6 | Traveller | March 28, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
AMERICA’S MILITARY | SPOTLIGHT
SPC. JESENIA-G. ORTIZ Full name: Spc. Jesenia-Gomez Ortiz Unit: 508th Transportation Company, 262nd Quartermaster Battalion, 23rd QM Brigade MOS: 88M – motor transport operator Age: 33 Time in service: seven years Hometown: Humacao, Puerto Rico Family: single with two sons Your strengths : “I’m opinionated; I like to make my point. I will give you the truth, regardless of whether you like it or not. I’m honest, outgoing and talkative.” Your weaknesses: “It’s not a weakness to most people, but I’m really kind-hearted. I like to help people.” Why helping someone is a “weakness:” “Because some people can take advantage of you.” Pastimes: “I like to going out with my kids and playing sports with them. I enjoy seeing them grow.” Talent: “I think I’m a good cook.” Worst fear: “The fear of failure, especially
as a mother.” If you could change the world …: “I would change the mentality of some people, how they approach and think about life. Everybody has hard times and obstacles to overcome. I would like to help people overcome them.” The biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome: “Getting used to being away from my family for long periods of time.” How you balance the Army and family life: “I try to get my kids to understand more about the Army so they won’t be asking, ‘Mom, why aren’t you here?’ I used to bring them to the motor pool and show them what I do, and the vehicles that I drive. I know some people don’t like that, but I just like my kids to know this is what I do and this is why it takes up so much of my time.” What you like about your job as a motor transport operator: “I love my job. I like to transport things. That’s what I did in Iraq. I think transportation plays a really big part in any operation.”
What’s not to like about your job: Long hours of driving and getting tired (laugh).” Why you joined the Army: “To get over a bad breakup with my husband. Joining got me over many things, and it showed me a lot. It showed me that there are bigger things than my problems, and sometimes you have to put them aside. I can have a thousand problems at home, but when I come through that gate, I put things behind me so I get can the job done.” What it means to be a Soldier: “Being a Soldier means having the discipline to overcome your worst fears. I never thought I would be able to shoot a weapon and drive large vehicles. I never thought I was going
to go to war, seeing people die and seeing people struggle because they are away from their families. I think it means being able to go to that person and say, ‘Hey. It’s going to be OK. We’re going to make it; I think it means being there for your peers.” You were deployed to Iraq in 2008 and 2009. Talk about one of your experiences: “I met an NCO in Iraq who was from Germany. One day we were at a Salsa dance night. He was one of the deejays. The next day he was killed, and not being able to see WKDW SHUVRQ DJDLQ ZDV GLI¿FXOW ´ Best thing about the Army: “The discipline. The Army not only shows you how to be disciplined on the job, but it shows you how to be disciplined in life, period.” Worst thing about the Army: “It takes too much time away from your family.” What you would change if you were the Army chief of staff: ³, ZRXOG ¿JKW IRU VDPH VH[ FRXSOHV WR JHW WKH VDPH EHQH¿WV that we get because I have friends who are in that situation.” Future aspirations: “I’m getting out of the Army, and I’m pursuing a master’s degree in nursing.” – Compiled by T. Anthony Bell
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