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 Still Serving?

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.