Army Col. Edgar Arroyo commands Irwin Army Community Hospital, at Fort Riley, in Kansas.

Air Force Col. Sandra Nestor directs the nurse corps at the Air Force Surgeon General's office at Joint Base Andrews­-Naval Air Facility Washington, in Maryland.

And Navy Capt. Eugenio Lujan runs the professional education programs at Naval Medical Center San Diego, in California.

The three officers have different health care specialties and serve in different military services in different parts of the county. Yet, like thousands of other service members across the military medical community, they share a common Hispanic heritage, which they say shaped the personal values and life goals that led them to a life of military service.

Americans observe Hispanic Heritage Month between September 15 and October 15 to acknowledge, honor, and highlight the histories, cultures, and contributions of people with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The Defense Health Agency joins in the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in the defense community by honoring the contributions of its Hispanic members and highlighting these three stand-out service members whose selfless service to the country is a testament to their heritage and family values.

Arroyo, Nestor, and Lujan are just a few among many service members who exemplify Hispanic grit and selfless service. They all say family values and life experiences led to their desire to serve, influencing their decision to join the military.

Despite acknowledging that differences - such as Arroyo's Spanish accent­ sometimes create challenges at work, overall, they agree that the military has grown as an enterprise in inclusion and equal opportunity.

"I have always noticed diversity in the military community - that's one of the things that I love," said Nestor. "I believe cultural awareness is growing exponentially."

Arroyo, at Fort Riley, has stood up a COVID-19 vaccination operation at the installation and migrated the hospital to the new DHA electronic health record system MHS GENESIS. Concurrently, he prepared for certification to a DHA small market and accreditation by the Joint Commission while deploying units and delivering health care to beneficiaries over a 12-month span.

"Military service aligned with my family values, my desire to serve, and the platform for a lifetime of great experiences," he reflected. And "my career [is] one full of phenomenal experiences, opportunities to learn and serve, and a great sense of pride for our nation, our freedom, and our family."

Nestor directs the nurse corps at the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General, at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington. For her, a rough childhood as one of the older cousins helping and watching her younger cousins who had become mothers early struggle influenced her determination to ensure she built a career to take care of herself before raising a family of her own.

"I found that the military gave me a sense of purpose and provided direction - something that was missing in my life at the time," she said.

Lujan, who directs professional education and serves as the designated institutional official at Naval Medical Center San Diego, oversees 25 nationally accredited graduate programs. Coming from a military family influenced him early on to follow in his predecessors' footsteps and serve.

"My grandfather, father, and two uncles served in the military," he said. "I love the ideals and values that America stands for and felt it was a great opportunity to serve the country and get an education."