Colonel Frank Rubio, a member of the U.S. Army and known for completing the longest space mission by an American, described his “amazing” encounter with Earth’s atmosphere at a ceremony held at the Pentagon on Thursday to celebrate his accomplishment.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth praised Colonel Rubio for his exceptional utilization of opportunities as she bestowed upon him the Army Astronaut Device. She expressed her honor in having him serve as a representative of the Army and the United States.

Soldiers who have completed at least one mission in space are awarded the astronaut device by the Army. Rubio is now among the small number of active-duty soldiers, which includes Colonel Anne McClain and Colonel Andrew Morgan, who are allowed to wear it.

Rubio completed a 371-day stay on the International Space Station and returned to Earth at the end of last year on a Russian spacecraft.

The physician and helicopter pilot for Black Hawk accumulated over 600 hours of flight time during high-risk missions in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. In 2017, they transitioned to NASA and pursued a career as an astronaut.

Although being an astronaut is a common childhood aspiration for those who travel to space, Rubio stated that his passion for space missions developed later in life.

Rubio stated to reporters at the Pentagon that being able to say, “My job helps represent humanity,” is a significant and impactful aspect of his work.

Although he currently holds the record for the longest spaceflight ever completed by an American, this was not his intention. Rubio’s original six-month mission was prolonged to 371 days due to a leak on his return trip.

He remarked that his time in space was filled with remarkable moments, such as blasting off into space using 300 tons of rocket fuel, going on spacewalks, and returning to Earth’s atmosphere.

He answered a question from VOA by saying, “You basically turn into a meteorite and have a layer of plasma just a few inches under you due to the intense heat. It was all really amazing.”

Rubio’s parents are originally from El Salvador, and he acknowledges the Army for providing him with the opportunity to aim for success.

He expressed that he sees it as the embodiment of the American Dream. He believes that it signifies the multitude of possibilities available to us, and he places great importance on the fact that it is the opportunity itself that is given, not the end results. He also believes that with determination, dedication, and sacrifices, almost anything can be achieved.

On Thursday, Rubio expressed his desire to keep playing a role in NASA’s mission both on Earth and in outer space.