By Dalia Diaz, photos: Alberto Suris
Lawrence native Army Sergeant Major Jose Velazquez visited Lawrence last week as part of an Army awareness campaign called Meet Your Army designed to reduce the military civilian gap in the U.S. To do this, the sergeant met with key leaders in the Lawrence community to discuss the importance of the Army, its Soldiers, and to correct any misconceptions about the Army’s identity.
As the Army Public Affairs senior enlisted Soldier, he advises the Chief of Army Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Army, on all enlisted matters affecting the career field, particularly in areas affecting Soldier training, equipping, readiness and welfare. He devotes a portion of his time to working with the Army Public Affairs Center, providing guidance, and direction on current and future doctrinal, training and equipping needs of enlisted public affairs Soldiers across the U.S. Army. In so doing, he provides a unique and direct impact on the health of the public affairs field.
The Meet Your Army program came about because the Army feels the gap between civilian communities and their Army is growing due to reduced media coverage and less people serving. After two lengthy wars, the Army is looking to lessen that gap and increase awareness about your Army among the public. They aim to do this through senior leader engagements discussing the Army and the Soldiers who make it one of the greatest fighting forces in the world.
We met him when he arrived to the new high school where CSM John Helbert was prepared to give him a tour. He was in awe of the beautiful building and told us some stories about his high school days in the former building. He graduated in 1990 and entered the service a few months later. The story of how he made that decision came from experiences at Lawrence High School.
After graduating, he met a friend who was already enlisted and tried telling him he should join in. It took him a while to see an Army recruiter who explained the opportunities he should expect. Unconvinced, he asked if they had a program dealing with broadcasting or radio. The recruiter was surprised because he had never heard such a request. He carefully browsed through the catalog of programs and with a pleasant smile got him to sign up.
His interest in radio and broadcasting was the result of his teacher Mary Jane Kowalski, the media teacher at LHS. Upon hearing that she is still working there, he said a couple of times how much he would enjoy seeing her again. When she came of the room where he was to speak to members of the JROTC program, they embraced several times. The pleasure was mutual.
His military education includes the Warrior Leader Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer’s Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer’s Course (Leadership Awardee), Airborne School, Special Forces Individual Anti-terrorism Course, Advanced Electronic Journalism Course, Broadcast Manager’s Course, Senior Enlisted Public Affairs Course, and the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. Today, he works in public relations in the Pentagon.
Regarding his passion for broadcasting, He has also won the Silver Telly award for cable news excellence, selected as the Army’s Senior Broadcast Journalist of the Year, and won numerous Thomas Jefferson and Keith L. Ware awards for broadcast excellence.
Sgt. Major Velazquez has been in the Service for 27 years and loves his military life. He is married and has two adult children who are pursuing a military career of their own. His parents are gone and he has no relatives left in Lawrence but he thoroughly enjoyed his trip here. He is a great role model to the young people of this community.
Quotes:
“It is important to tell the Army story as a way to remind Americans that it is their Army — and that the American people provide the wherewithal for the Army to do its job.”
– Maj. Gen. Malcom Frost, Former Chief of Army Public Affairs
Quick Facts:
- The cultural divide between the Army and the Nation it protects is the widest it has ever been. The Army must introduce the American people to Soldiers to close this gap.
- Less than 1% of Americans choose to serve in the military and 79% of Soldiers come from families that have served in the military.
- The U.S. Army is the Nation’s most versatile force; adaptive in size, structure and skills to meet the ever-changing challenges of today’s security environment and protect our vital interests against determined, elusive, and capable enemies.
- The Army is globally engaged supporting combatant command missions in 140 countries with over 179,500 Soldiers.
- Army National Guard (ARNG) and U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Soldiers live and serve in nearly every community in the nation. In an emergency response situation these Soldiers provide relief with less time and distance equaling more lives saved.
- The Army has the most comprehensive learning lab for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) research, development and implementation, providing innovations to the civilian sector making a global impact every day.
- We are doctors, lawyers, engineers, mechanics, aviators, special operators, innovators and combat troops. We are the Army Team, one of the most elite in the world.
- When you are a member of the Army team – you are a member for life. The Army family is an extended family spanning many generations and every continent. We have a proud legacy and stand on a tradition of honor, courage and selfless sacrifice for the Nation.
