Army Education Representative Guest Spotlight

Tony Castillo
Education Program Manager, G7/9
U.S. Army Recruiting Command
Ft. Knox, KY

Where did you grow up? Where did you attend college?
I was born in Puerto Rico, but grew up in California. While on active duty, I attended Western Kentucky University for the undergraduate portion of my education. While still on active duty, I began my graduate degree in Adult and Higher Education, completing it at the University of Texas-San Antonio upon retirement.

What is your background? How and when did you begin working for the Army?
I’m a former enlisted Soldier that retired with 22 years of service. I came to work for the Army by applying for a specialist internship with the Department of the Army Education Services, and have been working in a civilian capacity ever since.

Describe your current position.
I serve as a USAREC Education Program Manager.  Being involved in education, both for Soldiers and the Nation at large, is important to the Army because a well-educated population leads to better Soldiers as well as a stronger Nation.  My duties include advising on the development of policies for educational outreach programs.

Describe a recent engagement that was particularly successful.
The SkillsUSA National Education Convention, held in June, was very successful. It was successful because we brought in Army Soldiers who were SME’s (subject matter experts) to share their Army stories with SkillsUSA students about how the Army has helped them grow personally as well as pursue their post-secondary education.  Two that I recall in particular included an AMEDD (Army Medical Department) recruiter and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operator. Their stories exposed the students and teachers to the technical career fields available in the Army. The Soldiers showed and explained to them that it’s not the Army or college, it can be the Army and college. There really are numerous opportunities to excel within the Army.

Describe a successful program or initiative in which you believe truly helped students.
March2Success is a true non-recruiting tool that in my mind is a gift to our Nation’s students from the Army. It enables them to improve and excel academically, regardless of intent to serve in the military. This exemplifies the Army’s position on why being involved in education is important: what’s good for the Nation as a whole - like improving test scores and providing post-secondary options for young people – is also good for the Army.

What do you like most about working with the Army?
I have two perspectives because I have the experience of being a Soldier and civil servant. What I like best about the job I do now is that it allows me to stay connected to our Soldiers. I can continue serving by providing advice on education programs within the Army and providing a different perspective as one who has transitioned from being a Soldier to the civilian world. On the other hand, working with different organizations has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. The Army continues to educate me even after a 22 year career; it continues to help me grow personally, professionally and academically.