Humble warrior

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class andrew guffey | Spc. Luis Melendez, human resource specialist, 80th Training Command, native of Lubbock, Texas, places zip cuffs on a suspect before he demonstrates his knowledge of search and seizure during the Warrior, Task, and Training portion of the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition, at Fort McCoy, Wis., on June 25. Physical restraint prior to a search protects the Soldier from the individual while inside a confined area. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Guffey U.S. Army Reserve Command Public Affairs)  

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

06.27.2013

Story by Cpl. Jeff Shackelford 

U.S. Army Reserve Command

FORT MCCOY, Wis. – Spc. Luis D. Melendez, human resource specialist assigned to the 5/95th Civil Affairs Battalion, 80th Training Command, Lubbock, Texas, is competing in the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition June, 24-28.

Melendez, who was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, moved his family to Lubbock after accepting his current job as an Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Human Resource Specialist for his unit.

Melendez is a very family oriented, and though he misses the land of his birth, he was very happy that he was able to obtain the AGR position in Texas and raise his family in the United States.

Melendez’s piers nominated him to compete in the Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition shortly after his arrival to the unit. Without the stress of his family living in a high crime area, Melendez was able to get the support of his family and compete for Army Reserve Best Warrior.

When Melendez told his family that he would be going to ‘Best Warrior,’ they said, “good, go ahead and do it because we know you can do win.”

Although Melendez has a lot of support he is humble in his approach to the competition. He said he isn’t here to compete against anybody.

“Competing for me is not about beating anyone, it’s about me knowing how good I am as a Soldier, and how well I can defend my family and country,” said Melendez.

This humble family man from Porte Rico, through sacrifice and hard work, Melendez has placed himself in a position to compete for the title of 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior.

• Date Taken: 06.27.2013
• Date Posted: 06.28.2013 10:59
• Story ID: 109469
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WI, US
• Hometown: BAYAMON, PR
• Hometown: LUBBOCK, TX, US