Photo By Carrie Castillo | Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Kossi Sevon, assigned to the 85th Support Command,...... read more read more
Editor’s note: This story was initially written in 2013, but only released then in an internal publication. The soldier featured in the story remains assigned to the 85th Support Command.
Story by Sgt. Carrie Castillo
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Medical school and training are not the first things that come to mind when a person decides to enlist in the Army. These are also things that are a far cry for one that lives in West Africa, as there are only 74 doctors per 100,000 people. Having a medical background in his family, Staff Sgt. Kossi Sevon was determined to help the people of his country of Togo in West Africa.
Sevon, from the tiny country of Togo, located between Ghana and Nigeria, was born there in 1973 in a small village of the French speaking country. Growing up, Sevon was exposed to the medical world because his father was a medical doctor at a nearby small hospital.
This is one of the reasons that gave him determination to go to college to become a clinical neuropsychologist.
Sevon immigrated to the United States in June of 2005 to complete his doctoral degree in psychology. He had already earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Togo, and continued on to earn his Ph.D. The only problem was the tuition was too high, and his scholarship didn’t cover enough for him to continue there. When he left his native country to come to the United States, he could not speak any English.
Sevon’s first achievement in establishing himself in the United States was learning English, but it was British English, which is much different from American English. Although he was aware that it was different, he knew that if he learned enough of the language he would be able to take care of his family.
Sevon recalled a story from his U.S. Army basic training experience: A group of drill sergeants, there, approached the new recruits that had strong accents. He said that if they had an accent, they would be pulled aside and asked an easy question; and, if they took too long to answer, they were sent to the English as a Second Language (ESL) program as a prerequisite to continue through basic training.
“When the drill sergeant asked me the question, I answered right away,” said Sevon. “Then he looked at me and said ‘What are you doing here? Go on and get back in formation,’ and I ran back quickly.”
Even with speaking broken English, Sevon enlisted at the rank of specialist in early 2006. He received the rank due to his two degrees he earned previously in Africa. He attended basic combat training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and attended advanced individual training (AIT) at Fort Lee, Virginia. He earned his military occupation specialty (MOS) there as a unit supply specialist.
After graduation in 2006, Sevon went on to his first duty station in the active duty Army. He was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, now known as Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), with the 170th Military Police Company, 42nd Military Police Brigade, as a supply specialist.
While stationed there, he was promoted to sergeant in December 2007, and became the supply sergeant of his unit.
Across the span of seven years in the Army, Sevon served the majority of his service in the active component. He spent six of those years with one command, and deployed with the transportation unit that he was attached to.
In September of 2010, Sevon deployed with the 95th Transportation Brigade for one year to Kuwait. While in Kuwait, he never witnessed combat situations but assisted those that did. He helped run the weapon assignments to the soldiers and civilians that came through their depot.
“I didn’t mind being in Kuwait,” said Sevon. “The weather was hot, but I was used to it, since it was similar to the weather in Africa. My (mission in Kuwait) was to support other units that were going to Iraq and Afghanistan. I enjoyed being there to help, but I was homesick. This was the first time I was away from my family for a long time.”
Upon his return from his deployment, Sevon was attached to the 21st Transportation Company at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington Three months after his return he was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. Following his promotion, his expiration date of his initial contract from the active Army was approaching. He decided to stay in the Army, but transferred to the Army Reserve.
Sevon decided to go into the reserve component to finish out his doctorate in psychology.
He enrolled in the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago in September of 2012. Along with enrolling in school, he applied to enter the Health Professions Scholarship Program for the Army. The HPSP helps students in the Army and Air Force with a monthly stipend, and pays 100 percent of the tuition and any other academic expenses while in an accredited medical, dental, veterinary medicine, psychology or optometry program.
“I was turned down for the scholarship last year, but I will keep applying for it until they tell me I can’t anymore,” said Sevon.
Sevon likes being a soldier and he likes the training; he also stated that being a supply sergeant is an easy but rewarding job. When he completes his degree in 2016, he hopes to return to the active Army.
“Active duty is like a family for the soldiers that are immigrants,” he said. “I don’t dislike being in the (Army) Reserve, but I miss active duty.”
When Sevon graduates in 2016, he will hold a doctorate in psychology with a specialty in neuropsychology, which is a clinical field. His goal is also to commission as an Army officer and work as a psychologist in the Army.
A few of Sevon’s experiences include working in his home country of Togo, with patients that suffer from HIV/AIDS to arriving to the U.S. only speaking minimal English. He taught himself the language and accomplished basic training and a one year deployment. He states that he truly wants to work for the Army as the Army has worked for him.
“I want to work with patients that have traumatic brain injuries, post traumatic stress disorder and all disorders of the brain,” said Sevon. “I will be a ‘technician of the brain’ for the Army.”
| Date Taken: | 06.01.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 02.26.2015 13:19 |
| Story ID: | 155480 |
| Location: | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 1,027 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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