With the U.S. Army’s proud celebration of its 250th year of defense for our nation, Team TriWest sends a special message of appreciation to all Army Service members and Veterans who have served, sacrificed, and contributed to our nation’s oldest military branch.
On Saturday, June 14, the U.S. Army celebrated its 250th birthday of its steadfast, loyal and courageous service for the nation. It is a major historical milestone for our nation’s oldest military branch and provided a special opportunity to honor its faithful service, sacrifices, and proud achievements dating back to the American Revolutionary War.
At TriWest Healthcare Alliance (TriWest), we deeply honor the Army’s enduring 250-year legacy of defense for our nation. We also value each Army Service member and Army Veteran for their dedication, sacrifices, and contributions serving in our defense at posts around the globe.
For TriWest’s commemoration of the Army’s 250th birthday, we invited several dedicated Army Veteran employees to share their proud service experiences in their own insights to help celebrate the historical U.S. military milestone.
Cathy Arment, Echo Specialist, Case Management; TriWest Employee Since 2015; U.S. Army Quartermaster, Motor Pool Supply (1979-1988)
“As a proud Army Veteran, my Active Duty service gives me great honor to have been in the oldest military service in our nation’s history,” Cathy expresses.
“Over the years I learned I had a great-great-great uncle who served with Army General George Washington,” she proudly shares. “I found it extremely interesting to learn about it from a family document that my grandmother owned. Since that discovery, I always felt that it was important to serve just as he did to give us the freedoms we enjoy today.”
“I consider my proudest Army service contribution took place when I was stationed in Panama with the 29th Military Intelligence Battalion during the Manuel Noriega regime (1985-1988),” Cathy shares. “When Noriega refused President Reagan’s request for his resignation from power, things became very uneasy for everyone. Our units were then ordered to guard the nearby canals and lakes surrounding our Army posts, and we were on lockdown from dawn to dusk.”
“During that time, I helped guard the Gatun Locks on the Atlantic side of the island and lakes surrounding Fort Davis. I was proud to know that I was able to protect all the families and other service personnel stationed with me at Fort Davis,” Cathy expresses.
“Before my Army service, I had several family members who were serving or had served in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam. I often listened to them explain what it was like to serve to keep our country safe and secure. I learned it is an honor to be part of the many men and women who are willing to keep our country safe and to know that they have – and had – the courage to protect our freedoms we have today,” she shares.
Michael Hayes, Correspondence Team, Customer Service; TriWest Employee since 2019; U.S. Army Combat Medic 2004-2015
“As an Army Veteran, the Army’s 250th Birthday celebration makes me extremely proud to have been a part of such an honored service to defend and protect America and our allies,” Michael shares.
“Having trained and served as an Army combat medic, my proudest service contribution was to be professionally skilled to treat our wounded brothers and sister soldiers both at home in the U.S., and deployed on the battlefield,” he emphasizes.
“As difficult as combat deployments can be, my proud overseas service in Afghanistan and Iraq also offered my best Army experience of enjoying the little kids faces lighting up when we would give them candy and chocolate from the States,” Michael adds.
“I was inspired to join the Army because it was the way I was raised at home,” Michael states. “As a youth, I loved our family’s travels to Germany. Our family has a proud military service legacy with my father, uncle, aunt, cousin, and my son all having served Active Duty, or currently serve. I’m very proud of our family’s service legacy because the Army shaped me to be strong willed and willing to accept new challenges.”
Diana Rojas; Claims Clerk, Claims Department; TriWest Employee Since 2018; Eight years U.S. Army service; Operating Room Specialist, (1991-1999)
“As a proud Army Veteran, my service was a way for me to honor and praise all American soldiers,” Diana shares. “The Army remains committed to honoring warfighting skills, enforcing high standards and discipline, and it has always been a great pleasure of mine to have been a part of such a historically revolutionary branch.”
“For 250 years men and women have come together to serve and uphold the Army’s proud code, and for me to have participated in its legacy will always be close to my heart,” Diana adds.
“My proudest personal contribution in the Army was simply to be able to serve our country,” Diana expresses. “I experience life as a whole and was able to see how different – and at the same time alike – we are to people all over the world. As soldiers, we come together from different places to serve and be proud of our country,” she adds.
“As an Army surgical technician, I’m proud of learning how to support the surgery team and always treat people with respect,” Diana explains. “My Army service made me more determined, passionate, and thankful about everything in life. I’ve been able to think quickly on my feet, and stay calm and focused in stressful situations. I loved working alongside some of the Army’s best surgeons, and I learned a lot from my experience.”
“My inspiration to join the Army was my father, who is also an Army Veteran,” Diana shares. “In our family, we have Service members of all branches. I always looked up to my father while I was serving; it helped me understand Army discipline, structure, and how to always help others in need. He also taught to keep your head up and move forward, which are some of my dad’s best qualities. Now I understand and practice those values in my life.”
“Army service is a respectable profession which gives opportunities to see different places, builds character, and a good personality through tough regimen and discipline,” Diana emphasizes.
“My proud Army service helped me acquire strong communication skills, and problem solving and adaptability working as a team of different people,” Diana says, “I was able to make wonderful friendships.”
Joseph Gardner-Sanchez; Training Specialist, Training Department; TriWest Employee Since 2015; U.S. Army 19D Calvary Scout (1989-2005)
“As an Army Veteran, honor and pride are the first words that come to mind in celebrating the Army’s 250th birthday,” Joe shares. “The sacrifices that our past Service members have made, as well those our current and future Service members will make in defending the freedoms our country enjoys go beyond words,” he emphasizes.
“I served in the Army as a 19D Calvary Scout (Armored Reconnaissance Specialist) and numerous deployments gave me a firsthand look at the sacrifices made by our military,” Joe shares. “Being able to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday makes me extremely proud to call myself an Army Veteran and to have been able to play my small part in the Army’s long-running history.”
“My father played a huge role in my decision to join the Army,” Joe says. “He is retired military having served in both the Marine Corps and Army, and he was also deployed during his service. The discipline, commitment, and values I witnessed from my dad embodied the sense of duty to the Army and to our country,” he adds.
“As I got older, I started to realize that the freedoms and opportunities I enjoyed weren’t free,” Joe shares. “They were paid for by the sacrifices of people like my dad and countless others. The Army absolutely shaped who I am today in many ways. It instilled resilience, I learned to push past perceived limits, to find strength in adversity, and to adapt to whatever challenges ahead.
“I can’t pinpoint a particular contribution that makes me especially proud, but rather the small part I played during major deployments,” Joe shares. “On deployment I served alongside many others who sacrificed their own safety, their families back home sacrificed, and some paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect and defend America’s values and freedom. I consider serving alongside those who sacrificed so much an honor and sharing that honor is my personal contribution to the Army,” Joe expresses.
“More than that, my Army service taught me the true meaning of teamwork and selfless service,” Joe expresses. “You quickly realize that your success, and even your survival, depends on the person to your left and right. That shared bond, that unwavering commitment to each other, is something unique to military service, and it’s a lesson I carry with me every day.”
With the U.S. Army’s proud celebration of its 250th year of defense for our nation, Team TriWest sends a special message of appreciation to all Army Service members and Veterans who have served, sacrificed and contributed to our nation’s oldest military branch.
For TriWest’s proud and dedicated Army Veteran teammates, we also send a hearty ‘Thank You’ for all they contribute to our organization. Through their dedication and commitment to our mission we continue our humble privilege to serve.