Petty Officer Second Class Alex Nielson

Alex was just 14 years old when the attacks of 9/11 took place. His father, perhaps sensing what his son might be feeling, implored him not to enlist, even though his father admitted he likely would if he were in his son’s shoes. Four years later after finishing high school, Alex joined the Navy because it was what he was born to do. Even now, after five years of active duty and two deployments, he says he relished his time in the service, volunteering for and excelling in special operations training, medical training and parachuting.

As a Special Operations Combat Medic, Alex received training at a level he would not have experienced as a civilian and worked alongside a Marine Corps Reconnaissance team. He was challenged and put in life-changing situations. Alex was the first responder to one of his friends who was fatally shot, an incident that inspires him to achieve his goals.

Alex plans to complete his studies at Maryland and immediately enter medical school. His career goal is to become an ER doctor at a level 1-2 trauma center in a large metropolitan area. He believes the stress-management skills learned in the military will serve him well in that environment. His military background has provided him the ability to make fast decisions and deal with the consequences appropriately. He plans to use the devastating experience he had in Afghanistan as motivation to help his community, both as a doctor and as a mentor to his peers.