A proud son of Nicaraguan immigrants,U.S. Marine Lieutenant Col. Jose Montalvan Montalvan was asked to speak at Gar-Field High School on Oct. 4, 2022 in honor of the school Hispanic heritage month celebration. This was the first celebration of its kind at the school and tickets for the event were sold out. "It is essential to explain to Hispanic parents that military service in the United States is not the same as in Central or South American countries,” said Montalvan, a logistics officer. “There are many benefits (housing, healthcare, education) and advancement opportunities (promotion and assignment) available in the Marine Corps.”