Geospatial engineer first sergeant loves leading

By Andrew SharbelJune 18, 2009

Geospatial engineer first sergeant loves leading
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - First Sgt. Moise Danjoint has always loved to draw. So, when he joined the Army, he was given an opportunity to do two things he loves: leading Soldiers and geospatial engineering.

Danjoint currently serves as First Sergeant of Echo Company, 169th Engineer Battalion. Echo Company is the Advanced Individual Training Company for geospatial engineers at Fort Belvoir.

Despite his love for drawing, Danjoint admits he didn't exactly choose his career. "It wasn't really a choice that I had, to become an engineer," he said. "The opportunity was, more or less, given to me."

He was born in Haiti and came to the states right after high school, moving in with his father. After attending college in Delaware for a year and a half, he realized college wasn't for him and joined the Army in 1992.

In his 17-year career he has been deployed five times. In 1994, he deployed twice to Haiti in an effort to reinstall President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. He has also been deployed twice to Kosovo and once to Iraq.

Danjoint has been stationed in Hawaii, North Carolina, Germany, Texas, and Oklahoma,. In Oklahoma, Danjoint was a drill instructor at Fort Sill, where he really enjoyed molding young Soldiers.

"I love being an NCO and a trainer of Soldiers," Danjoint said. "I love seeing the transformation of a Soldier from a civilian getting ready to fight a war. "I always tell my family, if I did not choose to become a Soldier and had stayed in college, I would probably not be as happy as I am now," Danjoint said.

When he is off duty, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. Most of that time is spent traveling to visit his family all over the nation.

In addition to spending time with his family, Danjoint is currently working toward a degree in business administration from the University of Maryland University College. "I absolutely love what I do, even though I am looking forward to retirement in about three years," Danjoint said. "I definitely will miss it, because I love the Soldiers."