Aaron Ojard served 20 years in the US Navy. He served 12 years as a Machinist Mate and the last 8 years as a critical care RN. Aaron deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and was injured. He was featured in the June 2014 issue of Sports Illustrated Golf+.
Last year Josh Peyton dreamed up and started the Veteran Golfers Association as a platform to get affordable, competitive golf available to all veterans. The Veteran Golfers Association is committed to promoting the game of golf to veterans and their family members. The VGA develops programs that allow our members to compete, socialize, and remain physically active through the game of golf.
Jim “Coop” Cooper is from North Carolina and retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer in 2000 after 21 years of service. Coop currently works for the Army as a Civilian. Two years ago, Keith Umberger and Coop took over the Maryland Chapter of Heroes on the Water. Heroes on the Water helps our Nation’s warriors and veterans from all branches of the United States military unwind using the therapeutic qualities of fishing from kayaks. What looks like a day trip of paddling and fishing is in fact something much deeper and long-lasting.
Kevin C. Miller served in the United States Marine Corps infantry from 2002-2006 with multiple deployments to Iraq. He graduated from Humboldt State University with a BA in Recreation Administration and a minor in Business Administration in 2011.
In 2014, Kevin was selected as a National Service Leader by AmeriCorps Alums, based on his term of service with Swords to Plowshares as an AmeriCorps VISTA (2013), where he worked on employment research, outreach, and helped administer a statewide employment collaborative in California.
He has continued and expanded on his work at Swords to Plowshares, now as the Strategic Development and Communications Coordinator, where his primary focus of work includes building partnerships between employment and training providers, relevant state and national entities, not-for-profit associations and private employers.
http://veteranpodcast.com/026
Jon Jackson founded STAG VETS INC. in 2014 to assist homeless veterans, veterans in need and veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury. Jon earned his stripes by serving his country with the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. While serving, Jon endured six deployments with a combine total of 40 months of combat time in his first 8 years of service.
While overseas Jon provided direct support to multidisciplinary Special Operations Teams spread across austere environments. His Can-Do anything attitude was essential for him to thrive in an environment where critical decisions needed to be made that had a positive impact on every mission.
For his actions, Jon was awarded numerous awards and decorations to include the Bronze star for exceptional Cross Continental Management skills that resulted in the kill and capture of High Value Enemy Targets. Although Jon achieved so much as an US Army Airborne Ranger, the extensive combat deployments paid its price. In January 2013 Jon was diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury due to multiple blasts from IEDs’ and chronic Post Traumatic Stress.
Due to his health and family being more important to him, Jon made the hard decision and sacrifice to medically retire from the 75th Ranger Regiment. Saddened by his ordeal, Jon decided that he was not going to let PTSD and TBI determine his future, nor will he let these injuries define the thousands of vets who are suffering with no assistance.
With his knowledge, exceptional leadership skills, and drive to take care of others. Jon created STAG VETS Inc to reintegrate homeless vets, vets suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury receive the care they deserve and use sustainable farming as a tool to build communities and instill a sense of pride into the team of vets that are working through the program.
http://veteranpodcast.com/025
Jim Perry joined the American Red Cross as Service to Armed Forces Regional Manager in June 2015. He was a teacher in Baltimore City for 7 years prior and held summer employment managing sections of a Youth Work Program on the Eastern Shore of MD, and outside Baltimore MD. His role with the American Red Cross is to oversee volunteer activities in 7 Military Treatment Facilities in the Greater Chesapeake Region, as well as Manage Outreach briefings for Military Members and their families. He also supports efforts that provide outreach and support to Veterans, and Emergency Services to Military Members and their families. Jim was in the Marine Corps Reserve from 2002-2008, and served one deployment to Iraq. He was also a participant in the " Telling Project" a play where veterans share their stories along side Jeremy Paris. He holds a Bachelors Degree is Sociology from McDaniel College( Formerly Western Maryland College) and Masters Degree in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University. He is originally from Falls Church, Va. But now resides in Baltimore MD.
Check out the show notes: http://veteranpodcast.com/024