Photo By Staff Sgt. Ian Ives | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Washington – CW2 Gustavo Salvador, a property book officer...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Washington – “I came to the United States of America at 27 years of age,” said Gustavo Salvador, a native of Ecuador. “I arrived in the USA in order to achieve the American dream. At this moment I can say with great confidence that I have achieved my American dream.”
The American Dream means many different things to different people, but for Salvador, just recently promoted to United States Army Chief Warrant Officer 2, August 24, it meant serving in the United States Army. Salvador grew up in Quito, Ecuador, the son of two Ecuadorian army veterans. His father served in the Ecuadorian army for 33 years retiring with the rank of sergeant major; his mother also served in the Ecuadorian army for 36 years as a sergeant first class and a military-civilian nurse.
“Growing up with military parents is a unique experience,” said Salvador. “Since I’ve had the use of reason, they inculcated in me good principles, honor, respect, commitment, discipline, and loyalty that to this day have helped me to be the person that I am.”
Being influenced by his parents’ military service, Salvador attended the Superior Military School “Eloy Alfaro,” which is the Ecuadorian equivalent to the United States Military Academy (West Point). Upon his graduation he was commissioned into the Ecuadorian army as a 2nd Lieutenant. After serving as a commissioned officer in Ecuador, Salvador chose to leave his home and travel to America in order to enlist into the U.S. Army at the age of 27.
Enlisting into the U.S. Army did not come without some major changes. Instead of being in a leadership position as he was in Ecuador, Salvador was now a Private 2nd Class. He initially also had trouble with transitioning from speaking Spanish to English.
“Without a doubt the language was my biggest challenge,” said Salvador. “However, I had been preparing myself day by day to be able to progress in my military career.”
Quickly overcoming the adversity of serving in a different country, Salvador utilized every opportunity the Army offered him; obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management from Ashford University, with Magna cum laude honors, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with specialization in Supply Chain Management with Summa cum laude honors. The culmination of his continued education, years of hard work, and many military achievements led to him commissioning as a Warrant Officer in 2016.
“Becoming a Warrant Officer is not just a dream for me, it is a passion,” said Salvador. “The Army, Soldiers, and command deserve the best guidance and support that an officer can give. My knowledge of supply chain management, civilian and military experience in logistics make me confident that this is the reason why I wanted to become a Warrant Officer in the United States Army.”
Salvador now serves in the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a Property Book Officer managing the supplies and the distribution of supplies throughout all theaters of operation within the group’s responsibility. He plans to further his education even more by starting his doctoral program in Business/Finance sometime next year. This is CW2 Salvador’s American Dream.
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.24.2018 20:10 |
| Story ID: | 290305 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 260 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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