CZ Lopez

And I still keep in touch with my drill instructor, by the way, Hank Herrick.

And

One of the squad leaders, a squad was basically a row of beds.

So all of the beds are properly lined up.

And at the head of that row is the leader for that squad.

One of my squad leaders got set back, basically got fell out of our BMT class, basic military training.

So the opportunity came for the next squad leader.

And it was Hank Herrick that made the decision.

It's like, hey, Colon Lopez, you're going to be the next squad leader.

Now, why did he choose me?

And we had these conversations, he and I, years down the road.

He was paying close attention to the way that I carried myself.

Now, I wasn't perfect, but I had potential.

And there's the difference between perfection and potential, because I think potential will always win.

At that moment that he made the decision, I struggle a bit with it.

Like, okay, fine.

So the majority of these guys are making fun of me because I can barely speak English.

I got to make up with something to be able to make sure that we are successful.

And actions.

That's when I started relying more on actions versus words.