Sgt. Ignacio Alvarez Sandra McKinney

SGT. IGNACIO ALVAREZ

Army Recruiter

By Sandra McKinney

“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

Alvarez looking very handsome in uniform as he graduated from basic training

Born and raised in Gamerco, New Mexico, Ignacio Alvarez knew from a very early age that he wanted to enter the military. “I remember playing with GI Joe dolls when I was just a little kid,” he smiles. “I knew that was the path I wanted to take in life.” Alvarez made sure to live a clean and respectful life. It was important to him that he always make his mother Rita proud of him. “I am part Navajo,” he proudly states, “and it was important to the family that I learned silversmithing and inlay work. I did that at a young age. It was fun to learn the art and to be creative.”

As an older youth, he recognized the need for a steady after-school job and started out at McDonald’s. He also learned the skills needed to work landscaping jobs, enjoying the outdoors. Wanting more hours and a bigger paycheck, he then worked at Love’s Truck Stop as a cashier. This all happened up to his junior year at Gallup High School. “For my senior year, I quit work and applied myself more to my studies and started training in an exercise program to increase my physical skills, preparing for entry into the U.S. Army. I met with a recruiter and took the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test) and was sworn in to a delayed entry program in November of 2011.” The ASVAB is not just for entry into the military, some colleges also require that the test be taken.

Graduation day arrived quickly in May 2012. Alvarez took a little time for himself after graduation and enjoyed time with his family. He then reported for Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in July of 2012. This was the beginning of his career in the U.S. Army. Alvarez was assigned to Foxtrot Company 2/47 Infantry Regiment.

In November 2012, Alvarez entered Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and then moved on to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, home of The United States Disciplinary Barracks Maximum Security Prison (USDB). He was assigned to the 291 Military Police Company. The USDB is the U.S. military’s only maximum-security facility that houses male service members convicted at court-martial for violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Only enlisted prisoners with sentences over ten years, commissioned officers, and prisoners convicted of offenses related to national security are confined to the USDB. Corrections personnel at the facility are Army Corrections Specialists (MOS 31E) trained at the U.S. Army Military Police school located at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, as well as Marine and Air Force corrections personnel. “There were some really bad dudes there in the prison,” Alvarez frowns. “Watching over 400 inmates was a time when I learned to always be aware of my surroundings, to never take an action for granted, and to be on high-alert at all times.”

“This training was a stepping-stone for deployment in October of 2013 to Bagram, Afghanistan, for Operation Detention,” Alvarez states. “This was where we trained the Afghani Police on how to run a detention facility. There were Taliban and Al Qaeda prisoners, plus Pakistanis in this controversial facility.” The first American Detention Center at Bagram Airbase was set up soon after U.S. troops arrived in the country in late 2001 to help topple the Taliban government. Within months it had earned a reputation as a brutal and dangerous place. With the greater presence of U.S. Military, the facility took on a more structured atmosphere. “Some of my other duties involved personal security detail to get the Afghani judges to court,” stated Sgt. Alvarez. “Though not in an area of fighting, this was still a time of high-alert.” Alvarez stayed in Bagram until July 2014. Not long after his departure the detention facility was closed.

“At this point, I returned to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, for another stint at

Alvarez taking the oath of reenlistment in 2015

Alvarez-Military Police in Afghanistan

Sgt. Ignacio Alvarez today at the Gallup Army Recruiting Office Ignacio Alvarez, Family Man, with Mariah, Sophia, and Antonio

Platoon Photo - 508th Military Police Battalion Headquarters - Joint Base Lewis-McCord, WA

the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks. In November of 2014, I reenlisted for another three years and was sent to Joint Base LewisMcCord in Washington, just southwest of Tacoma,” Alvarez states proudly. “I really liked it there in Washington, except for the traffic,” he laughs. “At Joint Base Lewis-McCord, I worked as a Training NCO and did field training exercises, set up ranges for weapons qualifications, and worked on physical training skills, and even took on administrative work. I stayed in Washington from November of 2015 until October of 2017.”

Alvarez was asked if he was interested in working as an Army Recruiter and if he would like to return to Gallup to the recruiting office. “This seemed like a good opportunity to return home to family and to offer the benefits of Army life to those in Gallup and the surrounding area,” Sgt. Alvarez says proudly. He went to Recruiting School and returned to Gallup in November 2017. “We only put the finest into the U.S. Army. It is an excellent stepping-stone after high school to learn skills and receive an advanced education. There are many job choices in the Army; it is not just infantry,” Alvarez explains. In 2018, while stationed at the Gallup Recruiting Office, Alvarez reenlisted for another six years, taking another step forward in his military career.

“I would like to encourage others to set their life’s plan, and the U.S. Army can help you do that,” Alvarez states. “I am taking advantage of my education opportunities and I am currently working on a Bachelor of Science

in Business Administration. When that is completed, I will continue for my MBA. My studies are all on-line with the Grand Canyon University. I am grateful to the U.S. Army for this opportunity,” he states proudly.

While growing up and going to school in Gallup, he was given a nickname of “Nacho” which is a play on his first name of Ignacio. His fellow Gallup recruiters didn’t know about his nickname until one day some Gallup friends came into the recruiting office and called him by his childhood name. Now he is known as Nacho by all. Maybe we can give him an additional Army nickname and call him Sgt. Nacho.

Alvarez is a very polite young man with a ready smile and a winning personality; not to mention that he looks very handsome in his uniform. He is married to his beautiful wife, Mariah (also from Gallup), and has two children; Angelo and Sophia. “Mariah is very committed to being an Army wife. I know that it is not easy, especially when I was deployed to a war zone, but she is my rock!” he states with a proud grin. “I have been able to travel to some exciting places like Spain, Romania, Ireland, Afghanistan, and many places within the United States. It was one of my desires in joining the Army to be able to travel,” he states. “I plan to stay in the U.S. Army until retirement, and we want to take advantage of traveling some more.” He wants to explore the world through travel. On his bucket list of places to go are South Korea and

Germany. In May, Alvarez will leave for Advanced

Leaders Course at Fort Leonard Wood for six weeks. Upon completion of that training, he will be promoted to the rank of Staff Sargent and plans to continue his advancement up the ranks. When his recruiting commitment is complete here in Gallup, he would like to return to

Washington. There is an additional dream in the distant future. Ignacio and Mariah would like to return to Gallup after military retirement and open a quality restaurant.

“Something like a Buffalo Wild Wings would be an awesome restaurant for

Gallup. We all could enjoy watching sporting events and eating good food,” he says with a big grin.

Sgt. Ignacio Alvarez is a very patriotic young man. His motto: God, Country, Family!

Thank you, Sgt. Alvarez, for your service to the United States of America. We wish you safety and the very best in your future. Gallup has a lot to be proud of in this fine young man.

Veterans and citizens of Gallup are looking forward to the Grand Opening and dedication ceremonies of the Gallup New Mexico State Veterans Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 2019. This Grand Opening will take place following Memorial Day ceremonies by Veterans Helping Veterans. 10:00am - Placement of Wreaths at the Gravesite of the Unknown at Hillcrest Cemetery 10:30am - Parade from Hillcrest Cemetery to Gallup Courthouse Square 11:00am - Presentation at the Courthouse 1:00pm - Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremonies at Gallup State Veterans Cemetery on Hasler Valley Road. At approximately 3:00pm on Thursday, May 23, 2019, Run For The Wall veterans and supporters will depart from I-40 at Exit #16 and parade through downtown City of Gallup on Rt.66 heading to Red Rock Park with arrival at the Park approximately at 3:30pm. Ceremonies and Native Gourd Dances to honor the veterans will take place immediately after the arrival of the motorcyclists. A Native Gourd Dance will also be held at 12:00 noon prior to the arrival of Run For The Wall in honor of local veterans. Gallup Veterans Helping Veterans will be at Red Rock Park selling the coveted Run For The Wall T-shirts starting around noon. This is a very patriotic event and all citizens are encouraged to participate, waive your flag, and extend a big Gallup Welcome to the riders.