Hispanic youth meet Army leaders

by Sgt. 1st Class Connie E. Dickey

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Oct. 6, 1998) - Hispanic high school student leaders from across the nation visited the Pentagon Oct. 2, met with the head of the U.S Army Recruiting Command and talked with several Hispanic officers.

The 45 youth were in the nation's capital participating in a four-day leadership seminar. The trip was earned by the students for writing award-winning essays on bilingual education. Their tour of the Pentagon and the chance to meet and talk with some of the Army's leadership, including Maj. Gen. Evan R. Gaddis, was sponsored by the Recruiting Command. USAREC sponsors a Hispanic Influencer Alliance Program which allows recruiters to form a partnership with respected Hispanic community leaders. Under the program, the recruiters also serve as role models and mentors to at-risk Hispanic youth.

The student leadership seminar is a program of the League of United Latin American Citizens National Educational Service Centers, Inc. Richard Roybal, director of LULAC NESC, said the first year of the alliance with the Recruiting Command has been very successful. "We network with local recruiters and it certainly helped the Army reach students it did not have contact with before."

The national Hispanic dropout rate is more that 30 percent and the goal of the Recruiting Command is for students to finish their education first, and then to consider the Army as part of their career goals, said Capt. Kate Johnson of the Recruiting Command.

Gaddis traveled from Recruiting Command headquarters at Fort Knox, Ky., for an advertising meeting in Washington, D.C., and met the students to tell them how much the Army needs them.

"Of course we want you to stay in school...education is very important, but you are the future and you are the future leaders of the Army," he told the group. "The Army needs to look like America and to do that, we need more Hispanics in the Army, especially in the officer corps."

According to Gaddis, the Army has about 6 percent Hispanics in its ranks, but the nation's demographics show Hispanics make up 12 to 14 percent of the population. "The Hispanic community is the fastest growing population in America," he said.

"We have many opportunities for Hispanics," Gaddis said, "including leadership opportunities through West Point Military Academy, West Point Preparatory School and the Reserve Officers Training Corps, or a $40,000 incentive to go through college. I would ask you to finish your education, but have open hearts and an open mind" about joining the Army, he told the group.

Besides allowing the students to tour the Pentagon and talk with some of the Army's leadership, the seminar exposed the students to how the national government works. The students also met with senators, congressional representatives, White House officials, corporate executives, think tank representatives and other Washington professionals.

Victoria Neave, a 17-year-old student from Dallas, Texas, district youth director of LULAC's District Three (North Texas), said she has a lot of respect for the military but is not sure if it is part of her future. "I want to go to college and become a general physician and go into Latin American studies and then go back to my community and help my people," she said.

But, she also has high praise for both the military and LULAC NESC. "In one year, I have had so many benefits. I learned leadership skills, learned how to present myself and how to network and communicate."

She was also impressed with the Pentagon's exhibits on Hispanic heritage. "I was impressed by the fact that presentations were set up in a major hallway on Hispanics in the service for Hispanic Heritage Month and I am very proud of my heritage and am extremely glad that Latinos and Latinas are being recognized."

Gonzalo Godinez, a 17-year-old senior from Dallas, Texas, said he was amazed at what he saw at the Pentagon. "The many awards, the many displays...I never knew the Army had this. I am very proud of my people, seeing the Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients, and realizing the sacrifices and contributions of Hispanics in the military, made me very proud."

Roybal said LULAC NESC has 11 sites for recruiting, including Puerto Rico. "During our first year our message was for youths to stay in school," he said. "We produced a video geared to the Hispanic youth. Now we are ready to expand to phase II, which is focusing on career opportunities."