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Idrache’s military career began in the Maryland Army National Guard. He served in the 231st Chemical Co., based in Greenbelt.

Idrache’s sister gave him a sticker that had been handed to her at school by a recruiter from West Point. He thought his chances of getting into the elite military academy were slim.

But his lieutenant in his National Guard unit helped him start the application process, and an administrator, Sgt. 1st Class Christi McKinney, guided him through the process.

McKinney followed Idrache through his West Point career, and was there to watch him graduate and be commissioned as an officer.

Once his lieutenant’s bar had been pinned on, she was the first enlisted soldier to salute him.

Idrache enrolled at West Point in 2012. He is now on his way to Fort Rucker, Ala., where the Army trains helicopter pilots.

“This is the country that comes to help when very few people do,” Idrache said. “This is a place where a guy who was born with nothing can become a pilot, and to me, that means so much.

“I love Haiti, but I would probably think twice before I go to war for it. But if I had to die for this, I’d do it.”

Idrache had watched the U.S. military conduct humanitarian missions as a child and was amazed by its helicopters.
“The first time I saw a Chinook, I ran after it.”

When it came time for Idrache to choose a military career, he knew what he wanted to do.

“I was like, I could be in one of those flying telephones and up there having some random kid in the Third World running after me with no shirt on,” he said. “I asked myself, ‘What is one thing I could never be if I didn’t come to West Point?’ — and that’s a pilot.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-alix-idrache-west-point-20160526-story.html