<p> I, Giovanni Flores, am a </p><p>Sergeant First Class in the United</p><p>States Army. I am the son of </p><p>Josue Espinoza Flores and </p><p>Patricia Bernal Flores. I was </p><p> born at Mercy Hospital in Laredo</p><p>Texas in February 12, 1976. I </p><p> attended school in the United </p><p>Independent School District </p><p>School and graduated from </p><p>United High School in 1994.</p><p>I enjoyed a very fun </p><p> childhood. The entire time I was </p><p> growing up, I always had the </p><p> thought of becoming a soldier. I would always practice my marksman skills at the ranch ever since I was old enough to handle a rifle or gun. I also enjoyed sports such as baseball, football, soccer, and basketball. I was never much of a runner, but I would enjoy running two to three miles whenever my father decided I would run with him. Once I joined the military in November 1994, I conducted Basic Training </p><p>Advance Training, and my first duty station at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. I was assigned as a Fire </p><p>Direction Specialist for the C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment Field Artillery. I had the opportunity to enroll in Cameron University in 1997 as a reenlistment option while still stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In December 1999, I was reassigned to Baumholder, Germany for a three-year tour. In late 2000 and early 2001 I attended the University of Maryland in Europe. I did earn the rank of Sergeant/ES and Staff Sergeant/E6 within those 3 years. In December 2001,</p><p>I reenlisted an returned to Fort Sill, OK and was reassigned to the C, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment </p><p>Field Artillery. In March 2003, I deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and conducted the every phase of combat, 2-18 FA redeployed in late November 2003. In January </p><p>2006, I asked the Department of the Army branch manager for a reassignment to Fort Hood, </p><p>Texas. In June 2006, I deployed to Korea for a one-year overseas tour with a HAAP to Fort </p><p>Hood after that assignment. I was assigned to HHS 1-21 Field Artillery and in October 2007, I was selected to reclassify and change my MOS from 13P/Fire Direction Chief to 13F/Forward </p><p>Observer. I did transfer to HHB 41st Fires Brigade in December 2007 I was then selected by the </p><p>Department of the Army in June 1, 2008 to earn the promotion of Staff -Sergeant rank to </p><p>Sergeant First Class. I was assigned to the Military Intelligence Section as the Targeting NCOIC and prepared the soldiers and myself for deployment in June 8, 2008. I am currently working for the Military Intelligence Section for 41st Fire Brigade.</p><p>Flores, Giovanni</p><p>SFC, U. S. Army</p>