Bill & Cindy Moline

Bill & Cindy Moline I recently had the pleasure to meet William (Bill) Moline. Bill is a true American patriot. His activities, passions, past actions, and ethics have always been squarely driven by how he could personally make the United States safer and stronger for all of America. It is impossible to spend any real time with him and not walk away feeling his true love of God and country! Bill’s life is a remarkable tale of self motivation and drive. Bill’s father was an U.S. Air Force pilot which made Bill an “Air Force brat”. After High School, Bill attended the University of Hawaii. By Bill’s own admission, he was too focused on scuba diving and surfing. He decided to take a break from school. His father gave him a pamphlet on how to become an Army pilot. Bill went to the library and taught himself about helicopters, map reading, etc. After his first meeting with the Army, they immediately enlisted him to train as an Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam, where he served one year. His stories of heroism to save colleagues are remarkable. During Vietnam, Bill was shot down once and wounded once. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, forty-one Air Medals, the Purple Heart, three Meritorious Service Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. After Vietnam, Bill did nine months of study and prep work at the Military Academy Prep School and applied to West Point. He was admitted on his first try with the class of 1973. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Science & Engineering, and did something very few individuals have done in recent history. He went from the U.S. Army & West Point, and was immediately commissioned in the U.S. Air Force as a Second Lieutenant! In 1988, Bill was awarded a Master of Science Degree in Aeronautical Technology from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He has flown fighter type aircraft all over the world, and was a command (master) pilot with over forty three hundred hours. Twelve hundred of those were combat hours flown in support of ground troops in Vietnam. He completed his military career as commander of the Avon Park Air Force range as a Lieutenant Colonel. Along the way, Bill was on the parachute team at West Point that was the first to use the new Para foil (rectangular) chutes. On his first jump with the new chute, the chute didn’t open properly. His emergency chute opened with literally seconds to spare. Of course, his coach had him back on the plane doing another jump within moments. One can only guess how much “character” was built that day! Bill is married to Cindy Moline. They met on a blind date in D.C., and both feel it might have been the worst blind date in the history of blind dates. Cindy was supposed to go on the date with another gentleman, but that individual wasn’t able to make it. Bill was a last minute substitution. When Bill was introduced to Cindy…he could hear Cindy’s girlfriend apologizing saying “he isn’t the one I set you up with.” The date went horribly, but Bill knew Cindy was the one for him. He kept trying to get a second date. Cindy finally decided to go out with him on a “pity date” (Bill’s words). Well, thirty four years and two grown children later…I would say the second date was a success! Throughout our conversation, Bill constantly brought up how much he loves, respects, and needs Cindy. She has been his rock and compass. She is accomplished, independent, and strong. For example, before West Point, Bill had issues with his lack of self confidence. Cindy convinced him that his ideas were always right and to believe in himself. Unless, of course, his ideas ran afoul of hers, then her ideas were always right. Cindy’s father was in the Army. Cindy and Bill have had a competition to see who has moved the most in their lives. Bill has moved thirty four times and Cindy has moved thirty seven times. Cindy says her father is not sure why they both like an Air Force guy, but they both do. It must be Bill’s Army roots. For the record, when Army plays against Air Force…Bill stands behind West Point, but has lost a lot of steak dinners on that position. Bill now has a “second” career that is almost as successful as his military career. He is a Career Management Strategist & VP of Career Strategies at WH International. He has completed many professional training courses including the National Career Development Facilitator Training, Certified Professional Resume Writer, and at least a half dozen other professional training courses. His friends describe Bill as a “networking genius”. They can’t believe how many people he knows and knows well. They believe it has to be at least over one thousand individuals. As for Bill, he genuinely believes (as Zig Ziglar says) if you help enough people get what they want, they will help you get what you want. Bill and Cindy have been members of the University Club for eight years. They chose this club because it is quieter than others (Bill wears hearing aids from all that jet engine noise), and they love the food, the atmosphere and the wonderful people. In particular, they appreciate the staff making a point to remember them. I hope everyone that reads this gets a chance to meet Bill and Cindy. You will walk away feeling good about them, yourself, the American military, and our country. I know I did.