Dr. Sonia Esquivel
Born in Mexico, Dr. Sonia Esquivel and her
family migrated to Garden City in the 1970's
from Chihuahua. The youngest of 10 children,
and a graduate of Garden City High School,
she attended Garden City Community College
and earned an Associates in Nursing.
An Academic Advisor and Professor of
Spanish at The United States Air Force
Academy in Colorado Springs, Dr. Esquivel is
the lead Academic Advisor for squadrons 1-10
and has served as the Course Director for
Spanish 132. She is also the principal
investigator for the Sense of Belonging of Cadet, a Longitudinal Study at The Air
Force Academy. Dr. Esquivel has escorted cadets on language immersions to
Chile and Mexico.
Today, her family and students give her the strength to blaze the trails at
work. “I have established a good relationship with my colleagues,” she shares.
“Our Dean Gen. Armacost, and many others who have supported me through the
trials at USAFA. Hearing my students share their stories of sacrifice, commitment,
and perseverance despite just arriving to the United States with limited English.”
Dr. Esquivel is also the principal investigator for a Cultural Diversity research
study being conducted at USAFA. Dr. Esquivel has presented her research at
multiple conferences and is in the process of publishing.
U.S. Coast Guard
Yeoman Second
Class Rita
M. Martinez
“I joined the service because the Coast Guard
missions and core values are aligned with my
values and views,” states Rita M. Martinez.
“Also, I wanted to have a career that could
provide many challenges and opportunities as
well as an immense sense of pride. That is exactly what being in the Coast Guard
means to me.”
From Santiago, Dominican Republic and a 2008 graduate of the American
Military University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, Martinez assumed
the duties as the lead YN2 of Coast Guard Base Seattle Admin department in July
2016.
For Martinez the best part of her job is also the most challenging part. “In my
position, I am asked to be present to assist members in what can be the most
stressful times of their lives,” she states. “Emotions run high, and I want to
provide the highest level of customer service and professionalism with each
encounter. As a Mission Support Specialist, I realize my mission is to help each
member arrive at their mission ready and free from worry that their pay and
benefits are in order. I am proud to be here in both the happy and challenging
times, it reminds me again that we are family.”
U.S. Army
National Guard
Captain Elsa E.
Canales
U.S. Naval
Academy
Midshipman First
Class Jocelyn
Rodriguez
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31
“My brother gave me the inspiration to join the
military as he joined the Army months before I
did,” shares Captain Elsa E. Canales. “He has
always been my role model and when he
joined I wanted to follow his footsteps and
make a difference.”
Born in San Miguel, El Salvador, Canales
moved from El Salvador to New York in 1999. Canales commissioned as a
Second Lieutenant after graduating from the Reserve Officer Training Program at
Stony Brook University in August 2009 branching Quartermaster. “I was 22 years
old when I joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps,” she shares. “However, I
realized I wanted to make a career out of the Army in 2016 shortly after I was
select to serve as a company commander.”
CPT Canales deployed to Buehring, Kuwait in 2012 in support of the
Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2013, she deployed for a second tour in Buehring,
Kuwait as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom and served as the Operations
Officer in the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion.
“I decided to go to the Naval Academy
because I wanted to serve, and I loved how
the Naval Academy focuses on developing
people of character,” states Midshipman
First Class Jocelyn Rodriguez. “The mission
goes far beyond making me a good student; the goal is to form good people
and excellent leaders. I was drawn to a place that would challenge me morally,
mentally, and physically.”
Born in Yuma, Arizona, Rodriguez serves as the 1st Company Commander
at the United States Naval Academy.
The best part of her job as a Midshipman is being surrounded by so many
like-minded individuals. “They inspire me to be better every day, and I have made
friendships that I know will last a lifetime,” she shares. “The community at USNA
is like no other,” she shares. “What makes the military strong is that we are
a melting pot of so many different personalities, backgrounds, and ways of
thinking. I am proud to be a Latina in the military and I hope to inspire others to
do the same.”
Rodriguez is one of 12 in her class selected for the medical corps billet; she
will be attending medical school following graduation in May 2019.
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