From The Ground Up

Photo By Sgt. Dominique Mendoza | Spc. Cielo Lopez Gonzalez, now sergeant, assigned to 615th ECC, 4th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, uses a circular saw while framing the inside of a 50 x 90 building, Sept. 2021, Poland. Lopez Gonzalez and her team installed two rooms and put up drywall to complete the project. (Photo provided by Sgt. Cielo Lopez Gonzalez)  

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

08.24.2023

Story by Pfc. Dominique Mendoza 

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

From The Ground Up
FORT CARSON, Colo. – Not many females in the army are Carpentry Masonry Specialists, but Sgt. Ceilo Lopez Gonzalez, assigned to 615th ECC, 4th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, is one of the outstanding females in that career field.
Carpentry Masonry Specialists have the task of completing framing, drywall, electrical and building job sites from the ground up. Lopez Gonzalez knew she wanted to be a part of the architecture world since high school. During high school she took college classes and got certified in AutoCAD, which is the software used to create precise 2D and 3D drawings, electrical diagrams, as well as construction drawings.
“When deciding to join the military I knew I wanted to do something related to architecture and construction,” said Lopez Gonzalez. “I went to the recruiter and he told me about this job. Once I realized I could do construction in the army, it was the only job I wanted.”
During her Advanced Individual Training (AIT), Lopez Gonzalez was 1 out of 3 females in her class of about thirty Soldiers. During this time she learned the basics of her job, such as how to use a circular saw.
“The last test during AIT is building a 10 x 10 little shed,” said Lopez Gonzalez. “You do the framework, you build your foundation, you do the roofing and installation of windows and doors.”
In the beginning of her army career is when she first noticed that there weren't a lot of females. During Basic Combat Training, is where she first looked around and told herself that it was something to get used to, there were always going to be less females than males.
“When I was a private first class, I might have felt like I had to put in more work because of the lack of females, but now, I don’t feel that way anymore,” said Lopez Gonzalez. “I get along great with all the males in my platoon, and they have never once put me down, we all just help eachother out.”
Lopez Gonzalez continues to strive after her passion of architecture because of the rewarding feeling she gets in return. She gets to witness her and her team’s hard work grow, from the ground up.
“It’s very satisfying,” said Lopez Gonzalez. “First you see nothing but dirt, and then you build. At the end of the job you take a step back from your project and look at everything you’ve done, and it’s so cool to be able to say you did that.”
In September of 2021, Lopez Gonzalez was deployed to Poland to work on a big job site. Herself and her team poured a concrete slab, and built the shell of a 50 x 90 building. This building would be used for the Battalion Headquarters.
“We ended up going in and making it a good work environment,” said Lopez Gonzalez. “We added walls, painted it and added lights.”
Pfc. Ivan Villa, a Carpentry Masonry Specialist, assigned to 615th ECC, 4th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, is one of Lopez Gonzalez’s Soldiers. He has worked alongside her during many projects, including the job site in Poland, and said working with her is like working with a patient teacher.
“She’s a confident leader,” said Villa. “She speaks up for her Soldiers, and isn’t afraid to ask questions if she doesn’t know something. She always gets the job done with her Soldiers, instead of just watching. She’s a great leader.”
Lopez Gonzalez plans to transition out of the army in about a year, and will continue her love for architecture by working in project management in the civilian sector.
“I want to stick with construction and architecture, because it will always be rewarding for me, whether it’s in the army or as a civilian.” said Lopez Gonzalez.
Sgt. Cielo Lopez Gonzalez has poured her heart and soul into every project she’s been a part of, and can’t wait to continue to impact lives and let her talent shine outside of the military.

• Date Taken: 08.24.2023
• Date Posted: 09.03.2023 05:14
• Story ID: 452101
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US