Personal Statement: First Sergeant

I humbly and respectfully request to be considered for a Command Master Chief position. My distinguished record as a leader and operator make me qualified for this position of trust and responsibility. My leadership philosophy is that an individual’s leadership skills continually evolve; however, there are elements that remain constant, such as respect, purpose, collaboration, heart, trust, and spirit. Carefully managing team synergy, harmonizing its dynamics, and maximizing the advantages of diversity in order to achieve collective success are challenges we should strive to undertake.

I believe that I am ideally suited for an assignment at the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) because of my eclectic experience throughout my United States (U.S.) Army career ranging from special operations forces (SOF) units and conventional units both tactical and force generation. I have worked at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels. This experience runs from team medic through battalion senior operations sergeant major. These positions include working out of the United States Embassies in Mali and Mauritania to being the J3IO Senior Enlisted Leader in Afghanistan. Additionally, I have worked with 5th Special Forces group in Iraq and 3rd Special Forces Group in Afghanistan. Furthermore, I have experience working with U.S. Army Europe and U.S. European Command developing some of the current crisis contingency plans to include the strategic engagement strategy for Civil Affairs and the U.S. Country teams in that area of operations.

During my last year of high school one of my teachers brought up a topic; what is your purpose here? Many of peers are still unable to give a clear answer on what they want to be. I’ve always known deep down that the Army was going to be a major part of my life. I still remember counting down the days of my dad’s deployments. Knowing that my father was helping others who weren’t able to help themselves instilled a great pride in myself. That was one of the reasons why I joined JROTC to help my community and give purpose to young cadets in my high school. Army ROTC will be an extension of how I will be a productive member to our great society. My purpose is to become a better citizen for America, commissioning as an officer in the US Army will not only bring purpose but, discipline in my life as well.

I feel the biggest challenge facing our Army today is the systemic lack of discipline amongst many ranks and organizations throughout the Army. Imagine an Army where we have leaders who decide to impose their own brand of justice, who create their own standards and have little regard for Soldiers wellbeing. What about being a part of an organization that because of their background creates new social norms for what is acceptable behavior. Is this an Army that you want to be a part of? Unfortunately we know all too well what that Army looks like, yet many choose not to act. My goal as Sergeant Major of the Army would be to find the root cause of these issues and attack them head on. By gathering facts, statistics and trends amongst the Army

My Mother and Father relocated from Costa Rica to New York City where they met got married and where I was born. When I was just two years old, always wanting the best for us, my father moved our family from New York City to Jacksonville, FL in search of a better paying job and the American dream so he could provide us with a better quality of life. To ensure we were always clothed and feed, my father sacrificed everything for us and worked long hours to do so. Though I did have a pronounced, safe and active upbringing the North Florida school system didn’t expect much from the Hispanics that were starting to move to the then small town; unfortunately since my parents worked so much they expected the school system

I would like to be a part of the WSU Army ROTC program because I have a lot of potential to offer and I want to develop into a full fledged Army officer. The military path is something I have always wanted to pursue since junior year of high school. The influence of growing up in a Navy family helped shaped my decision to enlist in the Army National Guard. I was fortunate enough to be advanced from PV2 to PFC at the end of BCT on November 2016. During Initial Entry Training I realized that my goals and beliefs were aligned with beliefs such as the Army Values and LDRSHIP principles. After learning about the Army values and LDRSHIP principles, I integrated these beliefs into my everyday life as a soldier and a working student.

I have known since eighth grade that I aim to serve my country as a Naval Officer. I grew up in military and patriotic surroundings, listening to my Grandfather, a World War II PT boat veteran, tell stories of his Navy days. What inspired me most about him was that he never stopped giving back to our country. He remained a significant part of the Disabled American Veterans fighting for rights of veterans until the day he died. My Grandfather was the one that introduced me to the Naval Academy.

The Long Gray Line from West Point has done more than serve as college educated workers in America’s workforce and officers in the United States Military. The men and women who have attended the United States Military Academy have shaped and led our nation throughout its history, and I want to be a part of the next chapter. I want to give all that I can and more to the academy and afterwards to the Army. West Point is, without a doubt, the place where I belong.

Served as the Senior Personnel Sergeant of a Battalion consisting of 1000 Soldiers. Advised and assisted the Commander, NCOs, and Soldiers on personnel matters; reviewed and consolidated reports, statistics, and personnel actions submitted to higher headquarters; assisted unit's with Military Personnel Record Jackets (DA 201 Files), pay and finance records, and medical and dental records; advised the commander on personnel strength, shortages, provided technical guidance and training a section of 6 Soldiers; supervised and managed the processing and tracking of all personnel actions, awards, NCOERs, OERs, promotions, leaves and passes; and processed and ensured SIDPERS transactions were submitted in a timely and efficient manner. Assisted

I seek to be an Infantry Officer to be able to lead men up close and at the front of battle. I want to be able to directly influence the tide of battle through new innovative ways of leadership, tactics, and strategy.

In five years I see myself as either a Sargent or Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. Being 22 years old I will be in the first year of my second enlistment providing that I do not get NJP’d (non-judicial punishment) or something else dumb that I might get myself into. I look forward to joining the Marine Corps because of my long family military history and my extent of being a child of a military father. I plan on either being in the MOS (military occupational service) 1142 or 1345. I see myself having a degree by the end of those five years from online schooling while overseas on deployment or at my current duty station. Providing that I am a Sargent I will send in a request form in to become a DI (drill instructor) and then hopefully

My family has always fostered the importance of community within me. Every week for Sunday dinner my entire family gathered at my grandparents to eat, catch-up, but most importantly reflect on current events. This tradition brought my family together, and when I was ten we decided to turn our tradition into service. As our way of giving back we chose to cook meals at the Ronald McDonald House Southern New Jersey because it allowed us to reinforced our sense of family. The service was more than providing a meal --it was our way of extending our family’s love and compassion to others all across the world who came to the Ronald House.

The United States Air Force is an aerial warfare military service that I served in for 5 years. I couldn’t have asked for better mentors, leaders, and supervisors while I was in. The Air Force was established on September 18th, 1947 and is still going strong today. It first started out as the United States Army Air Corp but broke off into their out branch of service back in September of 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. I am still honored to be a veteran of the largest branch of service and the most technically advanced military that’s ever been around.

I am writing this letter to respectfully ask for your support in helping me become one of the many distinguished cadets at the United States Military Academy. I have achieved so much in my 16 years of life and being appointed into the academy will be very well-deserving and forthcoming to all the amazing opportunities that the academy has to offer. I have worked tremendously hard to obtain a 4.0 gpa and maintain a class rank in the top 100 of my 1000 person class. With your help I can hopefully be appointed as a West Point candidate for the class of 2022.

I would describe myself as an aspiring medic who is very determined and highly motivated to succeed in an extremely competitive environment. In my spare time I take part in various activities and particularly enjoy taking part in team sports such as football and basketball. Throughout my school years I have represented my school in inter-borough sports competitions which I thoroughly enjoyed doing.