Full Name:Rafael CabreraEthnicity: Cuban-AmericanPrevious Ocupation: Catholic Priest and Florida Army National Guard Chaplain. Held the rank of Major, Chaplain's Corps.
Appearance/Description:Rafael stands 5'10" tall, weighs 210 Lbs, which is acceptable for a 40 year old Catholic Priest. Rafael is in decent physical condition as a result of good genes and exercise. He rides a bicycle frequently, he goes for runs and has been training in martial arts for the past six years. He enjoys the feeling of endorphins pumping though his veins. It gives him a great pleasure which keeps him in tune with God and Jesus. Rafael wears a white shirt under a black vest with the traditional Catholic collar; black trousers. He has traded in his black low quarter leather shoes for a pair of black combat boots, keeping his trousers tucked into the top of his boots. He also wears the US Army issue Combat Assault vest over his black vest and white shirt. This is an article issued to him by his NG unit. He carries the bible, a Corpsman's aid kit, a 9mm pistol, a machete and two different knives.
Personality/psychological profile: Rafael is a positive, upbeat man who gives everyone the benefit of the doubt prefering forgivness and compassion over hate and anger. The viral outbreak that has turned the former living citizens of Miami greatly disturbs Father Rafael. He is torn between the teachings of Jesus Christ and dealing with the infestation. He has killed in the name of survival and prays daily to Jesus for forgiveness. Rationalizing these barbaric acts is an excruciatingly painful experience for Father Rafael.
History/Background/Experiences: Rafael was born in 1985 to Federico and Irena Cabrera. Federico worked as a Corrections Officer at South Florida Reception Center in Doral, Florida. Irena raised four children including Maria (`84), Rafael (`85), Miquel (`87) and Lucia (`89). Irena was a school trained registered nurse and had worked before she had children, later returning to the Miami Children's Hospital.
Rafael graduated from Barbara Goleman Senior High School in 2003. He immediately joined the US Navy as a Corpsman, attending Basic Combat Training at the Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL. Rafael then went to Combat Medical Corpsman training and was later assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment in Hawaii. Shortly after arrival at Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base, he was shipped to Okinawa, Japan. His time in Okinawa was limited as he was shipped to the Philippines where his unit conducted joint missions with Navy SEALs, SWCC and the CIA conducting terrorist surveillance and security mission in Zamboanga Bay. While in the Philippines, there was a constant threat of attack from the
Abu Sayyaf.
In 2004, Rafael's Marine unit boarded US Navy ships on a deployment around the South Pacific. This was more of a pleasure cruise for Rafael and the Devil Dogs of 1-3, stopping at various Pacific Islands for R&R. It was a well deserved break from the tense moments experienced in the Philippines.
By October, 2004, Seaman Cabrera and 1-3 Marines found themselves in Iraq. The battalion fought the
second battle of Fallujah to clear the city of insurgents and reclaim the city. This was a bloody battle. One in which Seaman Cabrera gained more experience than most ER doctors receive in a year. It was a bloody traumatic event and would haunt him for the rest of his life.
A year later, October 2005, Seaman Cabrera and the Marines of One Three returned to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Seaman Cabrera was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class and reassigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune, NC.
In July 2006, 3/2 Marines deployed to Al Anbar Province in Afghanistan in the city of Habbaniyah. During this deployment, PO3C Cabrera received more experience patching up wounded Marines. This was also a time for self-reflection and becoming closer to God. He prayed daily and vowed to give his life to God if he survived his time in hell.
In early 2007, the Marine battalion returned to North Carolina and that summer, Rafael ended his time in the Navy. Yes, he was a sailor, but felt more like a Marine because of his time spent with them in combat. These experiences laid the foundation of the man he was to become both good and bad.
Upon his return home, Rafael Cabrera enrolled at Saint John Vianney College Seminary in Miami. He spent the next ten years in the Seminary prior to his ordination as a Catholic priest. Upon graduation from Seminary, he now he holds a Master of Divinity degree and has given up his life for the church.
For seven years, Rafael Cabrera worked and lived at St Joseph Catholic Church in Tampa. Within the past year, Father Rafael has returned home to Miami accepting a posting at Saint Monica's on NW 191st Street in Miami Gardens. He found it difficult at first settling into his new position back home, but is slowly growing accustomed to it. He works with Monsignor Gilbert LaChapelle, a seasoned priest in his late 60s.
Additional Information:- Rafael has kept up with his First Aid training by taking regular first responder and CPR training through the local Red Cross.
- Father Rafael enjoys bicycling and does so frequently on his free time.
- Two years after ordination, Father Rafael began training at Karate America in Tampa Florida and then transferred to the Miami school when he changed parishes. He now holds a 2nd Degree black belt in Krav Maga.
- Father Rafael has kept up with his shooting skills by visiting a local range. His weapon of choice is the Berretta 9mm semi-automatic handgun.
- As a result of his frequently sleepless nights, dreams from experiences in Fallujah in 2004. He has an undiagnosed case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is something he hides, but has woke up in cold sweats frequently.
- When dealing with his night terrors, Rafael often hides his anxieties in a bottle of wine at the local liquor store or lounge.
- Within the year after ordination, Rafael joined the Florida Army National Guard as a Chaplain. Eight years later, he holds the rank of Major.