FORT KNOX, Ky – During Cadet Summer Training (CST), where Cadets are evaluated based on their physical, mental and leadership abilities during stressful situations, Cadets become one step closer to being an officer. But for Cadet Abraham Salmoe, assigned to 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, from George Mason University, it means an education, family and a career. 

With his education in mind, joining the Army was an easy decision. 

“I didn’t know where else to get [the] money to pay for college, and the military seemed like a pretty nice path. It got me a step closer to school, but it also got me experience with working with a team, [and] getting to work with the motor pool,” Salmoe said. 

With the end goal of becoming a mechanic, Salmoe said, “I have a huge motivation with my unit. I work at the motor pool with a unit based in Maryland, and I started as a private first class, [and] worked up to specialist. It’s a huge motivation that they’ve always pushed me to try to do better.” 

The Army has not only granted Salome with the opportunity of an education and a career, but it has also made a huge impact within his inner-circle — his family. 

With family being a crucial part of who Salome is as a person, from growing up with five siblings, to now having a wife and 6-month old baby, he continues to show the impact the Army has had on his life. Not only that, but he even encouraged his brother to join, too.

“I tried pushing him to join. He was hesitant, and he was thinking about the Marine Corps and then he decided ‘No, I’m going with the Army.’ He joined, [and] all my siblings now are looking up to us [and] now they want to join, so it’s pretty cool,” Salmoe said. 

With his wife in the National Guard and Salome currently in reserves, he expressed his gratitude to his siblings and mom in helping him to raise his son. 

“It’s been real nice with us, me being in a dual military and with a baby,” he said. “The Army has made it easy to just settle down and create a little family.”

Although this is not his first time away from his family, having already completed week-long training sessions and three years in the reserves, it has been difficult for him to be away for so long due to how family-centered Salome is. 

“It’s been a bit hard, just because I am so used to staying with them. I am so used to socializing with them and now that I’m out here, I am not always able to contact them,” he said.

With keeping his goals and his family in mind, Salmoe plans to continue to push himself further everyday. Not only for himself, but for his family.

“Knowing [that] if I complete CST, it gets me one step closer to becoming an officer. It really motivates me.” Salome said. “I want a better life for my family.”