Photo By Pfc. Haley Haile | Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Vitale, of the 35th Engineer Brigade of Missouri and the site...... read more read more
ZACAPA, Guatemala – Just beyond the construction site, school children could be seen running back and forth in front of the classroom doors. Sounds of laughter were heard now and again over the roar of heavy machinery. As the soldier overseeing the assembly of the new school building strolled across the grounds, waves and greetings were directed towards him. When the school day came to an end, the soldier would talk to the passing children or maybe kick a soccer ball back and forth with them.
Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Vitale, member of the 35th Engineer Brigade and the site noncommissioned officer for the Conevisa site of Beyond the Horizon 2014 – Guatemala, is from Bellville, IL. He is married with a seven-year-old daughter. Vitale was on active duty for 4 years before joining the Missouri National Guard. He was deployed to for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005.
This Beyond the Horizon deployment is Vitale’s second. His first was to Honduras in 2012. He has been duration staff at each. Vitale will participate in Beyond the Horizon 2014 – Panama, which will take place once Guatemala is complete. Beyond the Horizon is a partnership between the United States and Central and South America to bring medical, dental, and engineering assistance to the local communities and people.
“I enjoy these; it hits home for me,” Vitale remarked. “There are long, hot days, but I am proud to wear the uniform and accomplish something.”
Vitale is a firm believer in promoting high morale and unity among the soldiers that work for him. Whether it is ensuring everyone has a chance to call home and talk to family or ensuring each soldier feels at ease by joking and laughing with them, Vitale guarantees that soldiers are taken care of.
“Once you build a rapport with your soldiers, they will work harder for you,” Vitale insisted. “It’s the small things that boost morale, and personality is everything. You need the support from your rotation. You can’t build this by yourself.”
Vitale is overseeing the construction of a two-room school building. The already standing school sits within yards of the work site, so interaction with the school children is constant. Children often stop in to say “Hi” to the soldiers that are working on the new building. The local tiendas, or shops, sell cold beverages and lunch to the soldiers working at the site.
“The school they are in now keeps getting broken into,” Vitale observed. “So everyone around is supportive of us and the construction. Whatever we need that they can help with, they try to accommodate us.”
The Conevisa site is well ahead of schedule. Vitale attributes this to the soldier’s hard work during each rotation and the cohesion the units have had as well as a little competitiveness.
“The duration staff needs to keep everyone motivated, so we try to add a little competitive edge with each rotation,” Vitale laughed. “We push them as far as we can while insuring that we keep the work correct.”
Because of Vitale’s construction knowledge, keeping his soldiers motivated, and being able to provide for their needs, the Conevisa site will be the first site completed at Beyond the Horizon 2014 – Guatemala.
“It doesn’t matter what your rank is, if this is something you are passionate about you can get out here and run the site,” Vitale urged. “You don’t have to be an E-7.”
| Date Taken: | 05.11.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.19.2014 17:21 |
| Story ID: | 130375 |
| Location: | ZACAPA, GT |
| Web Views: | 52 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Motivation, Passion, and a Little Competition, by PFC Haley Haile, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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