Sgt. Kevin Ortiz was honored as Soldier of the Month for September during the Rotary Club meeting Sept. 18.

Ortiz joined the U.S. Army in March of 2001, following in his mother’s footsteps. His primary military occupational specialty is fire direction specialist. He served in Operation Enduring Freedom, and in New Orleans with reconstruction after Hurricane Katrina.

His short-term goal is to earn his bachelor’s degree in biology, and his long-term goal is to focus on his military career by earning the next rank of staff sergeant.