Soldier Pursues Passion to Help Others

Staff Sgt. Andre Daniel has always had a passion for helping others, and now through the help of the Army he will take that passion to the next level as he prepares to complete his Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Daniel, who is the Regional Health Command Europe Headquarters Detachment Sgt., was recently accepted into the Army Medical Department Enlisted Commissioning Program (AECP). The AECP provides an opportunity for eligible Soldiers to complete a BSN and receive a commission in the Army Nurse Corps. Daniel will complete the two-year nursing program at Georgia Southwestern State University.

For Daniel, who came to the United States from Haiti at 24 years old, being a nurse, or even being in the Army, wasn't a life-long dream -- but started out as a way to support himself.

"When I got here I had to find a way to take care of myself," Daniel said, "so that's when I enrolled in a vocational school to become a [Licensed Practical Nurse]. At first it was about the money. I wanted to be able to take care of myself and my family, but it became so much more than that. If you're in nursing for the money, you're not going to stay because it is hard."

It wasn't long after Daniel started clinical classes at a hospital that he fell in love with the career.

"Sometimes you wonder if you make a difference in the world or if what you do does any good. With nursing you don't have to worry about that," Daniel said.

Still looking for stability, Daniel decided he would go to the local recruiting station to learn more about joining the Army. He enlisted shortly after that visit.

Daniel has now been in the Army for nearly nine years; he has served at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md.; the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Fort Belvoir, Va.; Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany; he has deployed, and he has worked as the LRMC Command Sergeant Major's executive assistant.

Daniel said he is ready to make the transition to being an officer -- something he was unable to do when he joined the military as he was not yet a U.S. citizen. He applied for his citizenship while at Advanced Individualized Training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and within six months was a U.S. citizen and now able to work towards becoming an officer.

"I've learned a lot from my time on the enlisted side," he said. It has been great. We are where the rubber meets the road. We make things happen -- but I've always known I wanted to be an officer."

Daniel said he has a desire to do more, "to have a real influence on someone else's life." He said he thinks this desire comes from his upbringing.

"My mom was such a compassionate person," Daniel said." She was the definition of selfless, so I think that's where I got my compassion, I like being useful and I like helping people."

He hopes to someday take his skills back to Haiti to help others and give back.

Daniel has a wife and two children and said they are his driving force for everything he does.

"I want to be a good example for my children; I can't tell them how important education is and then not have my degree."

Daniel has been working toward his BSN since 2009, in between deployments and work -- taking classes when he could.

"I told myself this year I was going to apply for the program and my wife pushed me to finish my coursework so I could," Daniel said. "To me, this next step is the natural progression. As an LPN I should strive be a Registered Nurse."

To be eligible for the AECP, Soldiers must have completed, or will have completed, all prerequisite coursework by the time they begin a nursing program. While attending school, participants continue to receive full enlisted pay and benefits. The AECP covers tuition costs and provides a book allowance for the academic year. Participants also receive a full cost PCS move to the school where they will complete the program.

Once all coursework is complete, participants must take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination, after which they will receive their commission and then attend the Basic Officer Leadership Course.

Daniel said he wants other Soldiers to know that their goals are achievable too.

"If it's what you want to do then don't let yourself or others talk you out of it," Daniel said. "Know that what you want to do is achievable. You've just got to be willing to do the work. It won't always be easy - it hasn't been easy for me - but just keep going."

RHCE Command Sergeant Major, William O'Neal, said this is another example of the great benefits awarded to Soldiers working within the Army Medical Department and he looks forward to seeing the great work Daniel does as an officer.

"Staff Sgt. Daniel epitomizes what we look for within the ranks of our Army Medicine Soldiers -- he is motivated, dedicated and above all, selfless to the core," O'Neal said. "Staff Sgt. Daniel is a great non-commissioned officer and although we will be losing a great leader within the NCO Corps, I have no doubt he will do great things as an AMEDD officer. The AMEDD offers our Soldiers many great opportunities and Staff Sgt. Daniel is a perfect example of what can happen when you put your mind to something and achieve exceptional results. "