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| Army Reserve Spc. Mahesh Shukla |
Army Reserve Spc. Mahesh Shukla is the definition of determination; being
resolute; firmness of purpose; a fixed intention. Because of his single-mindedness,
he is now another step closer to his dream of serving as a Military
Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army. “This is the only country in the world
where you can do anything, if you’re willing to work hard and stay with it” Shukla said. The 33-year-old, husband, and father of three, recently enlisted in
the Army Reserve as a 35F, military intelligence analyst. “I was very impressed with him when we met; he
was committed to accomplishing this goal,” said his Recruiter Sgt. 1st Class
Mary Sastre. She is an Army Reserve Recruiter, currently working at the Army
Recruiting School at Fort Knox, Ky.
Shukla started basic training Mar. 1 at Fort Sill, Okla. Next, he
will then attend advanced individual training for 17 weeks at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Then he will be join his unit, 345th Military Intelligence
Battalion at Fort Gordon, Ga., to work and complete his packet for Officer Cadet School. Shukla
speaks five languages and is currently the chief of biomedical engineering with
the Department of Veterans Affairs in Columbia, S.C. “I believe I have a lot to
offer and looking forward to serving,” said Shukla. “Nothing is impossible if
you stay with it.”
Born in India, he left home at the age of 15 to get
an education. He worked his way through school as a tutor of chemistry,
physics, and math. He often told those he tutored that “one day I’ll be an
American, they would just laugh, because I was so poor, but now I am here,” Shukla said. “This is the land of
opportunity, you can become anything.”
He came to the United States in 2008 and faced numerous
challenges when he first tried to join the Army in 2011. First hurdle was
citizenship, he became a citizen in 2012. His foreign college transcripts had
to be translated and although he obtained a degree in biomedical engineering in
India, he still required additional college core credits. With support of his wife, Melissa
Houghton-Shukla, he says he was able to overcome each challenge. “Without her I
couldn’t accomplish anything, she is very supportive—she takes care of the home
and gives me lots of space to accomplish my studies and pursue my goals,”
Shukla said.
Although he still faces challenges, being apart from his
family and possible deployments, he is eager to start this next chapter of life
in the Army. “I want to do something for this country that has done so much for
me; I want to be a good example for my kids,” Shukla stated.
“I believe Spc.
Shukla will make an outstanding Soldier due to his perseverance and commitment
to making his family proud and to give back to this country,” Sastre said. “I
wish him a lifetime of success and a career that can motivate and inspire
others in the future.”
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