Prev Med Leads the Way! by Leslie

Prev Med Leads the Way! by Leslie - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

Our planet Earth, in all of her beauty and magnificence, is in danger. Her existence stands to be threatened by our ignorance—wilfully or otherwise— nevertheless we must take action. My call to action comes in the form of service to the U.S military. In March of 2023, I enlisted in the U.S army and on June 6th 2023, I shipped off to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO where I endured ten long weeks of training. Following my physical training, I received educational training at Ft. Sam Houston, TX for my military occupational specialty: 68S - Preventive Medicine Specialist.
Here, I learned about how soldiers in this MOS, and others closely related, stood at the front lines when the COVID-19 pandemic took place. It brought me back to a time in 2020 when the feeling of fear was forced upon the public, more than anything I wanted answers and solutions to the problems we faced. I however, felt powerless in the midst of all the chaos. Fast forward to August through December of 2023, I sat in the classroom, completed field exercises, and presented my knowledge on the various methods, systems, and policies implemented by the army that would help prevent the next pandemic.
Every part of the training that I received at Ft. Sam Houston shaped me into the soldier that I am today, but the hands-on work that we did particularly in waste water management, entomology, and industrial hygiene made me realize that my call to action was bigger than just the U.S Army. I felt in my heart that I needed to carry out this mission in the civilian world as well, and this was confirmed to me on December 15th 2023 during my commencement ceremony when Master Sergeant Montenezcolon urged us to continue our education beyond the army. He reminded my classmates and I of our duty to protect and serve within the realm of our newfound knowledge. He explained how the expansion of that knowledge can really make a difference in the world around us. I thought long and hard about his sentiments, my conclusion?
My concentration of study is bigger than a title on a degree, it’s a commitment to facilitate change and spark creativity in areas previously unexplored. Therefore, I am not a student studying Environmental Sciences—I’m a future Environmental Scientist. One who is ready to take on the challenges our planet Earth is up against.