BELL GARDENS - Bell Gardens native Jose Jimenez was recently promoted to the rank of master sergeant in the Army during a ceremony held in Fort Bliss, Tex., in front of family and friends.Jimenez is the son of Alfonso and Natalie Jimenez, who still reside in Bell Gardens. His wife, Maria Ortiz, also from Bell Gardens, was present for the ceremony. Jimenez is a 1990 graduate of Bell Gardens High School. He joined the Army in September, a few months after receiving his diploma. He enlisted as an armor crewman and reported to his first assignment with the 1st Armored Division in Baumholder, Germany, after completing his initial Army training. During his 21 years in the Army, Jimenez has had stateside assignments at Fort Lewis, Wash., and Fort Hood, Tex.; he has served overseas in Korea and Iraq, where he was deployed three times: in 2005, 2006 and 2009. He now serves as the G3 Operations Non-Commissioned Officer with the Brigade Modernization Command, whose commander, Brig. Gen. Randal Dragon, performed the promotion ceremony and pinned on his new rank, along with Jimenez's wife. "When I came into the Army, I didn't expect to stay so long," said Jimenez, "but I grew into the career." Jimenez said his most memorable assignment was as platoon sergeant for an infantry unit at Fort Hood. He hopes to stay in the Army for another five years and then continue his education in Business Administration, eventually going into business for himself. Jimenez and his wife have four children - Silvia, 21, who is married; Ricardo, 20, who attends college; Leonor, 12; and Natalie, 10. The two youngest daughters attend school in El Paso, Tex.

********** Published: September 01, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 20