 Hi, my name is Neil Ryan Alcaria, and I am the Deputy Director of Communications for the Fourth Infantry Division. My mother and father both immigrated from the Philippines. My mother immigrated to Hawaii and my father immigrated to California. I am the first to join the military in my family. I was born and raised in San Francisco, California, and both of my parents placed a high emphasis and value on schooling and education. Initially, my parents were not too excited about me joining the military. However, the events of September of 2001 inspired me to want to join and serve a country that has given so much to me and my family. As a first generation American, I have seen firsthand how much my parents have sacrificed and how hard they have worked to provide a good life for me. My wife and I try to instill in our children the importance of being trustworthy and having a strong work ethic.