The challenge, the comradery, the uniqueness of being part of the “one percent” – for these reasons, this Soldier couldn’t stay away from the benefits of military service.
Sgt. Andres Garcia, who serves as an all-source intel analyst assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps, hasn’t always worn “Army green.” Prior to being a Soldier, Garcia initially enlisted as a U.S. Marine serving in the U.S. Marines Corps from 2013 to 2021.
“I served in the motor transportation career field in the Marines and traveled the world defending our embassies,” Garcia said.
After six years of active duty in the Marine Corps, Garcia completed the last two years of his commitment while going to nursing school. While he enjoyed the team aspect of working in a hospital and caring for others, Garcia said he found himself missing the challenge and the opportunities only the military provides.
“During the separation, things were becoming stagnant in my life," Garcia said. "I just knew it wasn’t right, so I decided to come back to the military wearing a different uniform.”
Garcia, originally from Zephyrhills, Fla., joined the U.S. Army in July 2021 and has been deployed in Germany since May as part of Task Force Dragon to assure our NATO allies. During his time in Europe, Garcia has experienced levels of his job he never thought he would.
“I think everything here is magnified,” Garcia said “There is a different aspect to it, than being at Bragg. As a new Soldier in the Army, getting this unique experience and know-how from our Allies is beyond crucial to my success. Having different conversations with these different individuals just opens your mind and provides a new perspective.”
As an intel NCO, Garcia enjoys working with others to help his leadership make big-picture decisions in support of the XVIII Airborne Corps commander. Out in Europe as part of Task Force Dragon, he says it’s both challenging and rewarding to do what he does.
Garcia works with various intel sources like geospatial intelligence, open-source intelligence, and signal intelligence to gather vital information in support of mission success.
“The most challenging part is just wanting to succeed all the time,” Garcia said. “Everyone is counting on you, and you are counting on everyone. It’s definitely motivated me to never give up. I wake up every morning and think ‘okay I could be the difference maker’ and that’s the mentality you have to have here.”
He credits his college education with helping him get a higher ASVAB score so he would have a wider array of job options when joining the Army and he said his recruiter was helpful.
The Army has recently revamped recruiting tactics in an effort to combat low recruitment rates currently being experienced across the military branches.
Garcia said joining the Army was one of the best decisions he’s made.
“I think whether you’re at Fort Bragg or here, what we do matters,” Garcia said. “At the end of the day, we all want the same thing - to succeed. It's one mission, and we’re all in it together regardless of where we are working around the world.”
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