FORT KNOX, Ky. –
Sgt. 1st Class Sudeep Khadka grew up with dreams of being a Soldier. Born in Kathmandu, Nepal, Khadka said he lived near Nepalese army bases in the city and just knew he wanted to be a part of something larger than himself.
“I always had a passion (for the Army),” Khadka, a San Antonio Recruiting station commander said. “When I got the opportunity, I went for it.”
He now helps others realize their potential through his work as an Army Recruiter. In his three years in the role, Khadka has written more than 100 contracts, placing him among the top performing Recruiters in the Army.
He attributes his success to two main reasons, transparency with potential future Soldiers and their Families and an understanding of how to engage with people of different cultures and backgrounds.
He learned both traits in the Army.
“I tell (families and potential Soldiers) that the Army is here to defend the country,” he said. “If duty calls, then you know you will have to defend (the United States), and you will have to go to war, but otherwise you do the job you signed up for.”
He said even though it’s a hard conversation, the families like his explanation and his openness about Army life.
The ability to connect with families and potential Soldiers of various backgrounds is something Khadka says he is passionate about.
“Being an immigrant, I can relate to them and tell them all I have accomplished in the Army,” Khadka said. “I show them what being a citizen is like and the benefits of serving.”
He is happy to show them the good things about the Army, such as the GI Bill, tuition assistance and other benefits, hoping to encourage potential applicants to dream big.
According to Khadka, many immigrants come to the U.S. with only a high school education and then are focused on getting an hourly job and getting paid.
“I show them there is so much more they can accomplish,” he said.
A big dreamer himself, Khadka left his family in Nepal in 2006 to start his journey in the United States with a plan to finish his education. He earned an associate’s degree in business administration.
He made the decision to join the Army in 2010 through the Pathway to Citizenship program. His Military Occupational Specialty was 15S, OH-58D, Kiowa Helicopter repairer.
When he was offered the job, he was trepidatious.
“It’s funny,” he said. “I always loved aviation, but I had never been close to helicopters or planes.”
He told his Recruiter that he was worried because he was not familiar with helicopters and wasn’t familiar with the tools needed to do the job. He ended up being a Kiowa Helicopter Repairer for six years, right up until the airframe was discontinued in 2020.
He said he was sad the Army discontinued the helicopter, and he had to find a new occupation.
“I wanted to stick with the Army, so I switched to (Unmanned Arial Vehicle repairer), but I didn’t like it as much,” he said.
His luck quickly changed when he was selected by the Department of the Army for Recruiting duty in 2022. He said he loves being a Recruiter so much he left the aviation world for good and made 79R, Recruiter, his permanent and full time MOS.
His impact on Army Recruiting is felt not just in San Antonio where he and his family reside; it is felt nationwide. Khadka is often called by other Recruiting stations across the U.S. for his language skills and his ability to connect.
Khadka speaks four languages, Nepalese, Urdu, Hindi and English. Khadka said he is called by other Recruiters regularly for his language skills and by potential Soldiers who feel comfortable with him because he is an immigrant. He currently has applicants in Ohio and New York he is working to get into the Army.
But he said he knows no one can do anything alone. He attributes much of his success to his teammates and his family.
“You can’t do anything by yourself,” he said. “It must be a team. Team is everything, and you must rely on them.”
Khadka welcomed his parents into the United States, and said it’s a privilege to take care of them and have them in his young children’s lives.
“I’m their only son. My parents love me more than anything, but now they enjoy spending time with my kids more than me. I guess that’s what grandparents do,” he said with a laugh.
Khadka’s support network keeps him looking forward to the future and successfully finishing his Army career.
He just finished his 15th year in the Army. He knows the next five years will pass quickly and life will send him nothing but good things.
“I am waiting for whatever life sends my way,” he said. “My goal is to finish strong and keep my family settled.”