Erin I.’s Post

🎮 Leveling Up for Veterans: The USAA & Call of Duty Endowment Alliance 🌟 Introduction: Gaming for a Greater Cause The partnership between the Call of Duty Endowment and USAA represents a unique convergence of gaming and veteran support, leveraging popular culture to address critical issues facing military veterans transitioning to civilian careers. 🕰️ Historical Background: Foundations of Support The Call of Duty Endowment was established to help veterans find high-quality careers after military service. USAA, known for its services to military families, joined forces to extend this mission, emphasizing the power of gaming to raise awareness and funds. 🚀 Significant Milestones: Achievements in Veteran Employment Together, these organizations have made significant strides in reducing veteran unemployment through various initiatives, including fundraising events and awareness campaigns within the gaming community. 🌐 Impact on Society: Beyond the Battlefield This collaboration not only aids veterans but also enriches the gaming community with a deeper purpose, highlighting the societal benefits of integrating support into entertainment. 🔮 Future Outlook: Expanding Horizons As the partnership evolves, the focus remains on innovative ways to engage and support through technology, potentially expanding into new gaming platforms and increasing their impact. 🔗 Conclusion: A Call to Action The success of the Call of Duty Endowment and USAA’s joint efforts exemplify how targeted initiatives can make a substantial difference. Their ongoing commitment sets a benchmark for how entertainment and advocacy can intertwine for social good. 💡 Join the Discussion: How do you see the role of entertainment evolving in social advocacy? Can gaming become a more potent tool for change? Share your views and let’s explore new possibilities together. #GamingForGood #SocialImpact #USAA #USAAwesome #USAAEmployee #UnitedServicesAutomobileAssociation #Leadership #Culture #MilitaryCulture #FinancialServices #VeteranSupport #ProjectManagement #DigitalFirst #DanielRuizIsasi https://lnkd.in/gnU6EVaV

Hi, all! Our special issue of Military Families Magazine by US Military Publishing LLC is hot off the print and digital presses for your reading pleasure! Yay! (Stay tuned for the Q2 Reserve + National Guard issue, coming later this week!) In this issue you'll find these great stories: - Avoid the Summer Slide [with your kids] - Solo parenting through childbirth, by United States Air Force spouse, Alexa LeCureux - COVER STORY: Navigating Deployment, Reintegration, by Bianca Strzalkowski - Retiring from service? Take advantage of your FEDVIP enrollment period, sponsored by FedPoint - Love Letters from USS Midway (1951 - 1952), by US Navy spouse, Kate Lewis, APR - * Find a SLEW of #militarydiscounts, pulled together by USMP staff (pages 16-17) - Leukemia survivor builds #smallbusiness dream using skills from United States Marine Corps, by Air Force veteran, Amanda Huffman - Military couples opt for do-it-yourself moves, by Marine veteran spouse, Tiffany Eve Lawrence - 5 ways for #veterans to pick a #college, by US Army veteran, John H. Davis - Madre knows best: How Latino cultural identity impacts #financial decisions, by Marine veteran spouse, Lizann Lightfoot - EXPERT: Economic conditions create 'perfect storm' for #military households, by U.S. Air Force spouse, Crystal Kupper - #Travel blogger teaches hacks for summer leave, by Air Force spouses, Kailyn Rhinehart - 5 grocery budgeting tips to fight rising food costs, by Army veteran, Brandon Lovingier, ChFC®, MQFP® https://lnkd.in/gBEK3afr THANK you to our great writers, especially our Editor-in-Chief, Bianca Strzalkowski, and our valued advertisers, who make the magic happen every issue! ******************************************************************************** Navy Federal Credit Union, #TheHeartofNC, Navy Mutual Aid Association, Boots2Roots, Liberty University Online Programs, FINRED, Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, The Exchange, USAA, Benefeds Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Employment, U.S. Coast Guard, PenFed Credit Union, #continuingeducation, #collegesanduniversities, #personalfinance, #adagencies, #advertising, #militarymarketing, Blue Star Families, America's Gold Star Families, #milspouses **************************************************************************** *Here's just a few of the companies listed in the military discounts article. Be sure to check out the full list! Disneyland Resort, Topgolf, Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix), National Park Service, Nike, The Home Depot, Lowe's Companies, Inc., Samsung Electronics... https://lnkd.in/gtYgDiaD

🌟 Inspiring Transformation through Service to Veterans 🌟 At the SAM Center, we are a motivated, diverse, and blessed group who are committed to delivering on our mission. 🙏 Like it's summarized in Matthew 20:25-28, where Jesus tells his disciples that leaders should serve others, not exercise authority over people, at the SAM Center, "It is our mission to serve those who have served us." 👀 Our Vision? "All veterans will know they are loved and supported by a community that meets their needs." 💪 Through our purpose, "We exist to serve our military and veterans. We are the conduit of the community's love for our veterans. Our purpose is to provide for the basic mental and physical needs of our veterans." 🌟 Abiding in Our Values: • Respect: As our greatest demonstration of love, we shall respect our stakeholders for their service and sacrifice. • Dependable: We will be a dependable resource for our clients and the community. • Compassionate: We will have a compassionate heart in serving our community. 🙌 Thanks to the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, our SAM Center Board of Directors this evening has been able to lean into the experience of respected and retired Walsh University President Richard Jusseaume through a series of Building Better Boards Training as "Everything rises and falls on leadership" as quoted by John C. Maxwell. 📈 Like any healthy organization's leadership does as part of the process of continuous improvement, we invest in our team to properly serve our veteran community, enhance our board's capability to grow and contribute through the various programs and services we offer, and build upon our competitive advantages which multiply the impact of our direct support dollars. 🌟 In closing, when a good leader awakens the depth of presence in another and encounters the sacredness and inner world of the other, leadership is truly transformational and healing. This transformation and healing is what we seek to best serve our veteran community! #SAMCenter #VeteransSupport #Leadership #CommunityService #TransformationalLeadership #VeteranCare

Here is a simple 30 second #Protip for my #TransitioningVeterans this Monday! With so many messages coming in, it can be easy to lose track of important texts, especially those related to your VA notifications 😩. To make sure you never miss an important reminder, try ✨ saving your VA notifications texts as a contact with a name that you can easily search for later✨. This simple hack has made it so much easier to quickly find my upcoming VA stuff. Too easy. ⬇️If this helped you, spread the word 🗣️ by liking and sharing my post and leaving me a 30 second hack in the comments 🙏 ⬇️ AllegiantVets American Corporate Partners (ACP) Skillbridge Network: The Military Transition Hub Marcus Haney Thomas McKenzie TYNISSHA N. CROMER Jessica L. Jason "Jay" Villazon, ACIR Anica Long Katie Jackson Gary Steensgard Andrew Schumacher #MilitaryTransition #VeteranTransition #MilitaryRetirement #VeteranEmployment #TransitioningVeterans #MilitarytoCivilian #TransitionAssistance #MilitaryCareerTransition

THROUGH PAIN COMES GROWTH As I packed my boxes, I cried. As I loaded my trailer, I cried. As I drove away and out of North Carolina….yup..you guessed it. I cried. This move is different. It’s not to a new base where I’ll put on the uniform and walk into a room full of people I have something in common with. We move often as members of the military and seldom think twice as it just comes with the territory. Forming a life, a circle, a community, an understanding of your environment is not easy. Yet, we do it as often as we see the Olympics, if not more. Closing a chapter of life that I didn’t think would end this soon, or in this fashion, is difficult in and of. itself. When you intertwine human connections in the form of some of the best humans you’ve ever encountered…it just plain hurts. I loved my time in the #Army. It was very different than my time in the #MarineCorps. Not better; not worse-just different. They have individual culture, identities and characteristics to them that make them unique in their own way. As I step away from my military service it’s difficult not to be emotional. There is sentiment in every duty station, every move, every deployment, every unit and many individuals I formed a bond with. My goal in this time as I head west from #NorthCarolina for #Montana is to be deliberate in processing those emotions and understanding how to utilize them to my benefit. Easier said than done. Prioritizing healthy habits is an important part of life, so I’ll be MAKING, not taking, but MAKING the time to walk 🚶🏻. To stretch 🤸🏻. To journal. 📝 Lastly, as always, eat good food. 🌯 I’ve started my trip with a minor inconvenience that I was able to fix on the side of the road in the rain…fun times. I’ll take it over having an actual breakdown any day. Grabbing some shut eye in West Virginia and will continue on. What do you guys do when traveling to help stay healthy or simply to feel sane?? Travelling can really take it out of you!

For their patriotism and their service, for giving us something worth protecting today and a tomorrow worth planning for, I am deeply grateful for those who’ve served—and those who supported them. How will you show your gratitude this #VeteransDay? #MilitaryLife #MilitaryMoney #VeteranRetirementPlanning #Sacrifice #PlanForTomorrow #ProtectYourFamily #ProtectYourFinancialFuture #RoadMap #PayItForward #YourLegacyOurMission #InvestFirstThenSpend

Idle Tuesday? No such thing... I can’t remember the last time I had an "idle" Tuesday. Every day feels like a new puzzle—meeting new people, tackling fresh challenges, and navigating unexpected situations. As the Director of Veteran Services at West Texas Counseling & Guidance, much of my role involves networking with other non-profits, large and small organizations and coalitions, and treatment facilities. It’s we're building partnerships that make a real difference in people’s lives. What I love most about this work is seeing the impact in real-time. Whether it’s connecting a Veteran to resources or collaborating with a partner organization, the results are immediate and deeply rewarding. That’s something I didn’t often get to experience during my time in the US Navy. But one thing my #Navy career taught me is how to embrace being uncomfortable and stay flexible. Those lessons have been invaluable as I navigate the constantly shifting landscape of non-profit work. Here’s to turning every day—especially Tuesdays—into an opportunity to make a difference. Let's connect!

#WHAT #ARE #YOUR #THOUGHTS 💭 ⁉️ (comment 💬 and let me know) . 🇺🇸 Honoring Service Beyond the “Requirement”: A Call to Our Better Angels . Many people say they are patriotic, yet I’ve noticed that veteran-owned businesses, specifically VOSBs (Veteran-Owned Small Businesses) and SDVOSBs (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses), are often only invited into project teams when it’s “required.” The reality is that honoring our veterans should not be a box to check—it should be a reflection of our core values and commitment to those who served, sacrificed, and, in some cases, returned home with combat injuries. . SDVOSB set-asides were created to recognize the sacrifices of military service members from all branches who risked their lives in times of war. And, more broadly, diversity set-asides honor a complex American history, giving space to disadvantaged and underrepresented groups who have faced systemic barriers. A truly inclusive society acknowledges these experiences and strives to uplift those affected—not only when mandated but because it’s the right thing to do. . I hope my colleagues will listen to their better angels, embracing these values in every project and partnership. Patriotism isn’t just about symbols and words; it’s about acting in support of those who have served and ensuring that the principles of equity and recognition are woven into our actions daily. . Let’s honor and uplift all those who have given so much, not because it’s “required” but because that’s what a good society does. 🇺🇸 . - Mujeeb Basha, P.E. American Veteran Engineering, PLLC

I want to celebrate that Shields & Stripes is able to help these 8 military folks and first responders. I don't share much about the physical, emotional, and mental challenges I had during my time in the military, but after 3 years of being retired, but after reading this post by Steven Nisbet I feel empowered and compelled to say something. Starting at MEPS and continuing through basic, AIT and every single command I supported in my 24+ year career, my leadership told me to keep my medical problems to myself. Being sick was weakness, being injured affected readiness, being depressed would cost me my clearance. I didn't go to sick call, I didn't go on quarters, I didn't report head injuries, I didn't complain about broken bones, numbness in my arms, I minimized SERIOUS medical issues in order to deploy three times, and I never seriously participated mental health therapy. The VA has been a great resource for me to start to undue some of the physical impact my body suffered, but I was never able to crack the mental health code by using VA resources. To me, I felt like an imposter, like how did my trauma compare to that of some of my peers with purple hearts and CABs? How did my trauma compare to the experiences of Vietnam era veterans like my father? After white-knuckling my way through sobriety, and starting to find value in myself as a person, I reluctantly applied for and was accepted into the Shields & Stripes program. It was through their concentrated and collaborative, whole body approach to healing that I was finally able to unpack the container I had filled with trauma, depression, moral injuries, anger, shame, guilt, anxiety, and fear. We all deserve to be whole; to be free of the burdens we carry from our experiences; to be the best version of ourselves. If you are an active duty service member or veteran, or if you are a current or retired LE professional or first responder, you should apply to the program. If you believe that those who day in and day out put their lives on the line deserve to be whole, then please consider reposting, sharing, advocating for, or donating to Shields & Stripes. Feel free to message me if you want to know more about my experience.