Dear Members of the Board
I joined the National Guard in Jan 2001 in the 1-188th ADA. I have been deployed to Afghanistan twice as part of the JLENS and RAID missions. I am a past Soldier and NCO of the year for my battalion. I have completed WLC and ALC, and intend to have my SSD completed by 1 Jan 2014. I was activated with my unit for state active duty during the flood of 2011. In the fall of 2010 I enrolled in the culinary arts program at Le Cordon Bleu, and in 2011 I graduated with a grade point average of 3.75 and an associates degree in culinary arts. After leaving school, I was hired at the Pirogue Grille in, under Chef Stuart Tracy, who has been mentoring me. He has also encouraged me to become a Mess Sergeant, as this would bring experience that will carry over to my civilian Job. Prior to being deployed to the DC area, I was a section sergeant with Alpha battery 1-188th ADA.
Currently I am deployed to Washington DC as part of the NCR IADS (National Capital Region Integrated Air Defense System). I am currently an NCOIC of an Avenger team, responsible for two other soldiers. This deployment is an amazing opportunity for me, both as a member of the Air Defense Artillery, and as a Chef. I am able to perform my MOS and train my soldiers to perform their duties. I am also able to sample foods from different cultures, and this will help me when I return to the restaurant.
In the future, I would like to be the Mess Sergeant for the 1-188th ADA, if possible. If not, I would enjoy achieving the same position in another unit. As my civilian career is in the culinary arts, I think it is only fitting I take a position doing the same thing in the military. I would love nothing more than to take my civilian experience and bring it to theNational Guard. As a civilian I plan, after this deployment, to go back to my civilian job and continue to learn as much as can about the culinary arts. As part of my long range career goals, I do plan...