Photo By Staff Sgt. James Goin | U.S. Army Spc. Hyung M. Rhee, assigned to 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command,...... read more read more
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Undisclosed location – U.S. Army Spc. Hyung M. Rhee, commercial vendor pay processor, assigned to the 342 Finance Company, Theater Finance Battalion, recently won the 1st Quarter Soldier of the Board amongst his fellow peers across the brigade.
“When looking back,” Rhee recalled. “I didn’t want to have the feeling of regret on not joining the Army.”
Prior to joining the military, he worked in sales for a luxury car dealership where he learned how to present and deliver information, as well as how to maintain his composure and react quickly.
“I met a lot of very successful people who wished they had served,” Rhee said. “They talk about how they almost joined but never did.”
He realized former veterans he engaged with had unique qualities: they carried themselves with confidence, respect, and camaraderie for their service. All the stories shared by former veterans left an impression on Rhee, and it was something he wanted to be a part of.
Rhee decided to join the U.S. Army Reserves in 2022; he attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and advanced individual training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He earned the military occupational specialty 36B, financial management technician. Those duties consist of managing Army financial operations, such as budgeting, accounting for funds, processing military pay, and audits.
“Now that I’ve completed three years of service,” Rhee said. “I continue to find my work meaningful, I’m proud to be in a community that encourages me to be my best, and I’ve learned that I can always dig deep even when it gets tough.”
As a first-generation Korean American, service has a deeper meaning. The Army opened many doors and opportunities for Rhee, such as professional opportunities, networking, skillsets, confidence, and resilience.
“I wanted to earn my place in this country,” Rhee said. “Make my small contribution of service to this great nation that has now become my home.”
After winning the Soldier of the Quarter Board, Rhee credits his leadership and peers for his preparation and outstanding performance. During the process he experienced self-doubt, and the possibility of not being able to perform to the level everyone expected of him. Rhee credits his 1st Sergeant, who played a decisive role in pushing him forward during preparation for the Soldier of the Quarter Board.
“Spc. Rhee is a Soldier who strives to learn and is eager for opportunities to challenge himself,” said U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Kyle J. Paulus, 342 FICO 1st Sgt., TFB. “As he continues his career and moves forward through promotions, he’ll continue to do great things if learning remains his priority.
In short term, Rhee is competing to earn the rank of Sergeant and use Army Tuition Assistant program to complete his bachelor’s degree in communication, after which he plans on applying for a master’s in business administration program. Rhee express interest in pursuing overseas military assignments with Army Active-Duty for Operational Support, a program for Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers to serve voluntary full time active-duty orders to support specific missions, units, or vacancies. In his free time, he enjoys watching documentaries and learning new languages.
| Date Taken: | 01.26.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 06.23.2026 01:29 |
| Story ID: | 568170 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Korean American Finds Purpose, and belonging Through Service, by SSG James Goin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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