His first assignment was with the 8th Fighter Squadron, Nicknamed "Scorpions", flying piston-driven North American F-51 Mustangs. At about the same time, the Philippine Air Force was in the process of transitioning to Jets, so in 1959, in preparation for jet training, he was sent to Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan, for Altitude Physiological Training.
His first assignment involved flying piston-driven North American F-51 Mustangs with the 8th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed "Scorpions". Around the same time, the Philippine Air Force began transitioning to jets, so he was sent to Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan, for altitude training.