Resilience and Strength: A U.S. Army Soldier Reflects on Her Career and Heritage During National Hispanic Heritage Month

By Staff Sgt. Mahsima Alkamooneh

For decades, Hispanic Americans have selflessly served in the United States Armed Forces, positively contributing to our nation’s military with their valor and bravery. This National Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate and recognize the ways in which they continue to shape our military community across all military branches, including Sgt. Selena Zavala, a U.S. Army soldier.

Driven by a desire to break barriers and create opportunities for future generations, Selena enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard as a human resources specialist in 2013.

“I joined to be the first generation from my family to attend college and serve,” said Selena. “The Army offers a variety of benefits like financial stability, education, training and healthcare. It also builds you up in ways that go beyond what you expect — it strengthens you physically, emotionally and educationally while helping you overcome your fears.“

From ensuring the safety of her community to serving the country on deployments in the Middle East, Selena’s story reflects both personal resilience and the values of her heritage.

She is currently on her second deployment with the 34th Infantry Division “Red Bulls,” as part of Task Force Spartan.

Selena views National Hispanic Heritage Month as an important time to honor the traditions of her culture and represent the strength and contributions of Hispanic Americans in the Armed Forces. Although her role with the Red Bulls may often be behind the scenes, her impact, much like the legacy of her heritage, is significant.

“It’s an opportunity to be seen, heard and remembered,” Selena said about the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Throughout her career, Selena has risen to meet many challenges. One of her most memorable moments occurred during the George Floyd riots in 2020. Assigned to secure the Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, Selena, along with other soldiers, worked long shifts that could last 12 to 14 hours. She says that they found support and strength from the local community.

"The community came together to thank us for our presence,” she recalled. “Nurses told us they felt safer going to work. Little kids brought us fruit and water, and strangers came up to pray with us. Even though the days were long, the community made it all worth it.”

These moments of connection reflect what Selena values most about service: building strong bonds, supporting others and helping to create a safer world for the future. Her current deployment has deepened these values further.

“Being deployed with the same unit again makes it feel like we’re a family,” Selena said . “We know what it takes to take care of each other, and that’s what makes us strong.”

Whether she is mentoring younger soldiers, managing the administrative needs of her unit, or reflecting on the legacy she is helping to build, Selena remains committed to her mission and her team. For her, National Hispanic Heritage Month is not just about recognition — it is about being part of a larger story.

How the USO is Serving Soldiers in Undisclosed Locations

For service members like Selena, who is serving in an undisclosed location in the Middle East as part of Task Force Spartan, it can be easy to feel forgotten when far away from home and loved ones. That is why, throughout the years, the USO has increased its efforts in providing a morale boost to these men and women in uniform, which may be hard to come by depending on where they are deployed.

Not only are these service members dealing with limited access to their loved ones back home and the high-pressure nature of these duty stations, but they are also often usually faced with limited day-to-day resources or opportunities to recharge outside of their daily duties.

For service members stationed in the Middle East, some of these remote locations and outposts can be too dangerous for a traditional brick-and-mortar USO Center to be built. Thanks to the help of our volunteers and staff, the USO ensures that these service members remain supported through expeditionary support. Whether that be through the delivery of USO Care Packages and meals, or by surprising service members with their favorite treats, activities and entertainment, this temporary relief can aid in boosting service members’ morale.

Operational readiness can also be affected when morale is low, so this type of expeditionary support can also help deployed service members recharge and be ready for their military duties. Additionally, the USO team provides service members with the ability to be home for story-time with the children in their lives through the USO Reading Program, which connects them with their loved ones back home, helping to bridge the distance between service members and their loved ones.

Regardless of where their service takes them, the USO will continue to ensure that service members know that they are supported by the American public. Thanks to the support of our generous donors and supporters, the USO will always be by the side of the people who serve, both at home and abroad.

-This story was originally published on DVIDShub.net. It has been edited and expanded upon for USO.org.