National Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Ernest V Martinez

Describe your job in a sentence or two. I work in the Precious Metals Recovery Program. I assist customers in preparing and shipping PM for reclamation.

How long have you worked for the federal government, including military service? I have 27 years of total federal service.

How long have you worked for DLA Disposition Services? Five months.

What is the best piece of advice someone has given you? "Finish school." Those were the last words my maternal grandma spoke to me before she passed. I was attending the local college and had to stop to go find work to support my family. I held those words in my heart for years. I was a working, single father when I decided to go back and finish my degree. It was a struggle but when I finished it was the greatest feeling in the world when I graduated. This has also inspired my children, and they, too, have college degrees.

Why is it important to you that we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month? The Hispanic community still suffers from a variety of stereotypes. We are proud individual cultures that have achieved great things that deserve to be recognized. We make up about 20 percent of the population and fly under the radar. It's important for people to be aware of the Hispanic communities' contributions to society.

The theme for this month's observance is "Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together." In your words, briefly explain what this means to you? It's time for the Hispanic culture to start moving towards the future by sharing our past and building a foundation for others to see what we can do to help build a better world.

What challenges do Hispanics face today and how can understanding history help us overcome them? One of the challenges that I have experienced is an educational challenge. Many Hispanic teenagers live in poverty where they must work and go to high school at the same time. Making more money takes the place of education. This happen to my daughter's friend; my daughter and her friend were accepted to a STEM High School, which gave them the opportunity to graduate high school and obtain an associate's degree. Her friend had dreams of graduating from college but had to drop out to work for the family. Her career goal changed from college graduate to making manager at the local restaurant. This is the reality for many Hispanic teenagers and we as a culture need to break away from the stereotype and encourage them to stay in school and build a better world so that the future can move forward!

Who's your biggest influence? My mom. When I was growing up, her favorite saying was "I worked hard in those fields to give you what you have." I was having a hard time not knowing what the future held for me, so I called my mom. "I worked in the hot sun with no water, with no breaks, from sun up til' sundown from five years old to 17 for you. I don't want you breaking your back like me." I finally was able to understand the suffering that my family had gone through and the sacrifices they made for their children to move forward. I wasn't going to let her down. My mom has been there for every achievement I have accomplished.

Tell us something that most people might not know about you or your directorate? The Precious Metals Program is very unique, there is so much to learn. And, because it is a two-person team, I get the opportunity to interact and build relationships with everyone in DLA from all sites around the world.

What was your first job? I worked at Sea World of Texas in San Antonio.

What is your best memory of working here? The opportunity to continue my journey. It's just started but I'm not finished yet.

What did you want to be when you grew up? I took my kids to San Antonio a few years back and they found my kindergarten book. I had written that I wanted to be a policeman or fireman. Well, I got close. I received my Correction Officer Certificate and was hired by the Michigan Department of Corrections many years ago. I turned down the job for a better career move.

Who is your hero? I have three: Randolph Scott, John F. Kennedy, and Batman.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? I would go back in time and speak to my paternal grandfather; he passed 12 years before I was born. We have the same name, were both in the military, we both worked for the federal government and lived in Michigan and Texas. I want to know more of what we have in common.

What are your hobbies? I'm an antiquarian, I love old vintage stuff. My favorite finds are old elementary school books, I have a small collection of them.

What is your favorite quote? One of my historical heroes once said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."