“Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.” President John F. Kennedy’s quote still rings in the ears of many Americans today, including those who have immigrated from other countries to become naturalized citizens of the land of freedom and opportunity.
One such immigrant is Zehra Pittalwala, who, having lived in the country for 15 years, asked herself this very question. Her way of “doing for her country” involved joining the military ranks, namely, the United States Air and Space Forces.
“I felt like I was at a place where I wanted to do something for my country because my country had done so much for me,” says Zehra. “I thought to myself, ‘This is how I can build connections and bridges, and maybe somewhere down the line, my contributions can help the Jamat and our country.’”
Zehra is shown training for the army
Originally from Mumbai, India, Zehra received her college degree in banking and accounting before moving to the U.S. in 2008. At 19 years old, she enrolled in the Atlanta Beauty & Barber Academy to pursue cosmetology. Upon obtaining her beautician’s license, she was motivated to learn more in the realms of skincare and makeup, receiving certifications from DINAIR Makeup Academy in California and the DERMED Institute in Atlanta.
In her years of experience, Zehra has had the opportunity to work for names like Christian Dior Cosmetics as a makeup artist and beauty advisor, a job the creative in her thoroughly enjoyed and thrived in.
Years later, in 2020, when Zehra was leaving the grocery store and saw a plane fly overhead, something clicked. A voice from within prompted her to explore the possibility of being a pilot for the US Army – and so she went home that night and researched what it would take for her to join the Air Force.
“I called a few people that evening, spoke to one of the officers, and he connected me with a recruiter, who guided me through the process,” recalls Zehra. As a prerequisite, she started studying the electrical and mechanical components required to pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which covers arithmetic reasoning, work knowledge, paragraph comprehension, and mathematics knowledge.
“My dad was really shocked when I shared my plans with him. I told him I’ll regret it if I didn’t do it now. My mom really supported me, and then my dad was okay. When I used to hear stories about people who joined, I would feel really inspired,” Zehra remarks.
A year later, in March 2021, Zehra joined the Armed Forces after passing her ASVAB and medical tests. She then completed basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, studied criminal justice, and completed training as a law enforcement officer.
“Training was really hard for me, and I felt like giving up many times, but my mother pushed me. She is the reason I am where I am. I thought, ‘If this is for me, I’ll be able to get through it,’” she says.
Today, Zehra is proud to work as a law enforcement officer in security forces at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia. “My job and duty is to protect the vital assets at the base and handle different security operations and missions,” she explains. In layman's terms, she described her job as part of the Air Force military police who can work on any base.
Zehra submitted a second artwork for the US Ismaili Arts
In her role, Zehra says no two days are ever the same, with assignments varying as needed. Some days could be spent sitting at a desk, answering calls, and directing employees on where to report. Other days could involve patrolling the facility, handling incidents on base, such as crime scenes and traffic violations, monitoring aircraft entrants, inspecting the aircraft, and issuing citations to those who break the law on base.
For the future, Zehra aspires to reach a higher officer level, such as Master Sergeant. On the personal front, she would like to help foster safety and security for the Jamat. “I used to be on the crisis management team, and now I’m a part of the ACCESS board and disaster management, so I would like to help the Jamat and make a difference wherever I can,” says Zehra.
Beyond her current roles both professionally and as a volunteer, Zehra has other aspirations, too. “I completed a course at Harvard on neuroscience, and it really inspired me,” she says, adding that one of her long-term goals is to “...work, treat and perform diagnostic tests for patients in different age groups who have epilepsy/seizures and other neurological disorders. I hope to be a part of a research program that involves nerve conduction and sleep studies. I am also doing my clinical internship at the Orlando Epilepsy Center.”
As far as hobbies are concerned, Zehra has plenty. In her free time, she often takes up painting, creating abstract and Sufi art using acrylic paint, and frequently finds herself experimenting with texture paintings, which she hopes to become better versed with. “My mom is an artist, so she used to do metal artwork and calligraphy. That’s where I gain my abilities and inspiration from,” notes Zehra.
Zehra’s other non-artistic related pastimes include reading inspirational books, such as The Secret series and The Power of Attitude, as well as indulging in books on Islam, watching inspiring videos, and listening to podcasts.
