By Douglas Mallary, NMNG Public Affairs
Staff Sgt. Noelalbert Balat is a Filipino American from Bolingbrook, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. He is currently assigned as an Automated Logistical Specialist with the 111th Special Troops Battalion in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
Balat joined the U.S. Army in 2008 and transferred to the Army Reserve the next year. He served in Iraq from 2009 to 2010 and Afghanistan from 2012 to 2013 before joining the New Mexico Army National Guard in 2014.
As an infantryman, Balat served in 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry. A proficient weapons instructor, he is a graduate of the Senior Gunner Course.
Balat is currently on active duty orders for COVID-19 support operations, working in the Joint Operations Center in Santa Fe. In his civilian career, he has served with U.S. Customs and Border Protection for seven years. He was recognized in 2017 for the most narcotics seized in the El Paso (Texas) Sector.
Balat was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where his father was stationed on active duty with the Army. Not long after Balat’s birth, his father served in Operation Desert Shield/Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait from Iraq.
Balat did not initially plan on joining the military—until fate intervened.
“I was an at-risk youth,” he said.
Balat began getting into trouble and was on in-school suspension when a security guard and veteran named William Hellams noticed him. Hellams took a long, hard look at Balat and told him, “There’s nothing wrong with you.”
Hellams helped Balat enroll in the Illinois National Guard Lincoln’s Challenge Academy and personally checked up on him during visiting days.
Balat was hooked after the acclimation phase, which rigorously transforms candidates into cadets.
“That’s what actually made me,” he said. “That was the turnaround. That was the spark to the torch.”
Balat learned that he could study, accept discipline, and push himself physically and mentally.
“I think the biggest thing was to leave a toxic environment that made me sick,” he said.
After graduation, he enlisted.
“The Army saved my life,” Balat said. “I joined the Army to grow up and become part of something bigger than myself. They’ve done so much for me. I’m very, very grateful.
”His brothers followed his example. One serves on active duty in the Army and deployed to Iraq from 2017 to 2018. The other serves on active duty with the Navy; having completed one six-month cruise, he is preparing for his second.
“Our father is proud of us,” Balat said.
Balat is a father himself. He and his wife Maria have two children: son Angel and daughter Andrea. Fatherhood motivates him to continue military service.
“I want to make sure that my little girl has nothing to be afraid of,” he said.
He’s also found a home and second family in the National Guard.
“While you’re in uniform, you’re taken care of,” Balat said. “While you’re in the Guard, you have that second family. With the Guard, there’s always that safety net.”
Balat works to balance family life with his military and civilian careers, noting that spending too much time and energy on one can hurt the others.
In his free time, Balat enjoys boxing, grilling, and spending time with his family.
As a boxer, he will step into the ring June 18 to represent U.S. Customs and Border Protection—and the National Guard—in the Battle of the Badges.
Balat plans to retake the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery to raise his test scores. He wants to become a warrant officer and apply for flight school to become a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot.
He also has his sights set on joining the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Special Response Team and becoming a business owner.
The former problem student has embraced education and holds an associate degree in Criminal Justice from Vista College in El Paso.
Balat encourages younger Soldiers to make the most of their National Guard service.
“There are a lot of opportunities,” he said. “There’s always something you can learn at drill.”
He urges Soldiers to make use of tuition assistance, student loan repayment, and training opportunities.
By setting and achieving goals, Balat believes, Guard members can become anything they wish.“
Just make sure you have a plan,” he said.
