Nuestra Comunidad: Salvadoran recognized by U.S. Army
Rafael Monterrosa, a Salvadoran native and Columbus, Georgia resident, can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that he feels honored to be recognized by the United States Army.
In April, Monterrosa was selected as the U.S. Army Training & Doctrine Command’s Officer Instructor of the Year for 2016. Monterrosa, a 38 year-old Army captain, competed with instructors from 40 other Army schools throughout the country in order to win the prestigious award.
“They took the best instructors from each of these schools, in order to compete under U.S. Army standards and find out who the best instructor in the Army was, in the category of Officer,” explained Monterrosa, after an awards ceremony at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, located at Fort Benning, near Columbus.
Monterrosa came to serve in the U.S. Army after the government requested the help of soldiers from El Salvador.
“There is no greater challenge. You always have to work, trust and focus on your goals and be guided by values and principals,” said Monterrosa, who will officially receive his recognition this month.
Monterrosa’s wife, Yolanda, and their two children could not contain their emotions.
“We are so excited. I feel completely thankful to God for the opportunity that this has given us and for [Rafael] to have won this important award, which once again exalts the name of our little country,” said Yolanda.
For Monterrosa, who has completed 18 years of military service, his success is a demonstration of the spirit of his native land.
“I am an example of who Salvadorans are, of the each and every one of us who strives with the many challenges that happen day to day and above all, far from our country,” said Monterrosa.
