Where did you serve and what did you do?

I served in the U.S. Army from Jan 2016 to May 2025. I deployed to both OEF and OIR during the GWOT as a 91F10 Small Arms & Artillery Repairman. In total I participated in two long tour deployments and one short term deployment. All in all I had the honor of serving for four years active duty and just over five years in the Army National Guard.

Tell us how your dog is helping you continue Still Serving in your community.

My service dog Terry helps me mitigate traumatic brain injury and service-related injuries caused by service related injuries by creating space in public, providing deep pressure therapy, interrupting PTSD attacks, anxious behaviors, and providing loving support. Thanks to these services I never feel overwhelmed when volunteering and helping with my local VFW Post 4760. Terry gives me the emotional room to participate with and support my fellow veterans. His constant presence allows me to put my all into college and working as post Adjutant.

Why do you do it?

If it weren’t for my local veteran community I probably wouldn’t be here today. The outstanding camaraderie and support I received has turned being medically separated and feeling unbearable to enveloping me into a new family of comrades. Thanks to VFW 4760 I have a second family and home, the men and women of this post have changed my life! I want to return the love and fraternal loyalty back to my veteran community as well as the VFW.