In 2006, 35-year old Jeliot Quiñones Roman had been working in Puerto Rico’s unstable electrical construction industry for 10 faithful years when he realized he was at a crossroads: stay in his homeland and work unpredictable jobs earning unpredictable pay and few benefits or relocate to
Florida for more solid opportunity.
Jeliot Quiñones Roman wearing the US Army uniform.
With a small command over the English language, Quiñones stepped into a U.S. Army recruiting center in Orlando upon relocating to the area and was denied enlistment. His heart sank; he was crushed as he wanting nothing more than to serve in the U.S. Army just like his grandfather. One year later in 2007, he changed the course of his life with two short words, “I do.”
“Enlisting into the Army provided me the change in my life that I needed, that my family needed,” said Quiñones, who has risen to the rank of staff
sergeant since enlistment in 2007 and serves as a U.S. Army recruiter at the 91-31 Queens Blvd., Army recruiting center in Elmhurst.
A Present of Action
“As a Soldier, I have job stability now instead of going from job to job
like I did in construction,” said this father of three. “Plus, I plan on
transferring my Post 9/11 GI Bill to my kids to help pay for their
education.”
A second-generation Soldier, Quiñones Roman reminds his two daughters and
son often of the importance of serving their country.
“I try to sell my kids on the Army every day,” he said with humor in his
voice. “But seriously, the Army provides a great opportunity to set and
achieve your goals. The Army can help you build yourself, your career and
your education, and the Army has great programs not just for Soldiers but
for families as well.”
One of Quiñones Roman’s children has special needs, and the Army provided
his son/daughter with speech therapy, something he could not have afforded
while working in construction.
“It’s good to know my family benefits from my Army service in so many ways,”
he said. “I can support them now, and I couldn’t do that before. We have
even gone on family vacations and bought a house of our own in North
Carolina, which we couldn’t do before either.”
Beneath the exterior of all the benefits his Army career has brought him –
including his dramatically improved command over the English language since
2007 – is a proud Hispanic man serving in today’s Army.
A Future of Success
The future looks bright for Quiñones Roman who plans to apply for the U.S.
Army’s Special Forces and Selection Assessment near the end of his
recruiting duty here in New York City.
“I’m a good team worker,” he said. “I want to be the best weapons sergeant
I can be. I also believe I will be a good mentor.”
The U.S. Army recognizes the achievements and contributions of Hispanic
Americans. America’s diversity is a source of strength, and Hispanic
Americans have not hesitated to defend and show their allegiance to this
nation in many ways, but especially through their military service.
Quiñones Roman is no exception.
By Tina M. Beller, Army Public Affairs Specialist
