All You Can Be

We met M at his favorite Mexican restaurant where he stated proudly, “it’s the authentic Mexican. They’re enchiladas are really the best.” Distinguished and grounded, M spoke smoothly about his time served in the Military. “I joined because of the GI bill. I wanted to go to school and I knew the army would pay for me.” As he started his training, he excelled with ease, “I was good at my job. I did it well,” M explained that he was rewarded with promotions and possibilities. “There’s always an opportunity in the army, a chance to move up, to take more classes, to learn new things.” For many, enlisting is a chance, a possibility of something.

Just earlier, we had spoken to J who boasted, “I was damn good at my job.”



R beamed when he talked about the parts of the world he got to see, “I tell my friends about it, and they just sit back and say, ‘wow, that’s so cool.’” R was part of the coast guard, and his job was to go from unit to unit in Iraq, inspecting the soldiers gear and giving them the green light, that they were all set to ship back home. Essentially, he was Santa Clause, spreading cheer wherever he roamed.

M retired after serving 20 years, and had since found an additional passion and pursuit. “Once I hit year 19 I started to think about what was next. I had some technical background, and was interested in the environment.” At the age of 52, Ma had just finished his last exam the night before and earned his Masters in Environmental Engineering. He spoke proudly of what he had accomplished, and more importantly, of what he would do next. “A doctorate. I’d like a PhD in Environmental Engineering. I think that’s next.” M had found opportunity.

When R, M, any of the veterans we spoke to, talked of enlisting, they spoke of the possibilities; an opportunity to become a hero, to be good at something. Each felt they were making a difference and moving forward. For so many, when they returned, and wander back into civilian world, their future path becomes clouded, and opportunities fade.

Opportunity: Help them find their next opportunity.