Public Health Flight commander has roots in India

Published March 12, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Kiana Brothers
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Frigid cool air flows through the small, brick cement homes. Water is not a constant utility, and heating or air conditioning is uncommon. Neighboring homes sit attached on each side and yards are scarce near these flat roof homes, but clothes lines are easy to notice.

This describes the small Indian town of 11,000 where Lt. Col. Anoop Attreya, the Public Health Flight commander, grew up--a stark contrast to his life in America and the Air Force now.

"I attended a semi-private school and walked every day because there were no buses," said Attreya.

Children only attend school until the 10th grade in India. After graduating high school, students complete three years of additional education to earn their bachelor's. Attreya received his degree in Ayurverdic Medicine and Surgery.

After receiving his degree, Attreya entered into an arranged marriage. Before he was married, Attreya had met his wife once for a brief moment.

"I met my wife only one time for five minutes at her house," he said. "We had a very small talk, and I asked her if she liked me, she said, 'Yes'."

After they married, he and his wife decided to come to the U.S., where her family had been living for awhile. In 1987, they landed at the crowded Atlanta airport, which was full of unfamiliar people.

"The first thing I noticed was how big Americans were," said Attreya. "In India, everyone is about the same size and skin tone."

Attreya and his wife began their trip through Georgia to Alabama. Once they reached Alabama they stopped at a rest station that was having a soda promotion.

"We use to hear, in America, they had those," said Attreya, referring to the soda machines. "I was just so tickled to experience it for the first time!"

After settling in Alabama, Attreya continued his education. He received a master's in public health, administration, and took two semesters of health education. After working for the Alabama State Health Department and Tuskegee University, he decided to enter the Air Force in 1995 as a Public Health Officer.

Attreya did not initially think about joining the Air Force, but his boss, an Army reservist, and his brother-in-law, a physician in the Indian Navy, who worked with Attreya, played a part in his decision.

He has now been on several deployments throughout his career, and has also worked with and trained many people.

"I enjoy every deployment, but I really enjoyed being able to train members from Pakistan in their own language," said Attreya. "I really do enjoy the way we work in the Air Force, and I love preventative medicine."

When he is not performing his Air Force duties he still stays connected with family in India.

"I try to go to India every year because my parents and sisters still live there," said Attreya, a 19-year veteran.

The last time he visited the country he grew up in was for his son's wedding in June 2013. His son is currently in the U.S., but his daughter-in-law is waiting for her visa.