Solid support is Lopez' motivation

By Delawese Fulton, The Fort Jackson LeaderMay 21, 2009

Solid support is Lopez' motivation

Rank, name

Sgt. 1st Class Gabriel L. Lopez

Unit

U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School

Military Occupational

Specialty / Job title

Infantryman/11B, drill sergeant

Years in service

11 years (June 5 will be 12 years)

Family

Married with a 6-year-old daughter

Highest education

Pursuing an associate's degree

Hobbies

Fishing, skeet and trap shoot, and spending time with his family

Aca,!Ac Aca,!Ac Aca,!Ac

Sgt. 1st Class Gabriel Lopez advises junior enlisted Soldiers not to worry about promotions.

Lopez has found that a solid support network of family and co-workers has been the best motivator.

"Promotions will come as long as you do your job to the best of your ability - no matter what it is," Lopez said. "Coach, teach, and mentor your Soldiers in every aspect. Always do what is legally right, morally right and ethically right, and you will be OK in life and on the job.

"Always take responsibility for your actions and [those] of your subordinates."

In his 11 years of service, Lopez has been stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., Camp Giant, Korea, Fort Lewis, Wash., and Fort Jackson. He has been deployed to Iraq twice.

Lopez said his co-workers and organizational leaders have influenced his Army career the most.

"They have helped mold and guide me in the right direction. They sometimes had to kick me in the rear end when I needed it most," he said.

He also thanks his wife "for putting up with my long work hours and various deployments. She has stayed by my side the whole time."

Besides hoping to retire from the Army as a command sergeant major, Lopez plans to complete his associate degree study and earn a bachelor's degree in business management.