Where did you serve and what did you do?
I served in the Marine Corps as artillery but deployed twice as provisional infantry. My first deployment was ten months in Iraq. For my second deployment, I was part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard, which allowed me to train and do operations in multiple countries.
How are you #StillServing?
Over the years, I became involved with several organizations that help veterans. I was an aide to the Veteran Services Officer. I volunteered weekly with a group of incarcerated veterans. For the past 2.5 years, I have been researching and advocating for veterans who have been deported. Today, I work with youth as a prevention coordinator and educator for a domestic violence agency, but I continue to send deported veterans donations of clothing and supplies while creating projects to help disabled veterans, such as websites and a podcast.
Why do you do it?
In search of finding healing, I found the value of helping others. Our veterans need help. Even those veterans whom I consider successful, I can often recognize signs of trauma that are invisible to many. I look at my veteran community around me and see that it requires healing, so I do my best to provide it.