Ivan Castro

Iván Castro
Captain Iván Castro
Born	1967 (age 49–50) Hoboken, New Jersey
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1987 – present
Rank	Major
Unit	Special Operations Recruiting Battalion (SORB) - Assistant Operations Officer
Battles/wars	Operations Desert Storm/Shield Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Joint Forge Campaigns in Kosovo and Albania
Awards	Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal

Major Iván Castro (born 1967) is a U.S. Army officer who has continued serving on active duty in the Special Forces despite losing his eyesight. He is one of three blind active duty officers who serves in the U.S. Army and the only blind officer serving in the United States Army Special Forces. Castro currently serves on active duty at the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion as the Assistant Operations Officer /Total Army Involvement Recruiting Coordinator. He is an advocate of rehabilitation, employment and education for wounded warriors and participates in various races and marathons as a contestant.

Castro was born in Hoboken, New Jersey to parents who were originally from Puerto Rico. In 1979, when he was 12 years old, he moved to Puerto Rico with his mother. After graduating from Antilles Military Academy, Castro attended the University of Puerto Rico on an athletic scholarship. During his student years he represented his alma mater in track and field and cross country competitions. After four years of college, Castro enlisted in the US Army as a Private First Class and reached the rank of Sergeant First Class before attending Officer Candidate School. Castro later earned his BBA from Campbell University in North Carolina.

Castro’s military career began in the summer of 1987. He attended the Basic Airborne Course while enrolled in the ROTC program at the University of Puerto Rico. Castro also served as an infantryman in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard from 1988-1990. He then transferred to the active component of the U.S. Army, completing his first tour of duty in Co B, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry. During this time, he was deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield. Upon his return, he served with 101st Pathfinder Detachment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.