FORT STEWART, Ga.- At Fort Stewart, where the Army’s legacy of readiness and resilience is built every day, one story stands out for its rare and personal connection across generations. It is the story of Alexis “Pancho” Perez-Cruz, the brigade commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and his son, Lucas Perez—now serving side by side in the same installation making him the fourth generation of their family to serve under the 3ID. For Col. Perez, the Army has been a lifelong commitment. Beginning his career as an enlisted combat medic in 1994, he rose through the ranks over three decades of service, holding leadership positions at every level and deploying in support of operations across the globe. Today, he commands the Spartan Brigade, one of the Army’s premier armored formations, responsible for maintaining combat readiness in support of national defense. His son, Lucas, is just beginning that journey. Fresh from Advanced Individual Training, Lucas Perez recently earned the title of U.S. Army Combat Medic Specialist with the Georgia National Guard. Trained to provide critical, lifesaving care on and off the battlefield, he now joins a long line of Soldiers entrusted with one of the Army’s most vital missions—preserving life in the most demanding environments. “I couldn’t be more proud of, Lucas,” said Col. Perez. “I never pressured him into this lifestyle. My wife and I always encouraged both of our kids to try different things, while they were growing up. But it really does feel great to see him pursuing something that he loves. I’m proud of him for choosing something that is a great career, and is focused on leading others, giving back to the community, and really just having that enormous amount of self-discipline that makes a soldier want to do this every day. Most importantly, I’m just happy he’s on his own path.” Beyond their military service, both Col. Perez and Pfc. Perez share another lifelong discipline: martial arts. Since the age of five, Pfc. Perez has trained extensively with his father in jujitsu and combatives, building a foundation of discipline, resilience, and technical skill that has carried into their military careers. Their decorated backgrounds in the sport have not only shaped their approach to physical readiness, but also reinforced the mental toughness required of Soldiers in today’s Army. In addition to his military responsibilities, Pfc. Perez is currently enrolled at Auburn University, balancing his academic pursuits with his commitment to service in the Georgia National Guard. His ability to manage both reflects the same discipline instilled through years of training—both on the mat and in uniform. While their ranks, experience, and responsibilities differ, their paths have recently converged in a way few Soldiers ever experience. At Fort Stewart, Col. Perez and Pfc. Perez had the opportunity to train together during an Army Special Operations Combatives course—an intense, hands-on program focused on building confidence, discipline, and close-quarters combat skills. On the mats, rank is secondary to performance. For Col. Perez and his son, that meant stepping into a shared space defined not by command, but by mutual effort and respect. It is a rare moment in military service: a senior commander and a junior Soldier, connected not only by uniform but by family, pushing through the same drills, learning the same techniques, and growing in the same environment. The experience reflects more than coincidence—it highlights the enduring nature of service across generations. For Col. Perez, it is a chance to witness his son take the same first steps he once did. For Lucas, it is an opportunity to learn not just from the Army, but from a father whose career embodies its values. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for my dad,” said Pfc. Perez. “That respect carries into every situation and every aspect of my life. No matter the rank or the circumstances, I’ll always hold him to that same level of respect—because at the end of the day, he’s still my dad.” Col. Perez’s family legacy of service continues to grow even further. In addition to serving alongside his son, Pfc. Lucas Perez, his youngest son, Xavier Perez, has also begun attending drill with the Georgia National Guard and plans to join the U.S. Army after graduating high school this summer. Like his father and older brother, Xavier has spent years training in martial arts and combatives and already intends to pursue opportunities within Army combatives competition teams as he begins his own military journey. With Xavier preparing to follow the same path, the Perez family’s connection to military service now stretches across multiple generations and into the future—reinforcing a tradition of discipline, service, and commitment deeply rooted both in their family and within the ranks of the 3rd Infantry Division. Stories like theirs underscore a broader truth about military service. Beyond formations and missions, the Army is built on people—on mentorship, shared hardship, and the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next. At Fort Stewart, that legacy is not just remembered. In the case of the Perez family, it is lived—side by side, in uniform, and in service to something greater than themselves.