier. One of the reasons I joined is because with the new things comes the ability to kind of think outside the box. I like the idea of being able to be creative and try to figure out something that hasn't necessarily been done yet. 

You're a satellite communications technician. What is your job like now that you're in the Space Force?

I came to Sigonella under the slot of an Air Force job, and for now at least, it's the same job. It's not like I'm actually going to go to space. I'm transferring soon to Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado, so my answer may be different then.  

At its core, what I do in the military is information systems technology equipment for the Air Force/Space Force. My job, specifically. is in radio frequency transmission systems. We spend a lot of time outside doing maintenance on the equipment, but we're also in front of a computer a lot of the day. The thing about my career field as a whole is it's very vast. You always have a wide array of opportunities to do a bunch of things.

What do you want people to know about the Space Force?

[Comedian] Steve Carell is not my boss! Thank you, Netflix, for giving us that advertisement [on your streaming TV show], but that's not actually how it is. It's just like any other branch of the military, as far as my experience.

USAF Comments Policy
If you wish to comment, use the text box below. AF reserves the right to modify this policy at any time.

This is a moderated forum. That means all comments will be reviewed before posting. In addition, we expect that participants will treat each other, as well as our agency and our employees, with respect. We will not post comments that contain abusive or vulgar language, spam, hate speech, personal attacks, violate EEO policy, are offensive to other or similar content. We will not post comments that are spam, are clearly "off topic", promote services or products, infringe copyright protected material, or contain any links that don't contribute to the discussion. Comments that make unsupported accusations will also not be posted. The AF and the AF alone will make a determination as to which comments will be posted. Any references to commercial entities, products, services, or other non-governmental organizations or individuals that remain on the site are provided solely for the information of individuals using this page. These references are not intended to reflect the opinion of the AF, DoD, the United States, or its officers or employees concerning the significance, priority, or importance to be given the referenced entity, product, service, or organization. Such references are not an official or personal endorsement of any product, person, or service, and may not be quoted or reproduced for the purpose of stating or implying AF endorsement or approval of any product, person, or service.

Any comments that report criminal activity including: suicidal behaviour or sexual assault will be reported to appropriate authorities including OSI. This forum is not:

  • This forum is not to be used to report criminal activity. If you have information for law enforcement, please contact OSI or your local police agency.
  • Do not submit unsolicited proposals, or other business ideas or inquiries to this forum. This site is not to be used for contracting or commercial business.
  • This forum may not be used for the submission of any claim, demand, informal or formal complaint, or any other form of legal and/or administrative notice or process, or for the exhaustion of any legal and/or administrative remedy.

AF does not guarantee or warrant that any information posted by individuals on this forum is correct, and disclaims any liability for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. AF may not be able to verify, does not warrant or guarantee, and assumes no liability for anything posted on this website by any other person. AF does not endorse, support or otherwise promote any private or commercial entity or the information, products or services contained on those websites that may be reached through links on our website.

Members of the media are asked to send questions to the public affairs through their normal channels and to refrain from submitting questions here as comments. Reporter questions will not be posted. We recognize that the Web is a 24/7 medium, and your comments are welcome at any time. However, given the need to manage federal resources, moderating and posting of comments will occur during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Comments submitted after hours or on weekends will be read and posted as early as possible; in most cases, this means the next business day.

For the benefit of robust discussion, we ask that comments remain "on-topic." This means that comments will be posted only as it relates to the topic that is being discussed within the blog post. The views expressed on the site by non-federal commentators do not necessarily reflect the official views of the AF or the Federal Government.

To protect your own privacy and the privacy of others, please do not include personally identifiable information, such as name, Social Security number, DoD ID number, OSI Case number, phone numbers or email addresses in the body of your comment. If you do voluntarily include personally identifiable information in your comment, such as your name, that comment may or may not be posted on the page. If your comment is posted, your name will not be redacted or removed. In no circumstances will comments be posted that contain Social Security numbers, DoD ID numbers, OSI case numbers, addresses, email address or phone numbers. The default for the posting of comments is "anonymous", but if you opt not to, any information, including your login name, may be displayed on our site.

Thank you for taking the time to read this comment policy. We encourage your participation in our discussion and look forward to an active exchange of ideas.