User:Luis Santos24/Sandbox3

Luis M. Santos (born June 24, 2000) is a United States Army Soldier and a Technical Flight Officer in the Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol.

Early life and education
Santos was born in Tampa, Florida. His father is a veteran of the U.S. Naval Reserve. As many as 33 other members of his family has served in all branches of the United States Military as early as 1921. In 2013, he founded a Robotics Club at Pierce Middle School. During his tenure at Gaither High School, he was a member of the Navy JROTC program, earning numerous ribbons and medals. He served as President of the Political Science Club at Gaither in addition from 2017-2018 as a Republican. He was also a member of the Young Marines and was a highly decorated Cadet in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, in which he continues be active as a Senior Member. In 2014 and 2018 he volunteered aboard the SS American Victory.

He completed Basic Leadership Training Course as an NJROTC Cadet in August 2017, and in 2018 graduated from the SGAUS MEMS Academy, earning the Basic Military Emergency Management Specialist Badge. He graduated from Argyle High School in Denton County, Texas in May 2019. He is currently enrolled at American Military University where he studies Military History. He has completed several training courses at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute. Santos is a 2019 graduate of the National Emergency Services Academy's Mission Aircrew School, held at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. He completed the Basic, Advanced, and Senior Leaders Course as well as the Officer Basic Course by correspondence through the SGAUS Professional Military Education Academy.

Military career
Santos' first stint as a Soldier began in late 2018 when he enlisted into the Virginia Defense Force. He was assigned to 2nd Regiment's A Company out of Manassas, Virginia and officially swore in in early January 2019. He completed Orientation training and was assigned as a Civil Support/Security Specialist. He received an Honorable Discharge in April 2019 after facing homelessness and moving out of state.

Santos attempted to enlist into federal service several times but was denied entry on medical grounds. He reported to Tampa Military Entrance Processing Station in September 2018 for enlistment into the U.S. Navy, where he passed his physical but was denied a medical waiver due to insufficient documentation. After several unsuccessful attempts, he was eventually seen as Dallas Military Entrance Processing Station for enlistment into the U.S. Army in the summer of 2019. On 22 August 2019, Santos enlisted into active duty as an Infantryman. He reported to Fort Benning, Georgia in September 2019. He was then assigned as a Rifleman to 2nd Battalion, 54th Infantry Regiment (United States), 198th Infantry Brigade for One Station Unit Training.

He graduated basic training in November 2019 and shortly thereafter requested a transfer to another Military Occupational Specialty due to multiple injuries sustained during training. He was ordered to continue to train until January 2020, when he was designated as a Shower and Laundry/Clothing Repair Specialist at Fort Lee, Virginia in the 262nd Quartermaster Battalion. He graduated Advanced Individual Training in early March 2020, after which he received orders to the 25th Infantry Division (United States) in Hawaii and 44th Medical Brigade at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Awards and decorations
On 07 May 2020, Santos received the Merit Cross (No. 62) from the European Paratroopers Association. He is listed on the Registry of the American Soldier at the National Museum of the United States Army and is also listed on the Quartermaster Roll Call at the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum. As a CAP Cadet, he was inducted as the 622nd Member of the Florida Wing Cadet Honor Society. He is a plankowner at the National Museum of the Surface Navy.

Professional Affiliations
Santos is a member of the United States Naval Institute, Air Force Association, Association of the United States Army, State Guard Association of the United States, Maryland State Guard Association, The Indiana Guard Reserve Association, Young Marines Alumni Association, and Post 141 of the American Legion.