By Judy A. Tachias
Growing up today in a small rural county mirrors the same values and traditions that long shaped the Estancia Valley in New Mexico. Children are raised with a deep respect for the land, working farms that were passed down through generations. They gather to celebrate milestones in their lives. Children grow and follow generational footsteps, steered onto paths that their parents forged. Families truly appreciate what they have; much of which is the result of their own dedication to hard work building up their resources and committing to impacting the community that they love. These engrained life experiences of hard work, integrity, and a commitment to their community have inspired a sense of duty and led many to serve in our nation’s military.
Colonel Brian Tachias (US Army Retired) is one of our many local veterans who embody this spirit of service. He first called the East Mountains home when his father retired from the military in 1976 when he was eleven years old. For the next seven years, he lived on his parent’s ranch in between Chilili and Estancia where he learned the value of hard work and self-reliance. He fondly recalls the early mornings of feeding animals before he headed out for school and the cold morning walks to the highway to catch the school bus. At the end of most school days, his trusty horse would meet him at the property gate where the school bus dropped him off, and he’d happily ride it down the mile-long dirt road path to his parents’ homestead. It wasn’t unusual for him as a young boy living on near-virgin land to do his homework by kerosene lamp and to weather the walk towards the outhouse in the darkest of the early morning hours. Memories of being chased by the family bull named Pharoah still put him in a fit of laughter as he tells of his near-death escapades on the ranch. It was exhilarating for him to live such a great adventure, and he felt proud to be part of a small knit community that faced similar ranching challenges and forged bonds through those shared experiences.
In 1983, as a graduating senior at Estancia High School, Colonel Tachias decided to enlist in the New Mexico National Guard. As the son of a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class, his parents instilled in him a deep love of country. With the help of the Montgomery GI Bill, he received through his service in the NM National Guard, Colonel Tachias pursued higher education at the College of Santa Fe. Even as a young boy, he knew his future after college would involve serving in the military. Following in his father’s footsteps and observing the lessons his older brother shared as a college student and citizen soldier, he joined the University of New Mexico’s Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) program. He graduated in 1987 as a Distinguished Military Graduate from UNM’s Army ROTC program and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry.
Colonel Tachias’ military career spanned nearly thirty years. His path took him from Korea as an Infantry Lieutenant to cross-branching into Army Aviation, and then around the world. His first assignment as a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot was with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Fort Bliss, Texas and his final assignment in 2016, was as an Army Acquisition officer stationed at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. There were lots of moves and assignments in between those years, including service in the Middle East, as he answered the Army’s call wherever it took he and his family.
As Colonel Tachias reflects on his military journey, he credits his accomplishments to the support and encouragement he received along the way–through his faith, from his family, friends, his mentors and peers in the Army, and the lessons he learned growing up in a rural community. The values of hard work, dedication, and service above self that he learned while growing up in the East Mountain community have remained with him his entire life.
Today, Colonel Tachias works with Bell Flight in Fort Worth, Texas, contributing his skills and experience to developing the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) which is the replacement to the Army’s UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. As he looks to the future, he plans to return to New Mexico’s East Mountains to continue developing his ranch with the hope of passing it down to his sons and future generations.
This Veteran’s Day, we would like to honor Colonel Brian Tachias (US Army Retired) and the countless men and women from our local New Mexico communities who’ve dedicated their lives to defending our freedoms. Their stories are a reminder of the enduring strength that is rooted in faith, family, community, and a lifelong commitment to serving others.
Happy Veteran’s Day!
