It’s an honor and a pleasure to deliver this month's treat. This Playboy Miss Social of the year served our country as a Security Forces Officer in the Air Force. She's an actress, a certified CPR instructor and MMA fighter! After losing her home to Hurricane Katrina she survived and was later awarded for her efforts in the medical field and community. Ha Candy Magazine is proud to present Ashley Salazar, our decorated Monthly Treat.
Interview by T.Mill for Ha Candy Magazine - tmill@hacandy.com - tmillonline.com
Ha Candy - Welcome to Ha Candy Magazine Ashley, how are you?
Ashley Salazar - I think its a honor anytime someone wants to interview you and I enjoy doing them.
Ha Candy - Thank you and everyone else who serves our country. You achieved so much while serving in the Air Force. Tell us about serving as a Security Forces Officer.
Ashley Salazar - During my enlistment time I served for six months as a Security Forces Augmentee, I was a SSgt then and almost finished with my 6 year term. They say certain jobs in the Air Force can be more tight nit and the Security Forces Squadron was no exception. Least to say my brothers and sisters in arms were all very close and we looked out for each other. I enjoyed being a officer and almost considered at once time re-enlisting and changing career to military police force. I'm not sure what it was about carrying a gun around all day but I felt very powerful and even sexy.
Ha Candy - Can we be your CPR mannequin ?
Ashley Salazar - Oh yes sure you can :) Well during my time at Scott Air Force Base (Ofallon, IL) I was a base CPR instructor which meant I taught and regulated classes for the whole base. If you were ever certified in CPR by AMC while I was at Scott you would have been in my class, just about every single military and civilian personnel.
Ha Candy - What happened to you in 2005 ?
Ashley Salazar - Hurricane Katrina impacted my life like nothing I had ever been through before. Growing up I had always had a fascination for weather especially the extremes of it like a hurricane. The amount of destruction I witnessed and went through personally as a living resident where the eye of the storm hit in Biloxi, MS is describable. I remember when it first started I was in the basement ER Xray room shooting a patient and water just started rushing in and people started screaming. My family and I sheltered at Keesler Air Force Base hospital and it was mandatory for me to stay and take care of the patients because I was one of the most experienced technicians and higher ranking SSgt.
The two weeks immediately following the hurricane I worked for 24 hours non stop in a make shift outside deployment tent as our entire hospital was deemed condemned because of mold infestation. I even had to send my daughter away with family for three months because the military could not cope with providing any care past its actual enlisted military members our base was destroyed by 30 foot storm surge. Three months after Katrina I was relocated to Scott AFB after losing my home. But I survived.
Ha Candy - In 2008 you won several impacting medals & awards such as (BTZ, Diagnostic Imaging Airman of the Year (AMC), Humanitarian medal, and Achievement Medal. ) Can you share some of the criteria of those.
Ashley Salazar - BTZ is now as "below the zone" for Senior Airman promotion in the Air Force. It's the first promotional you can qualify to get six months early if you are a outstanding troop amongst your peers. Diagnostic Imaging Airman of the Year (AMC) was presented to me when I was awarded BTZ, I was quite the go getter even back then beating out hundreds of other technicians from my career field to take the regional command title.
My Humanitarian medal was presented to me for my efforts during my care rendered to patients during the hurricane and the post aftermath of it as well as helping to rebuild the surrounding community. The medal that I have always been most proud of is my Achievement Medal which I was presented for my service as a base Honor Guard member for Kessler AFB and Scott AFB performing over 800 military special ceremonies and funeral services to active duty, retired and veteran United States Service Members.
Ha Candy - Not only can you save lives but you can kick ass too.
Ashley Salazar - 1st fight 36 sec TKO, something inside of me was unlocked that night I never knew I had inside me. MMA is one of my many loves, I just got offered a fight after so many ring girl gigs and was like why not? I did do six years in the Air Force right? I'm not scared to fight, in fact it gives me a sense of drive like I have never seen before in me.
It would be very interesting to see if my life takes me down a path one day of serious MMA commitment and what would come from that. 2nd fight was bad call by the ref, I never tapped and tried to rematch the girl for a year after. For me, I wear so many hats in my life so the hardest part for me is to keep them all balanced out. I will say this I actually just joined a new gym today and can personally tell you that I am independence training at the moment.
The local MMA gym I have discussed training with is Academy of Courage so if I go back into fighting it will be with them. I don't think the cage has seen the last of me just quite yet there's a lot there still for me to express.
Ha Candy - So if you take a vacation with us to a farm, and we get attacked by night walking creatures, you can totally protect us? Tell us about the movie “Farm”
Ashley Salazar - Of course I can I know how to lock and load baby! Playing "Sarah" as the female lead of Farm was quite awesome. My film was nominated by several film festivals which it premiered. It can also be purchased at several major outlets. We filmed for weeks at a time, and all became a family even eating meals together at the kitchen table in farm. It was a lot of fun working with all the other actors, and film crew.
Ha Candy - What does being
"Playboy Miss Social of the Year" mean to you?
Ashley Salazar - Its one of my dreams, there hasn't been a Playmate from Missouri for many years now but the ones who were became PB legends in their own rightful ways. I would also like to one day be a published Playboy photographer as I like to dabble in both sides of the lens.
Ha Candy - How do you say “ I love you Ha Candy Ooh la la “ in spanish?
Ashley Salazar - lol thats a mouthful! MOLL (Miss Ooh La La) is my baby, she's something I plan on doing for rest of my life as a writer. If I see talent, I like to write about it!
Ha Candy - How many hats do you wear in a typical day?
Ashley Salazar - Mom, partner, career woman, it can be a lot to juggle. I'm not attending school right now but I plan to go back soon.
Ha Candy - If your lover were a piece of candy what would he be?
Ashley Salazar - Sweet Tart
