WEBVTT

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In the US Army , telling the right

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story at the right time could be just

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as powerful as any mission on the

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ground . For Staff Sergeant Alejandro

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Lucero of the 128 Mobile Public Affairs

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detachment , storytelling isn't just a

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job , it's a calling . The reason that

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I joined public affairs is because it

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gives me the opportunity to tell

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stories , and I think that is an

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invaluable skill that we need .

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Not just only in the military , not

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just only in your day to day jobs , but

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just communicating as people . Lucero's

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passion for communication quickly

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turned into something more a mission to

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capture moments that matter and to

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share the army's story through words

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and imagery . Those who worked

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alongside him quickly recognized his

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drive and dedication . He was our go to

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guy for coverage if we needed somebody

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that was going to get in . Understand

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the mission , take care of the mission

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and accomplish the mission . Lucero was

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top of mind every single time . He

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cares deeply about his craft . He's

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always working to improve . He's in the

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right place at the right time . He asks

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the right questions . He's just really

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an asset to the MPA and we're thrilled

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for him . With each assignment , Lucero

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honed his skills not just as a

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photographer but as a communicator with

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purpose . Yeah , he was pretty green

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when he came to us and he's worked

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really hard . He's very passionate

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about what he does . About public

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affairs , about writing , about

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photography and videography , and he's

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very motivated . He's always

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volunteering . He didn't start out as

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an expert , but he has never stopped

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learning . I'm sure this is not his

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last award . I'm sure he'll win many ,

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many more , and he does something

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similar to this in the civilian world ,

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and I expect to see he'll be doing

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great things at a civilian job . That

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passion combined with talent and

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tenacity has now earned him one of the

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highest honors in Army public affairs .

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Lucero has a fairly robust portfolio

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and put in new stuff and it was no real

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surprise that he actually won

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Communicator of the Year . His

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portfolio impressed judges , but more

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than that , it told a story , one of

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commitments , creativity and excellence .

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He has such a fresh attitude and he's

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always trying to better himself and

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he's always trying to learn . His whole

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attitude just made the unit better .

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Now recognized as the best

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photojournalist of the year , Lucero

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stands among the very best . He is one

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of our best photographers in the unit ,

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and the award proves it . He's one of

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the best photographers in the United

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States Army . For Staff Sergeant

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Alejandro Lucero , this is just the

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beginning . His story and the stories

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he tells will continue to inspire

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others .