Homeland Magazine November 2023

Homeland

Vol. 10 • Number 11 • November 2023

MAGAZINE

Honoring All Those Who Served

VETERANS DAY NOVEMBER 11 th

1978-2023

Commemorative Veterans Day Posters that Reflect Pride and Patriotism in Saluting Veterans

Warrior’s Journey is a Labor of Love

MENTAL HEALTH PTSD Through ART

CAREER RESOURCES Transition Strategies, Advice & Tips

VETERAN

organizations

EVENTS, SUPPORT & RESOURCES WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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“I’m happier with myself. Having been in therapy, period, has helped me be in a better place now.”

Rogelio “Roger” Rodriguez, Jr US Navy (1987 – 1993) US Air Force (1993 – 2013)

PTSD treatment can turn your life around.

For more information visit: www.ptsd.va.gov/aboutface

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Your Service Inspires Ours Everything we do is inspired by the military service and sacrifice of our members. We’re grateful for our 2 million+ veteran members and their commitment to our country—and we’re proud to support them with special offers, financial resources and award-winning service.

See All We Do for You navyfederal.org/veterans

Insured by NCUA. © 2023 Navy Federal NFCU 14044 (8-23)

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Publisher Editor-In-Chief Mike Miller

Monthly Columns

www.HomelandMagazine.com Welcome to Homeland Magazine!

Homeland is a veteran-focused magazine throughout the country. It serves to assist all veterans, active military as well as their spouses and families.

It is the leading veteran magazine emphasizing resources & support and focusing on topics and issues facing today’s veteran community. Homeland focuses on resources, support, community, transition, mental health and inspiration for our veterans, & military personnel.

The content is the driving force behind our magazine and the connection it makes with our veterans, service members, military families, and civilians.

The magazine is supported by a distinguishing list of veteran organizations & members, resource centers, coalitions, veteran advocates, and more.

We are honored to share the work of so many committed and thoughtful people.

Despite all the challenges, our team has upheld their focus and let not one opportunity go to provide resources and support to our veterans & military personnel.

What’s Next Transition Eve Nasby • Kristin Hennessy Human Resources Paul Falcone Veterans in Business Barbara Eldridge Successful Transitioning Stories Dr. Julie Ducharme Risky Business Hadley Wood Franchise Frontline Rhonda Sanderson Real Talk: Mental Health Hope Phifer PTSD: Reclaiming Control Robert ‘Bob’ Cuyler, PhD TLC Caregiving Kie Copenhaver Legal Eagle Kelly Bagla, Esq. Family Law Tana Landau, Esq. Midway Magic David Koontz Veterans Chamber Commerce Joe Molina Contributing Writers Wounded Warrior Project Raquel G. Rivas, WWP Disabled American Veterans San Diego Veterans Coalition Veteran Association North County Shelter to Soldier (STS) Eva Stimson (In-House) Correspondents

On behalf of our team, we wanted to take this moment to say THANK YOU to the readers and the military and veteran community for supporting our magazine. With that support we aim to make a difference and continuing to make a profound impact on the quality of life for our veterans, military personnel and their families.

Holly Shaffner CJ Machado

If you want to catch up on the current and all past issues please visit: www.homelandmagazine.com/archives

(858) 275-4281

Mike Miller

Homeland Magazine is published monthly.

Submissions of photographs, Illustrations, drawings, and manuscripts are considered unsolicited materials and the publisher assumes no responsibility for the said items. All rights reserved

Editor-In-Chief mikemiller@homelandmagazine.com www.homelandmagazine.com 4

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Homeland Magazine 9528 Miramar Road, #41 San Diego, CA 92126 mikemiller@homelandmagazine.com

NOVEMBER 2023 INSIDE THE ISSUE

9 Veterans Day - Memorial Day (The Difference) 11 Veterans Day Posters (1978-2023) 14 We Came in Peace 16 Warrior’s Journey Is a Labor of Love 20 Continuing to Survive PTSD Through ART 22 Why Art? Why not Art? 24 From Homeless to Hopeful 26 TLC: Veterans Day 28 The Impact of PTSD 30 Real Talk: PTSD: Letter To Self 32 Panic Symptoms & PTSD 36 Lessons Learned (USPTO) 38 Off-Base Transition Training 40 HR: Future Workforce 42 What’s Next: A Spouse’s Perspective 44 Successful Transition: Steven Kuhn 46 Navigating Career Choices 48 Franchise Frontline: Patrick Daniel 50 Business for Veterans: Business Assets 54 Risky Business: Management Liability 56 Legal Eagle: Q&A Starting a Business 58 Legally Speaking: Disability Pay and Divorce 62 Careers in Law Enforcement 64 SDPD Ride Along - A Story of Two Marines 70 From Navy Sailor to SFPD * Homeland Cover - Photo by Cottonbro Studio WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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P R O U D LY S E RV I N G T H O S E

WHO SERVE WHO WE ARE Serving since 2003, Operation Gratitude is the largest and most impactful nonprofit in the country for hands-on volunteerism in support of Military, Veterans, and First Responders.

Deployed Troops

First Responders

3,000,000

Military, Veterans and First Responders Impacted

OVER

1 Million VOLUNTEERS

OUR MISSION To forge strong bonds between Americans and their Military and First Responder heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of Veterans

Recruit Graduates

gratitude and meaningful engagements in communities Nationwide.

WE BELIEVE Actions speak louder than words Saying “thank you for your service” is the start of a conversation that leads to a better understanding of service Hands-on volunteerism, acts of gratitude and meaningful engageWounded Heroes and Caregivers

Military Families

ments are the best ways to bridge the civilian-service divide We focus on empathy, resilience, service, and sacrifice rather than sympathy, challenges, needs, and pity

operationgratitude.com

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THEIR LIVES ARE OUR MISSION

Operation Healing Forces has been serving wounded, ill, injured, and Fallen U.S. Special Operations Forces warriors and their families since 2011 through unique programs designed to provide mental, physical, emotional, and fiscal well-being.

To learn more about our Therapeutic Retreats and Crisis Support programs visit our website at www.operationhealingforces.org

CREATING BONDS THAT CURE -

TOGETHER

Join with us as we pay tribute to the service and sacrifices of America’s Special Operations community through programs that promote connection and healing.

WAYS TO SUPPORT

Your donation is tax-deductible and urgently needed to aid a community that has lived at the Tip of the Spear for decades. Please Donate Today!

Financial Support 1-Week In-Kind Home Donations Airline Mile Donations Matching Gift Designations Individual Fundraising

Planned or Legacy Gifts Gifts of Stocks or Securities Sponsorships Volunteer Follow Us on Social Media WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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www.navy-cycling.com

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Veterans Day - Memorial Day

What’s The Difference Veterans Day: Honoring All Those

Memorial Day: Honoring Those Who

Veterans Day, a federal holiday that falls on November 11, is designated as a day to honor the more than 21 million men and women who have served in the U.S. military.

Memorial Day, which is celebrated on the last Monday in May, honors service members who have died in military service to the nation. The holiday has roots dating back to the post-Civil War era, when citizens would informally place spring flower memorials on the graves of fallen soldiers.

Who Served in the Military

It was first observed on November 11, 1919, as Armistice Day in honor of the first anniversary of the end of World War I, which officially ended on the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918. In 1926, Congress called for an annual observance of the anniversary and by 1938 it was an official federal holiday. A few decades later, in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, as it is currently known today.

Thanks to the Uniform Holiday Act of 1968, the holiday was moved from its November 11 date to a less-defined “fourth Monday in October” so workers could enjoy a long weekend. However, this move didn’t last long. In 1975, President Gerald Ford returned the solemn day back to its original November 11 to honor the global historical significance of the day.

While it is important to thank all those who have served or are serving on a regular basis, on Veterans Day it’s especially important to take an extra moment to show military members gratitude for their sacrifice.

Died in Military Service

On May 20, 1868, over 5,000 first-ever National Decoration Day participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery. By the late 1800s, cities and communities across the United States began to observe the day and several states declared it a legal holiday. Over the next few decades, the day transitioned from being called Decoration Day to its current name of Memorial Day. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May instead of a set calendar day. By 1971, the threeday weekend for federal employees went into full effect.

Today, Memorial Day is often associated with the start of summer, discount sales and cookouts with friends.

But you have the power to educate those around you and take a few moments to pay tribute to the fallen while still enjoying the sunshine and outdoors.

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1978 - 2023

VeteranS Day Posters Each year the Veterans Day National Committee publishes a commemorative Veterans Day poster. (www.va.gov) These posters reflect the pride and patriotism in saluting Veterans.

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We came in

peace Legacy of triumph and tragedy continues for Beirut veterans

O

n Oct. 23, 1983, a suicide truck bomber attacked the Battalion Landing Team headquarters in Beirut, killing 220 Marines, 18 sailors and 3 soldiers. It was the Corps’ largest loss of life in a single day since the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.

Forty years after the bombing, the veterans of Beirut and the families of those who perished there are still haunted by the tragic loss, even as many continue to fight a different battle.

Among the survivors and veterans of the peacekeeping mission in Beirut, an invisible enemy was unleashing a deadly attack from within. Many of those Marines had been stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from 1953 to 1987 and unknowingly ingested toxic chemicals that had polluted the groundwater there.

Keith “EZ” Ezell deployed to Beirut with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, as the country was embroiled in the civil unrest and bloodshed that would lead to the barracks attack.

“We weren’t there on a combat mission at all—though it turned into one,” he said. “We got toward the end [of our deployment] and the bombing happened. We were less than a month away from going home.”

While Ezell was not wounded in the attack, the enormity of what had happened was difficult to process.

“I didn’t really understand the outcome of it all,” he said.

“At the time, I was just glad to be home.”

Ezell was fortunate to survive his tour in Beirut. Later in life, though, he would face an invisible foe lurking within his own body. An aggressive form of bladder cancer had been waging a secret war against him.

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According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, scientific and medical evidence points to the development of certain diseases, including bladder cancer, as a result of toxins in the water at Camp Lejeune.

In his time of need, Ezell was able to turn to a fellow Marine veteran of Beirut, Don Inns.

As a DAV benefits advocate, Inns has dedicated his post-service life to advocating for his fellow veterans and their families.

“I consider it an honor to assist veterans of any era and their families,” Inns said. “But it feels incredibly special to be there for those who served in Beirut.

“Sometimes we feel forgotten or overlooked. I know that through my benefits work, I’m able to do my part to ensure their sacrifices are remembered.”

Because of Inns’ diligence, the VA approved Ezell’s claim for service-connected bladder cancer. Additional benefits—such as Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance—were also granted.

Unfortunately, Ezell lost his battle with bladder cancer on March 15 this year.

“Before Keith had passed away, he wanted to make sure that his wife, Kim, was taken care of,” Inns said.

“Since his passing, I submitted Kim’s claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, which the VA has granted. I’m glad that DAV could be there when Kim needed us most. That’s a promise I made to Keith.”

“DAV is more than just a name or an acronym; it’s people that have been there and been through it and have gotten the background to understand how to [file for benefits through a VA disability claim],” said Kim. The intertwined tragedies of the Beirut bombing and the poisoned water at Camp Lejeune have irreversibly affected the lives of thousands. But for Inns, as well as the other Beirut veterans and those affected by the poisoned water at Camp Lejeune, the battle continues. n

We will keep fighting, whether for recognition of what we endured in Beirut as we attempted to bring peace to Lebanon or for those who were poisoned back home. Like the Marines, DAV is not afraid to stay in the fight, especially for those who cannot fight for themselves.

— Don Inns, DAV benefits advocate

Did you know?

In 2022, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, which was signed into law as part of the larger Honoring our PACT Act, gave veterans and their dependents the ability to file a civil suit against the federal government for harm suffered as a result of the toxic groundwater.

However, monetary awards will be reduced by the amount of any VA disability compensation or other benefits provided based on a veteran’s exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

“It’s critical that veterans and their family members affected by the toxic water at Camp Lejeune know that these lawsuit awards can come with a price,” said DAV National Service Director Jim Marszalek. “This could reduce the amount of the award recipients actually receive from the court, but it would not affect their eligibility to apply for or receive VA benefits or health care.”

Above: Keith Ezell stands in front of the Beirut Memorial outside of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Right: Ezell with fellow Marine veteran and DAV benefits advocate Don Inns, who also survived his tour in Beirut.

Marszalek said DAV encourages all veterans to take the most appropriate actions for their individual situations, starting with an appointment with a DAV benefits advocate.

Veterans and family members can locate the nearest DAV office by visiting benefitsquestions.org.

Watch Video Online See the video about Keith Ezell at dav.la/3im.

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Longtime Warrior’s Journey Is a Labor of Love

By Paris Moulden, Wounded Warrior Project

Brian Neuman served the country in the Army and was one of Wounded Warrior Project’s earliest warriors. Now, he helps serve injured veterans as part of WWP’s 20-year-long mission to honor and empower wounded warriors.

Serving in the U.S. military was beyond life-changing for Brian Neuman. It’s how he lost his arm. It’s how he died for two minutes on an operating table. It’s how he found his future career. It’s how he found love.

Being in the military put him on a winding path, but it all led to personal and professional fulfillment.

Brian almost lost his life in Iraq 19 years ago. While recovering from his combat injuries, he was introduced to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). Beginning in 2003, WWP started providing support and comfort to wounded 16

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service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with backpacks filled with personal care items.

Brian was one of WWP’s earliest warriors to receive that backpack – and one of its first employees. Twenty years later, WWP has grown to serve more than 200,000 post9/11 veterans and family members and is always evolving to meet their needs.

For the Love of Service, and a Fellow Service Member In 1991, after Brian graduated high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the infantry as an Army Ranger.

When he got out of the Army, he joined the Massachusetts National Guard. Although he already had a history of military service, his sense of patriotic duty was intensified by tragedy. Brian was motivated to do something in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

“I still missed the military, but it never crossed my mind [to go back in] until that day,” Brian said.

Brian was 30 years old and had the experience from his previous time in service, but it had been more than five years since he’d gotten out, so it was like starting over.

Rather than go back into infantry, Brian chose to serve in psychological operations (PSYOP). He was sent to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, where he would meet the love of his life, Erika.

“She was completely and utterly different than me. She was kind of a terrible soldier, I think,” Brian joked.

Erika got out of training before Brian, but took a job in nearby Raleigh, North Carolina, to be closer to him. A few days before she was set to start, Erika found out she was being assigned to a Psych Ops unit and would be sent to Iraq. A few months later, after graduating from language school, Brian was attached to a unit being sent to Afghanistan.

Erika returned home safely, but the distance caused the couple to break up. Because he was single, Brian volunteered for another rotation in Afghanistan, and another in Iraq. This last deployment would change Brian’s life forever.

On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2004, the vehicle Brian was in hit a warhead that penetrated the vehicle’s armor. It killed the interpreter next to him and ripped off Brian’s left arm.

Returning Home and Finding Hope Brian was transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to begin treatment. He was rehabilitating his physical injuries, but for the first few weeks, it was the emotional turmoil that was causing him the most pain.

“My world was completely changed,” Brian said. “For the first couple of weeks, I had this intense feeling of guilt because I was alive, and I was going to live, and I was safe.”

To make matters worse, when Brian arrived at Walter Reed, he didn’t have much. “The only thing that made it back to the States was me,” he said.

Then one day, a Special Operations Command liaison at the hospital delivered a WWP backpack to him. Brian had no idea how big a role that moment would play in his life.

“I didn’t have any idea who Wounded Warrior Project was, but I loved the logo.”

Brian also built up the strength to reach out to Erika. He sent her an email and they spoke that same evening. She was at Walter Reed less than 48 hours later.

As fate would have it, Veterans Affairs (VA) had recently opened a military treatment facility for amputees and burn victims in San Antonio, the same city Erika lived in.

“I got [to San Antonio] in February of 2005, proposed to her in May, and then we got married the following May,” Brian said.

Continued on page 19 >

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R E S O U R

WOUNDS WE CANNOT SEE Post Traumatic Stress Disorder does not always allow the affected to seek help. Lend a hand and provide them with methods of help, listen and be a friend.

Homeland Magazine works with nonprofit veteran organizations that help more than one million veterans in life-changing ways each year.

C

Resources.

E

Support.

Inspiration.

S

At Homeland Magazine you can visit our website for all current and past articles relating to PTSD, symptoms, resources and real stories of inspiration.

Resources & Articles available at:

homelandmagazine.com/category/fighting-ptsd

The colors of gratitude

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FIGHTING PTSD

Finding Fulfillment Moving to San Antonio, marrying Erika, and starting a family brought Brian both personal and professional fulfillment. He was a registered warrior with WWP and understood the impact it had on him when he was struggling.

In his time with WWP, he’s got to see the organization grow and change and serve more and more warriors and their families.

“It’s been awesome to see the growth,” Brian said.

Brian is a testament to WWP’s mission over the last 20 years. While backpacks for injured service members are still a staple, WWP offers free programs and services in mental health and wellness, physical health, financial education, and long-term support.

“It’s an incredible myriad of programs that we offer, free of charge,” Brian said. “We’ll continue to address the needs of different generations of veterans. We’re trying to address generational gaps and needs.”

Contact: — Paris Moulden, Public Relations, pmoulden@woundedwarriorproject.

(904) 570.7910 “I thought if I can’t go back into the military and I can’t deploy again, I probably want to be involved in the veteran space,” Brian said.

Brian’s experience as one of WWP’s earliest warriors and his passion for serving led to a position at WWP and the opportunity to help wounded veterans like himself.

About Wounded Warrior Project Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition.

Learn more at: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

EVERY DAY IS VETERANS DAY AT WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT®

The sole focus of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to serve those who have dedicated their lives to serving our country. WWP honors them on Veterans Day — and every day — because their service and sacrifice matter.

JOIN

SUPPORT

WOUNDED WARRIOR

Aaron Cornelius

A D V O C AT E

woundedwarriorproject.org/20anniversary

Army Veteran Jake Norotsky

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Homeland Magazine Checked back in with Disabled Vietnam Vet/Contemporary Realistic Oil Painter John Melillo, as he prepares for his Veteran inspired Solo Art Exhibition.

By Beth Melillo

Melillo: This Year, “Life Goes on Part 3” is about Comradery, Friendship, Courage and Honor. It’s about a Heroic Canine named “KING” who saved lives in Vietnam!

I paint from my Original Photos I took while on tour in Vietnam 1971-1972. I try to paint the “Lighter Side” of Vietnam. In Addition, a short VIDEO Series will be shown that reflect on the paintings I did and the history. PLUS, my “East End Perspective” of additional Oil paintings will be on view from growing up in the historic Hamptons circa 1950.

Homeland: John, tell us how you are continuing to share your journey with a GLOBAL MESSAGE!

Homeland: Tell us about the new Flag painting you did to launch and its meaning.

Melillo: We all have our VIETNAM’s ...... be a death in family, accident, illness, bad relationship, something that stays with us that affects our lives. It’s something you don’t heal from, you have to live with! How we deal with it TENDS TO DEFINE US. Our theory has been, do something that has self-worth for yourself and in doing so you might find solace!

Melillo: We start with “Proudly Hold our Flag High!!!”

It’s all about our community coming together to Celebrate this GREAT NATION and all the sacrifices it took to make it.

CONTINUING to SURVIVE PTSD Through ART

Homeland: How does Art continue to help you deal with PTSD? Melillo: I never painted before retiring when my PTSD Trauma became overwhelming. ART is my 3rd ACT, a Gift from God I didn’t know I had. Art Saved me!

Homeland: Tell us about your “Life Goes On Part 3” Solo Art & Video exhibition to launch the Day before Veteran’s Day this year.

Homeland: Tell us about the story of “King” your Canine Dog that served in Vietnam and why you chose to Paint him.

Melillo: In going through my old photos for this event, ONE in particular kept coming back to me. I passed over it before because it really stands alone as it’s own story and it’s difficult for me to tell. I’d be remised if I didn’t recount this most notable and significant thing I encountered in my Vietnam Tour or for that matter in my whole life. My Hope in so doing, I might finally have more Closure in dealing with my PTSD condition. King was a German Shepard that worked the Canine Unit.

I worked with 2 Canine Units on my night shift.

Each Dog paired with a handler and there were 16 different Dogs that could be used.

There was one dog named “KING”, from the first time we saw each other we became “Kindred Spirits”.

King, though he had a Handler would either never leave my side or always kept me in sight. I’m not a dog person, but I swear, we could communicate and knew what each of us were thinking.

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To Survive the jungle you have to become part of it. You have to realize we’re all animals and have senses that get heightened in extreme situations to survive. King had instincts like NO animal or person I ever met had. I would ONLY work with him while on Night Patrol. I could tell you at least a dozen amazing stories where we had each other’s back. So in this 3rd part of my Vietnam Journey, I want to tell you about and dedicate it to “KING.” On View at my art Reception and Exhibition will be the Original photo of King and I circa 1971 in Vietnam and the new Oil Painting I did of that moment. Plus you can hear the stories of my Heroic friend first hand in the video we will show “Life Goes On 3.” We’ve included a various selection of original photos in the video that I took in Vietnam to help capture the true history.

Homeland: Seems like this has been a Great healing tool for you.

Melillo: I’m a painter and it’s not a coincidence that the easiest thing I can paint is a CANINE.

To all Veterans - Thank you for your service!

“LIFE GOES ON PART 3” RECEPTION is on Friday NOVEMBER 10th 2023 from 12-4PM at the Southampton Cultural Center In Southampton at 25 Pond Lane, Southampton, NY. Exhibition on View Nov 9-26 (Thurs-Sun 12-4).

If you haven’t seen the first 2 parts, they will be on view as well at SCC. Please visit below website to see the “Life Goes on Series” of paintings and trailers available as well as all of John’s other works. www.artfeelingsjm.com Instagram @artfeelingsjm Contact: bethmproductions@gmail.com WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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FLASHBACK IN ART RAISING THE FLAG ON IWO JIMA See Art - www.joeeverson.com/art 22

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November 11, 2023 Honoring All Those Who Served

Why Art?

By Amber Robinson Those of us who are born artists would scoff at a question like “Why Art?” Why NOT art is the real question. Those of us born with the natural inclination to take paint to canvas, put our hands to instruments or our bodies into motion or music understand the grounding effects of art. It is that grounding effect that makes art the beautiful healer that it is.

I’ve met so many people throughout my life who tell me they are not artistic or creative. But, I believe we all are. No matter how we build our lives, it is through our own creativity and ingenuity that we do so. But, there is something especially grounding about making art for the sake of its beauty. The world of dance, theater, paint and poetry is fraught with avenues of healing one can take.

In a study published in Art Therapy Magazine, 39 healthy people were tested for cortisol before and after 45 minutes of art making. For those who don’t know, cortisol is a stress hormone that your adrenal glands make. A body saturated in cortisol is a body very stressed and undergoing deterioration.

According to the study, cortisol levels were notably lower after art making. Participants were able to create with an array of materials and reported feelings of calm, peace, and better focus. They also wrote that they felt the art session was helpful for learning about new aspects of self, in helping conflict resolution and in understanding the concept of “being in flow”.

So what is it about art that lowers our stress levels and connects us more deeply to ourselves?

According to a thoughtful blog on the Henry Ford Health System website, through art and creativity we are able to connect to our “inner child”, usually the part of ourselves that is most pure and unscarred.

The blog also says that art is the only activity that forces us to forge a connection between body and mind. Through those connections back to dormant parts of self, we find healing, or wholeness.

In fact, the blog even goes so far as to suggest asking your art to communicate with you! As you connect your different parts of self, art is a messenger between them.

What is your art trying to communicate to you about yourself?

In my experience, art has always been my saving grace.

From poetry as an angsty teen to abstract painting as a war-mottled veteran, art has always been where I have met myself again and again. You meet yourself within the process somehow and that is how we heal.

The person we were before life messed us up is always inside of us. Art is like a magical key that opens the door to that person again. Art allows us to be new again.

As we all end 2023 I encourage everyone to create some holiday art; paint a painting, write poetry or sculpt!

Get eccentric with trimming the tree and with holiday food. And, If holiday stress starts to raise those cortisol levels, you know to reach for the markers and paper, not the vodka.

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From Homeless to Hopeful: How the Reveille Foundation Transforms the Lives of Veterans Homelessness is a serious and complex issue that affects many veterans in the United States. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, veterans are more likely than civilians to experience homelessness, especially if they have low socioeconomic status, a mental health disorder, and/or a history of substance abuse. In fact, about 45 percent of homeless veterans suffer from any mental illness, and only a quarter of them are seeking treatment.

Many homeless veterans struggle with anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and traumatic stress disorders, which can impair their ability to function in daily life and find stable housing. Homelessness and mental health issues can create a vicious cycle that is hard to break without proper support and intervention.

That’s where the Reveille Foundation comes in. The Reveille Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2018 with the mission of helping people on their journey to a better life. The Reveille Foundation works with individuals to understand their needs and goals, and creates a personalized plan for success that brings together the community of resources to execute it. The Reveille Foundation offers a variety of programs and services, such as success coaching, transitional housing, Navajo Nation support, workforce development, and more.

One of the veterans who has benefited from the Reveille Foundation’s services is John Smith (name changed for privacy). John served in the Army for six years and was deployed to Iraq twice. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and had difficulty adjusting to civilian life. He lost his job, his family, and his home. He ended up living on the streets, feeling hopeless and alone.

John heard about the Reveille Foundation from a fellow veteran who had attended a Stand Down for Veterans event, where the Reveille Foundation provided case management and follow-up services for almost 2,000 veterans and spouses. John decided to give it a try and contacted the Reveille Foundation.

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He was assigned a success coach who helped him assess his situation and create a plan for success. The success coach connected John with various resources, such as transitional housing, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, job training, and education opportunities. With the help of the Reveille Foundation, John was able to overcome his challenges and achieve his goals. He moved into Reveille’s transitional housing facility where he received support and guidance from other veterans. While there, he enrolled in a vocational program that taught him new skills and prepared him for a career in construction. He also received therapy for his PTSD and learned coping strategies to manage his symptoms. He started to rebuild his relationships with his family and friends. He regained his confidence and self-esteem.

John is now working as a construction manager for a reputable company. He has his own apartment and is saving money for his future. He is happy and grateful for the opportunity that the Reveille Foundation gave him.

He says that the Reveille Foundation changed his life for the better.

John’s story is just one of many examples of how the Reveille Foundation transforms the lives of homeless veterans and other underserved populations. By providing holistic case management, individual plans for success, and community resources, the Reveille Foundation helps people overcome their challenges and achieve their potential.

The Reveille Foundation relies on the generosity and support of donors, volunteers, and partners to continue its mission. You can help by making a donation, following us on social media, or sharing this article with your friends and family. Together, we can answer the call to serve the underserved. To learn more about the Reveille Foundation and its programs, please visit their website at https://reveillefoundation.org

The Call to Serve the Underserved WITH THE RIGHT SERVICES, HOMELESS VETERANS BECOME EMPOWERED PEOPLE. WILL YOU HELP US HOUSE, EDUCATE, COUNSEL, AND HEAL OUR NATION'S MOST AT-RISK VETERANS? The Reveille Foundation relies on donations from individuals like yourself to support our holistic mission to help people find success.

Just as the morning Reveille is a call to service in the military, we are asking you to become a monthly supporter. We are recruiting 0530 sustaining partners who will donate $20 a month. This donation will support the organization and it may also be tax deductible.

OUR PROGRAMS Veterans Service Programs Transitional Housing

Success Coaching

DONATE TODAY

OUR STORY

Helping people on their journey to a better life has been the mission of the Reveille Foundation since 2018. For many who are transitioning into a new community, rebuilding their life, or just want a fresh start can find it extremely difficult. That’s why we created the Reveille Foundation. We work with individuals to understand exactly where they are in all aspects of their life and together, create a plan for success. We then bring the community of resources together to help, provide case management and follow-up regularly with each individual.

OUR VISION

Our Vision creates better, faster pathways to success. We bring hope, aspiration, compassion, guidance and clarity of purpose to individuals no matter where they begin their journey. Through reliable and relatable case management, Reveille works with each person to remove barriers and rise above their unique challenges to realize they themselves hold the power to achieve their fullest potential.

OUR MISSION

The Reveille Foundation supports underserved populations with holistic case management that creates individual plans for success that brings the community of resources together to execute these plans. Housing, training, and employment are critical elements to this success.

Our primary audiences are: Transitioning Military, Veterans & Families Formerly Incarcerated Native Americans

https://reveillefoundation.org/ ReveilleFoundation.org

623.207.7420 WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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CAREGIVING TLC

By Kie Copenhaver CSA, RHIA, SHSS, RCFE www.agingwellpartners.com

Veterans Day

Veterans Day is Saturday, November 11, 2023.

This day is an opportunity for us all to pay tribute to the men and women – living or dead – who have served our country; but specially to honor those living veterans who served to protect our freedoms.

San Diego is home to over 240,000 veterans, one of the nation’s largest concentrations of veterans. And with roughly 100,000 active service members, San Diego is a highly desirable destination for active and retired service members from all branches of the military. With such a large population of military members and their families, programs like the VA Homemaker/Home Health Aide Program, In-Home Respite Care Program, and the Aid and Attendance benefit program can play a significant role in caring for our veterans.

The VA Homemaker/Home Health Aid Program will pay a partnered in-home care agency for non-skilled assistance services with activities of daily living (ADLs) provided directly to the veteran.

Theses ADLs include things such as: • Bathing and personal care • Assistance with dressing and grooming (i.e., shaving, brushing teeth, hair care) • Verbal medication reminders • Meal preparation and feeding (if needed) • Light laundry related to incontinence care This program is very specific to services provided directly to the veteran and does not include the following: • Companionship services • Travel services or mileage reimbursement • Heavy or non-essential housekeeping • Yard care • Medication dispensing • Services when veteran is away from home • Services outside of the veteran’s place of residence Retirement • Services provided for other persons or pets in What’s Next the residence 26

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Eligibility for this service is assessed and determined by VA staff and a VA social worker will coordinate with the veteran and/or family member to set up services once approved.

The VA In-Home Respite Care Program provides much needed respite (a break) for an unpaid family caregiver, who is often the significant other or spouse of the veteran. The veteran is eligible to receive up to 30 days of 6 hours per day respite per calendar year. A VA Social Worker will initiate this service and the approval process is the same as the VA Homemaker/Home Health Aid Program. Additional respite days can be requested, and approval will be determined by VA staff.

The VA Aid and Attendance benefit provides veterans or surviving spouses monthly financial assistance to help pay for the costs of in-home care (assistance with activities of daily living) or offset the cost of an assisted living home or community. The Homebound allowance provides financial assistance for those veterans who are receiving a VA pension and spend most of their time at home due to a permanent disability.

To find out more about any of these veteran benefits, contact your local VA representative or call us. We can help find an VA approved vendor who can assist with eligibility and the application process. Often, these VA approved vendors can get applications submitted and benefits approved in a fraction of the time the process typically takes. Get the help you need. Get the help you deserve. You answered the call to serve our country; now it’s time to make the call and make your health and well-being a priority.

MENTAL HEALTH CARE

for Veteran & Military Families

Cohen Clinics provide therapy to post-9/11 veterans, service members, and military families, including National Guard and Reserves.

All sexual orientations and genders welcome.

Find a Cohen Clinic

cohenveteransnetwork.org WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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The impact of PTSD and how to seek treatment By: Robert ‘Bob’ Cuyler, PhD Psychologist and Trauma Expert In this segment, Freespira’s Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Bob Cuyler, PhD interviews Lori-Ann Landry, LCSW on the impact of PTSD and how to seek treatment. Lori served eight years in the Army reserves and is currently a therapist focusing on PTSD and anxiety disorders at Willow Grove Mental Health in Denver.

Bob: Welcome Lori, let’s discuss, what are some of the ways that PTSD symptoms affect life, work, and family?

Lori: A big one is changes in the way a veteran sees and interacts with the world. For example, things that matter to civilians matter far less to those who have been in combat. This is because active duty shifts your relationship in the world, and civilians are not thinking about life and death situations, which creates a disconnect with veterans re-entering the civilian world.

Bob: How can living with an individual with PTSD affect relationships?

Lori: One of the symptoms of PTSD is avoidance; you just can’t shut off the bad thoughts and eventually they overtake the good. Often, partners and children will say the person’s checked out, and the veteran will say, I know cognitively that I love my family, but I can’t feel or show it.

Bob: Do some ‘walk on eggshells’ around a family member with PTSD? Lori: The military sends people off and they do a really good job of supporting the families back here, but the human that left is often a different human coming back.

A lot of times families don’t fully recognize the person that came back and the veteran doesn’t recognize themselves. One goal of treatment is helping that person find peace in how they’ve changed and who they’ve become.

Bob: What can encourage veterans to seek treatment?

Lori: When leaders demonstrate vulnerability, sharing their experiences, it gives others permission to be vulnerable. So on the active duty side, I think leadership is huge. On the civilian side, companies who really promote mental health make a real difference. But sometimes a partner will get to a point where they say, if you don’t get help, I’m done.

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Photo by RDNE Stock Project

Bob: What gets in the way of accessing helpful treatments?

Lori: Barriers to communication and support between the civilian sector and the VA. The VA is overburdened, with constant changeover in providers and a complicated bureaucratic system. For example, if you have a prescription from a civilian provider, but you want the VA to fill it because you have medical benefits and it’ll be free; if you’re not diagnosed by the VA for that condition, you have to duplicate everything, there’s no linkage.

Control is out of in reach.

Bob: I’d really like to shift the conversation to treatment options.

Lori: Absolutely. Therapies for post-traumatic stress are split between “top down” and “bottom up” approaches.

“Top down” are more talk therapies and use your mind to control your body and your physiological responses.

“Bottom up” approaches use your body to control the racing thoughts and what’s going on in your mind; examples are eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy or breathing training.

Coupled together, the healing at the bodily level reaches the mind as well.

Bob: What should you look for and what should you avoid in a therapist?

Lori: In a therapist, I’m looking for somebody who has a number of years of experience and an openness to learn.

When I started off doing this work, I wasn’t necessarily a trauma focused therapist. I just happened to be in a rural community, where we had a military base and I was prior military. I had so many patients with this level of trauma that it made me want to learn more.

Bob: What are some of the good questions to ask and ways to find a therapist right for you?

Lori: At the very least, if you’re being treated for military trauma, you want them to provide at least one to three of the empirically validated treatments, because that means they have backup options. If they’re not trained in any of these treatments, then while you still may make progress and have a successful therapeutic journey but it may be more focused on coping with rather than resolving symptoms.

Bob: Do you have any tips to help those with PTSD hold onto hope?

Lori: Research all these newer therapies. Also, when you look at the three tenets of true health, there’s your physical health, your mental health, and your spiritual health, whatever that may mean to each person, I think that’s where hope lies.

We’re grateful for those who have served.

Freespira is an at-home, non-medication treatment for PTSD symptoms and panic attacks. Freespira’s digital therapeutic is available to eligible patients through their TRICARE or VA benefits.

LEARN MORE AT FREESPIRA-MILITARY.COM OR BY CALLING 1-833-2EXHALE

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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Real Talk: Mental Health

By Kelly Williams, LMFT, Clinic Director, and Arturo Garcia, U.S. Air Force Veteran/Outreach Coordinator The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD, San Diego www.vvsd.net/cohenclinics

Air Force Veteran: Letter To Self

As a Clinic Director at a mental health clinic for veterans, service members and military family members, I hear the sacrifices that our veterans, service members and families have made for our country daily. During this time of year, as we celebrate Veterans Day, I reflected on how the rest of the world may not be as privileged to hear the stories and experiences that I have been hearing first-hand.

Therefore, I asked our new Outreach Coordinator U.S. Air Force Veteran Arturo “Art” Garcia to shed some light on his journey from civilian to his Air Force service to retired Veteran. I am hoping that his Letter to Self can help others understand all of our collective appreciation for Veterans when we say “Thank You for Your Service” every November 11, this year and beyond.

Dear Art, I know you’ve made the decision to join the Air Force.

Right now, you don’t even know what that means. You feel excited, nervous, and a bit afraid because you have no clue what you are doing. Those feelings are valid, and I am writing to let you know you’ve made the best life decision.

You’re probably wondering what the future has in store for you. To protect the sacred timeline (MCU reference), I won’t tell you what will happen but rather share some words of advice.

1. Learn to say yes (and no). Early in your career, there will be ample opportunities to step up and get a job done. This will take you to places you never imagined you would venture to. It will also put you in situations where you do not want to be, but the task needs to be done. Either way, you will benefit from those experiences. So, say yes whenever someone asks for a volunteer. I say that with the caveat that you need to be able to say no when it doesn’t feel right, or you aren’t going to be able to do the job to the best of your ability.

2. Work on yourself. There will be plenty of times when you will tell yourself that you are too busy to take care of your personal goals or your health. You will eventually 30

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realize that working on yourself and being dedicated to the mission are not mutually exclusive. A healthier and fitter version of yourself will be better prepared to support the team. The same applies to continuous learning, either pursuing higher education or reading books you are interested in. It helps you become a better person, service member, and leader.

3. Set aside time for reflection! Throughout your career, there are going to be various cycles/phases.

There will be deployments, professional development courses, changes of assignments, and progress through the ranks. While you are going through it, you will have highs and lows. That might cloud your ability to see your progress and growth. When those cycles end, set time aside to reflect on what you have accomplished. There will be days when you will not feel like you have not made progress, but when you look back, you’ll be able to see all the great things you have done.

I think that’s enough advice for now. You are going to be more than okay! You will meet a lot of amazing people who are going to teach so much. And when it comes time to take off the uniform, you will find an incredible organization that will appreciate and welcome the skills you learned throughout your military career.

Sincerely, 38 year old you

As Outreach Coordinator at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD, Arturo establishes and maintains relationships within the San Diego community and serves as the eyes and ears for the Clinic Director to identify ways that the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, San Deigo can best support its clients, including breaking down barriers to care so that mental health care is accessible. With 20 years of service in the United States Air Force, he is a seasoned logistic expert and a quality assurance team lead, managing administrative processes and providing support to service members. He helped develop strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills that enable him to excel in challenging and dynamic environments. He retired at the rank of Master Sergeant (MSgt). His career field was 2T2 – Air Transportation. Arturo earned a Transportation Management Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

Learn more at www.vvsd.net/cohenclinics

our

Therapy for Veterans, Service Members, and their Families Cohen Clinics provide therapy to post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families, including National Guard / Reserves.

CVN Telehealth, face-to-face video therapy available statewide.

LEARN MORE vvsd.net/cohenclinics

CALIFORNIA locations

San Diego 8885 Rio San Diego Dr. Suite 301 Oceanside 3609 Ocean Ranch Blvd.

Suite 120 Los Angeles 20800 Madrona Avenue, Suite C-100, Torrance, CA

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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PTSD: Reclaiming Control By: Robert ‘Bob’ Cuyler, PhD Psychologist and Trauma Expert

The Relationship Between Panic Symptoms and PTSD In this ongoing series, we recently described how PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects traumatized individuals, disrupting memory, thinking, sleep, and emotions. This month, we turn our attention to the role of panic symptoms in PTSD. Let’s start with a definition. Panic symptoms, often called anxiety attacks, are sudden surges in bodily distress that typically last 10 to 30 minutes. The most common physical sensations are shortness of breath, racing or skipped heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness, sweating, and nausea. Understandably, people experiencing these (Part 2often of 2)feel overwhelmed and want to avoid any feelings situation that could trigger another attack. Feelings of loss of control and fear of death are the distressing psychological aftermath. Fear of when another attack may occur can ‘take over’ and dominate thinking and behavior.

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It’s not widely known how much panic attacks and PTSD overlap. Research studies estimate that about 60% to 75% of individuals with PTSD have panic symptoms as well as the manifestations of PTSD that we’ve discussed in previous months. Panic and PTSD have been established in important research as having a ‘bi-direction relationship’, meaning that individuals with a history of panic attacks have a heightened risk of developing PTSD when exposed to traumas, and, as mentioned above, individuals with PTSD are likely to have panic symptoms.

There are a few distinctions worth mentioning.

Individuals with panic disorder, but not PTSD, may have anxiety attacks that seem to come ‘out of the blue’ or are associated with triggers or stressors such as freeway driving, airplane turbulence, performance, or social anxiety. The difference with PTSD is that panic attacks are most often closely associated with and triggered by traumatic reminders. Sights, sounds, smells, and other sensations that remind of a traumatic event may evoke panic responses.

We often think of a situation like a combat veteran ‘diving for cover’ in response to a car backfiring as a hallmark of PTSD, but when we dig a little deeper, the resulting fight-or-flight reaction can be considered a panic reaction with its mix of sudden bodily and psychological distress.

Another fascinating link comes from a laboratory technique called the CO2 challenge test, in which individuals breathe in air with excess carbon dioxide.

Most panic sufferers will have a panic attack on the spot in response to this single gulp of CO2-enriched air. Additional studies showed similar reactions in PTSD patients, but not only did panic symptoms appear, but so did immediate traumatic memory flashbacks and dissociation in some participants.

Placebo air (no excess CO2) did not react with the participants.

My colleague Dr. Michael Telch published research on the CO2 challenge test for soldiers preparing to deploy to Iraq. He found that soldiers highly reactive to breathing in the CO2 mixture were more likely to develop PTSD than soldiers who didn’t react. How interesting that the common panic reaction to CO2 predicted who would develop PTSD.

As we know, the most recommended therapies for panic and PTSD have much in common: exposurebased talk therapy and antidepressants. My company’s Freespira intervention takes a different path and directly approaches CO2 sensitivity by teaching normalized breathing. Next month, we’ll delve into treatment approaches to PTSD more thoroughly.

Cuyler is chief clinical officer of Freespira, an FDA-cleared non-medication treatment that helps people with panic and PTSD manage their symptoms by learning how to regulate their breathing. - www.freespira.com

www.freespira.com/veterans info@mobiusmobility.com

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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FOOD DRIVE Join the fight against food insecurity!

Bring non-perishable food items to participating VFW locations around San Diego County.

All food donations support Feeding San Diego's hungerrelief programs & help raise funds for participating VFW posts.

Find food drive drop off locations at feedingsandieo.org.

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https://mobiusmobility.com/

www.uniteus.com

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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Lessons Learned One Airman’s Journey from Military to Civil Service

skills doing inflight event coordination and customer service, and my time in the Defense Attaché Office doing all the administrative requirements for the event. I also enjoyed that the team gave me responsibilities and trusted me to accomplish them without micromanaging.

It empowered me and I felt more accomplished.”

Five Tips for Transitioning Service Members Although Landes had a fairly smooth transition to civil service due to his Skillbridge internship, he offers several tips for transitioning service members:

By Elizabeth Caraway

1. Hone your resume.

United States Patent and Trademark Office www.uspto.gov/jobs/join-us

“Resumes in the civilian world are very different from the military,” says Landes. “I should have spent more time in resume writing training.”

Jordan Landes’ career path has been as varied as his world travels, from teaching English in China to serving in the Air Force as a Spanish linguist, flight attendant, and finally in the Defense Attaché Office.

His assignments have taken him from Texas and Nebraska to Afghanistan, Uganda, and Tunisia. Over the last year, though, he made one of the biggest moves of all—from Airman to civil servant. Landes now serves as an International Patent Administrative Specialist at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Alexandria, Va.

2. Complete Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) paperwork early.

Take advantage of the Benefits Delivery at Discharge program, which allows you to file a claim for disability benefits 180 to 90 days before you leave the military.

Landes worked with the VA representative on base to file a claim. He encourages all service members to file, “no matter what.”

“Even if you are found to have zero percent disabilities, it is important to have health issues documented in case something in the future can be traced back to the time in service,” he explains.

Landes also joined a Facebook group that was designed to help those with the VA filing process.

DOD Skillbridge Success

3. Be self-motivated.

Landes took advantage of the Department of Defense (DOD) Skillbridge program, which allows transitioning service members to gain civilian work experience through training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service. Industry partners offer real-world training and work experience while having the opportunity to evaluate the service members for future potential employment. In Landes’ case, he was offered a position in the same office, International Patent Cooperation, where he interned.

Landes encourages transitioning service members to actively take care of themselves and start planning early.

He started planning a year before his separation date and says it was still a challenge.

4. Take advantage of the break between careers.

“Try to give yourself time between careers to decompress and prepare for the next chapter in life,” he says, adding that leaving the Department of Defense “is definitely a culture shock.”

The USPTO role, he says, has been a great fit due to its emphasis on international cooperation and work-life balance. He recalls his team hosting an international event earlier this year that allowed him to leverage his military background:

“If you have terminal leave, find a military flight and just go somewhere,” he urges, adding that he took a military flight to Europe for a vacation between careers.

“I got to use my Spanish linguist skills when speaking to some of our Spanish speaking guests, my flight attendant

Landes says the most difficult part of separating from the military has been missing the community.

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5. Find community.

Veterans at the USPTO “We all came from different places and cultures that sometimes clashed, but it was a wonderful experience in getting to learn from each other,” he says. “We were all away from home and comforts, so it strengthened our bonds.”

Landes was able to find community in the USPTO Military Association, which has hundreds of members. “It is wonderful to see an agency full of veterans who seem to have similar experiences and like-minded ideas of their post-military career,” he says.

When most of your connections are work-related, leaving that career can create a void. Landes urges transitioning service members to network.

“The [USPTO] culture is self-empowering and accepting,” says Landes.

“Leadership seems to believe in their people which allows them to grow and take ownership. I’ve also seen a real sense of people really accepting and desiring for diversity of people, culture, and thought.

I believe that is a sign of a strong organization.”

The USPTO values the diverse skills of military veterans.

“Join a neighborhood group or a sports league or go to trivia, and when you get into the new job try to find clubs within that organization that you would like to be a part of,” he says. “Not only will it give you that sense of community that you had in the military, it will also help with the networking that is important for career growth.”

USPTO Veteran Hiring Program Coordinator HireVets@uspto.gov USPTO Veteran Hiring Program https://www.uspto.gov/jobs/veteran-hiring-program Department of Defense (DOD) Skillbridge Program https://skillbridge.osd.mil

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Employment Focused Workshops to Help You Reach Your Goals Author: Tim Winter, Director, Transition Assistance Program, Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service Perhaps you’re trudging back and forth to the same office or signing on for a day of work in a job that shows no sign of changing or improving: the long hours, the ongoing meetings, the lack of fulfillment.

The job itself is mind-numbing; your talents forgotten and the potential you had in abundance when you first transitioned out of the military feels like it has been sucked out of you.

If you’re reading this and thinking, yeah, that is me, then the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (DOL VETS) has just the thing for you.

DOL VETS has a new pilot program to help veterans, veterans currently serving in the National Guard and Reserve, and their spouses to take control of their careers.

The Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT) pilot program consists of ten two-hour workshops designed to help you to prepare to meet your employment goals.

These no-cost workshops, both in-person and virtual offerings, will fit any schedule and can give you an advantage over your civilian counterparts.

The Workshops Your Next Move: Your Next Move is designed to help anyone unsure of what they want to do next with their career. This workshop explores interest profiling, skills matching and general labor market information.

It is designed to introduce the basic tools needed for career exploration and identification of high-demand occupations.

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Marketing Yourself and Other Job Search Tactics: Marketing Yourself and Other Job Search Tactics explains how essential it is to present skills, knowledge and abilities that meet the employer’s needs. This workshop provides proven tactics to help job seekers get noticed and hired.

Understanding Resume Essentials: Understanding Resume Essentials explains the importance of a wellstructured resume that highlights relevant skills and experience to potential employers. This workshop covers the elements of a resume and provides job seekers with techniques to create an effective document that employers will notice.

Creating Your Resume – Writing Workshop: Creating Your Resume – Writing Workshop builds on the Understanding Resume Essentials. During this workshop attendees will have time to craft an initial resume or revise a current one.

Interview Skills (virtual only): Interview Skills aims to provide attendees with the tools and confidence they need to ace a job interview. Learning how to prepare for an interview and practice answering questions will give attendees an advantage in landing a job. During this workshop, interview basics, potential questions and interview techniques are presented.

Federal Hiring (virtual only): Federal Hiring covers the basics of gaining federal employment. Veterans have a distinct advantage when applying for federal positions with veterans’ preference.

During this workshop, the basics of civil service, USAJobs, special hiring authorities and other resources for attendees’ federal job search are discussed.

LinkedIn Profiles (virtual only): This workshop walks attendees through how to create a compelling LinkedIn profile that can be used to build a professional brand and highlight experience.

LinkedIn Job Search (virtual only): This workshop explains how to proactively use LinkedIn for job searches and pulls back the curtain to show how recruiters use LinkedIn to find potential employees, which you can use in your employment opportunities.

Salary Negotiations (virtual only): Salary Negotiations explores the tools and techniques to handle salary negotiations. This workshop is designed to take the mystery out of salary negotiation and walks attendees through how to conduct salary research to position yourself effectively during negotiation.

Employment Rights (virtual only): Employment Rights cover basic employment protections as well as those protections specific to veterans. It provides essential information on the American Disabilities Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act. Information on reasonable accommodations and selfadvocacy will also be presented.

Thinking about changing careers? It’s time to find your passion and make that your priority.

OBTT will help you reach your employment and career goals. You served, you earned it; find your next victory with OBTT. Explore and register for OBTT in-person or virtual workshops online at: www.dol.gov/obttworkshops

www.dol.gov/obttworkshops WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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HUMAN RESOURCES Transition to Business

By Paul Falcone www.PaulFalconeHR.com

Key Attributes for the Future Workforce Veterans Day on November 11th is our national holiday to recognize veterans of the armed forces who served honorably in the military -- in wartime or peacetime. The observance originated in 1919 on the first anniversary of the 1918 armistice that ended World War I and was known as Armistice Day. On such a special day that emanated from such a significant event and time in our past, it’s healthy to look towards our future. That’s particularly relevant for those transitioning out of the military and into the private sector. What will be the key attributes that will help you navigate the “new world” of the 21st century? How can you gear yourself up to prepare for tomorrow’s unknown challenges and opportunities?

Similar to today, the enormous global changes coming out of World War I posed tremendous challenges to returning troops. At that time, the United States found itself recovering from a world war that was built upon the foundations of the Industrial Revolution and mechanized production. Today, we face a new Industrial Revolution—what scientists call “Industrial Revolution 4,” or IR4 for short. IR4 propels us today from IR3 (1969 – 2016), replete with its semiconductors, mainframe and personal computers, and the World Wide Web to what we’re just now beginning to reckon with—artificial intelligence, quantum computing, nano-, bio-, and IT technologies, 3D Internet (i.e., the “Metaverse”), and cyber-physical systems. Sure, that sounds like a lot. But the whole world is experiencing evolutionary change at revolutionary speed, so it’s worth going over some of the “rules of the road” for our 21st century, IR4 world.

What CEOs Want Today Let’s start at the top of the food chain. CEOs have always valued leadership, communication, and teambuilding in workers and leaders at all levels.

But it’s more nuanced than that today. Nowadays CEO surveys focus on collaboration, creativity and innovation, accountability, and agility.

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Agility is the ability to move quickly and easily, to incorporate and adapt to change, and to seize opportunities that may otherwise miss awareness or be rejected by others (who resist change by nature).

Agility is a mindset, an approach to change, that will serve you well. In fact, you’ve likely experienced a boat load of “change management” initiatives in the military that have prepared you well for the future challenges ahead in the business world.

An Agile Approach to Change Economists and corporate futurists will provide general guidance that speaks to expecting the unexpected, exploring the unknown, embracing uncertainty, and learning how to “unlearn.” Their logic? Opportunities for change are massive. Just like many of the jobs of today didn’t exist a decade ago (think social media marketing and online data security), many opportunities will be created in the near future that don’t exist quite yet.

Ever heard of “vertical agriculture” (i.e., growing vegetables without sun or soil)? How about 700 mile per hour high-speed rail that will move goods from Los Angeles to San Franciso in 20 minutes? Solar carports, solar roof tiles, and solar pavement are already in development. And automobiles may soon become moving health checkup facilitators every time you get behind the wheel, checking your weight and heart rate and potentially dispensing medicine aromatically. Even smart toilets are getting into the game, which can be constructed with biomarkers to detect illnesses early.

Albert Einstein famously said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” And that about sums up the critical skills necessary for tomorrow’s job market— and tomorrow’s military, for that matter. Corporate futurists constantly ask, “What else am I missing?

What’s hidden in plain sight that’s right around the corner?” That very same approach will help you navigate tomorrow’s career opportunities. It’s true that artificial intelligence will likely replace repetitive types of jobs. But similar fears occurred decades ago when prototype robots “learned” to perform spot-welding operations, as Victor Scheinman created the Stanford Arm, a programmable six-joined robot. True, those

robots took over people’s jobs, but in fact, we see more jobs today than before, many of them richer and better paying, increasing the wealth and wellbeing of our workforce.

New jobs in the areas of green energy, digital health and telemedicine, AI and machine learning, data privacy and cybersecurity, space exploration and colonization, blockchain and cryptocurrency, virtual and augmented reality, autonomous vehicles, and sustainable agriculture are coming our way. Job titles like AI Drone Technicians and Operators, Prompt Engineers (who feed questions into AI systems), AI Trainers and Explainability Experts, and even Chief AI Officers and AI Ethicists are coming our way. Be open to these new trends and technologies. Educate yourself using MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) like Udemy, Khan Academy, FutureLearn, Udacity, edX, and Coursera to access free courses and certifications. Make the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh) your guide as to hot industries and positions over the next decade. Remain curious. We’re on the cutting edge of something new, just on the cusp of IR4, with unimaginable opportunities ahead. Now is the time to reinvent yourself. Now is the time to prepare for your exciting future.

Paul’s newest book, “Leading Through Crisis,” was released in September.

Paul Falcone (www.PaulFalconeHR.com) is a management trainer, executive coach, and bestselling author on hiring, performance management, and leadership development.

www.HarperCollinsLeadership.com

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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WHAT’S NEXT Transition to Civilian Life

By Eve Nasby & Kristin Hennessy

From Military to Civilian Life: A Spouse’s Perspective on Transition Meet Surinder Goode, a military spouse of over 30 years and mother of two teenagers. After moving to the U.S. in 1997, she initially worked for various companies before making the bold move to open her first coffee cart on a military base in San Diego in 2002. Over the next fourteen years, through perseverance and hard work, Surinder grew her business to 7 carts across 5 different base locations in the area.

While her entrepreneurial story is one of personal pride and success, Surinder is well acquainted with the unique challenges of being a military spouse and primary caregiver while operating a business. She joins us today to reflect candidly on how her husband’s transition out of military service impacted their family, and to offer helpful advice to others navigating this major life change.

However, three years ago it all changed with his retirement. In preparation, Surinder and her husband had sat down together eighteen months prior to plan his retirement date, viewing it as the long-awaited chance to become a true family unit after so many years apart.

Feeling Alone & Uncertain

The Rhythm Change As a Navy wife for 30 years, Surinder experienced the full gamut of moves, deployments, and periods apart from her husband. And while these challenges were never easy, one of the most difficult transitions they went through was when her husband finally retired from the Navy.

After decades fully immersed in the military community, its rhythms and culture had become second nature to Surinder. Her closest friends were fellow military spouses, who intrinsically understood what she was going through. They were bonded through long deployments, celebrations of promotions or new duty stations, and every up and down along the way.

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But despite excitement at starting a new chapter, the transition also brought profound feelings of isolation and uncertainty. As the spouse who had always handled the household affairs and logistics, Surinder felt the heavy responsibility of now establishing their entirely new civilian lifestyle. One of her biggest personal challenges was figuring out her own identity and purpose apart from the military spouse label she’d held for so long. For the first time in her adult life, she had to chart her own course and career aspirations outside the structure of military life she’d known.

Adjusting to Unpredictability Financially, the loss of the military safety net also led to unpredictability. Her husband faced his own struggles adjusting to corporate culture and norms after decades in the military’s hierarchical system. Suddenly the clear career progression and structured environment he was accustomed to disappeared. He had to learn to sell his abilities to employers who didn’t understand military acronyms or culture. After a lifetime of military service, basic civilian employment tasks like networking, resumes, and interviewing were entirely foreign.

In reflecting on their challenging transition, Surinder shares insights she hopes will help other military families embrace this new adventure and smooth the adjustment period: 1. Communication and patience are key. Be open about feelings and struggles, and lean on your partner for support. Knowing you’re in it together makes it far easier.

2. Maintain routines, especially exercise. Service members are conditioned that fitness is mandatory on active duty, and once retired can lose that self-discipline.

Maintaining exercise routines is crucial for mental and physical health in transition. Surinder’s husband still rises at 4am daily to work out!

3. Take full advantage of transition resources. She wishes she had attended her husband’s TAP classes and medical appointments to better understand the many support systems available. Don’t try to tough it out alone.

4. Plan early for your retirement lifestyle. Surinder assumed her husband would easily slip into domestic life, but they’d only planned around active duty. Have frank discussions ahead of time about your goals and priorities for civilian life, as they will look very different.

Retirement finances should be reviewed as well.

5. (BONUS TIP!) Make “honey do” lists! Surinder’s husband thrived on military checklists. She used this to make a rotating honey do list with check boxes for household tasks. This helped keep him on track and engaged.

Jim

Surinder reflects, “It’s been an adventure Gruny discovering ourselves beyond the military’s direction. While we build this new chapter, our military family remains close to our hearts. I’m proud to support other military spouses making the bittersweet transition to post-military life through my podcast, ‘The Goode Show.’”

www.bandofhands.com

If you enjoy hearing real military community stories, Surinder invites you to listen to her podcast where she candidly shares the ups, downs, and nitty gritty of military family life. It’s available on Apple Podcasts and her website. https://tinyurl.com/spreading-goode-to-the-world Instagram - IG @thegoodeshow Need help with your transition? Have questions?

Link up with Eve on Linked In today. www.linkedin.com/in/eve-nasby-given-hiring-expert

www.bandofhands.com WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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Successful Transitioning Stories

By Dr. Julie Ducharme www.synergylearninginstitute.org

Steven Kuhn Steven Kuhn is a consultant, author, and speaker who has been hand-picked to consult with some of the most influential people in the world (rock stars, singers, actors, business leaders, and politicians) about how to expand their brand, build value, and loyalty and develop strategies for increasing beneficial relationships and achieving true Quality of Life (QOL). Steven Kuhn hails from Pennsylvania, USA and served in the U.S. Army from 1986-1993 in Germany and deployed for one tour with Task Force 4-8 Cavalry as a Sergeant in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. Upon discharge from the Army, Kuhn continued to live in Europe where he later became a best-selling author, a multi-country business turnaround leader, and Political Consultant.

Steven Kuhn is a great example of how as a veteran you don’t just make just one transition into the civilian world, you may do many over your lifetime. Even though Steven left the military 34 years ago he still thinks about it every day and still uses the skills he learned in the military in his everyday life. He still vividly remembers standing in boot camp thinking “He was a loser, and he couldn’t do anything” and then he completed boot camp and from that point forward Steven said he uses that drive in everything he does. Veterans are skilled in many areas and Steven says veterans should continue to evolve to the situations that present themselves to them.

Steven contributes much of his success to his deep-rooted beliefs that building trust and rapport through a process he calls H.I.T. (Honesty, Integrity & Transparency). H.I.T. is the method in which Steven lives his life both professionally and personally and the impact it has had as he transitioned out of the military has been very impactful to his success.

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When Steven first left the military, he lived in 10 different countries as his goal and dream was to pursue something bigger and better for his future life. We are all capable of so much and I was blessed to have people in my life that said we see something in you stop messing around and do it.

“Always be in competition with yourself, and be better than you were yesterday.

My driving force is that if you tell me to go do something I am going to go do it better than everyone else and that is why I believe I have had such success as an entrepreneur. When I left the military, I went from selfemployed, to corporate, to a freelancer, to a consultant to a connector and now a force multiplier. You can see my evolution as a person and in business has been continuous.

You’re not a one trick pony?

A good example of this is my new project where my wife and I are working on renewable energy and neither of us had a lot of experience in this industry, but we were able to create this project with zero industry knowledge and zero industry contacts. This goes to show you that if you are willing to put in the time, effort, and grind you will continue to find success in whatever you do.

Sure, you will fail along the way because that is just part of evolving and growing as a person but really there is nothing you can’t do if you’re willing to apply yourself.

Often, I feel like people never know what they are capable of until someone or something pushes them once again like our military experience. Sometimes you just need the right person to push you.

What tips do you have for the ever-evolving veteran?

Veterans very often think in a box, that is how we are trained and that is one part of the training we must let go of. We must be able to get us out of our own way, evolve, and get rid of that box to see the bigger picture.

We must remember that no one is going to do anything for you, you must rise and do it for yourself. Take that drive you had in the military and move it to your civilian life and jobs. I was given some great advice from an 86-year-old body builder. I asked him how you do it, he said, “Always be in competition with yourself, and be better than you were yesterday. Also set short-, midand long-term goals.” He lived to be 96 years old. What a life, right? A great example is you’re never too old to evolve and change into new things in your life. We have all heard that we only use 10% of our brain and I think often we only use 1% of our abilities. What it comes down to is you must believe you are capable; do you believe you can do it? It does not matter what anyone else believes. It only matters what you believe.

To find out more about what Steven Kuhn is doing https://steven-kuhn.com/

“Take that drive you had in the military and move it to your civilian life and jobs”

To learn more about our transition programs and professional development at Synergy Learning Institute www.pitbullsnPearls.com https://synergylearninginstitute.org/ WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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Navigating Career Choices: The Dilemma Faced by Transitioning Military and Veterans

By Maurice D. Wilson, MCPO, USN (Ret), President/ED, National Veterans Transition Services, Inc. aka REBOOT https://www.nvtsi.org Transitioning from military to civilian life is a significant milestone for service members and veterans.

However, this transition often comes with its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to choosing a new career path. Recent studies have shown that a staggering 86% of transitioning military and veterans express a desire to start a new career but find themselves stuck in the process of choosing the right path. In this article, we will explore the factors contributing to this dilemma and discuss potential solutions to help these individuals navigate their career choices effectively.

The Desire for Change: It is not surprising that a majority of transitioning military and veterans seek a fresh start in their professional lives. After dedicating years to serving their country, many individuals yearn for new challenges, growth, and opportunities outside the military. However, this desire for change can often be accompanied by uncertainty and confusion about which career path to pursue.

The Challenge of Translating Skills: One of the primary obstacles faced by transitioning military and veterans is the difficulty in translating their military skills and experiences into civilian terms. The unique nature of military occupations and the jargon associated with them can make it challenging for employers and even the veterans themselves to identify suitable civilian career options that align with their skills and interests.

Lack of Information and Guidance: Another contributing factor to the career choice dilemma is the lack of information and guidance available to transitioning military and veterans. Many individuals find themselves unsure of the various career options available to them outside the military. They may also struggle to understand the specific requirements, qualifications, and potential growth opportunities associated with different industries.

Overcoming the Dilemma: While the career choice dilemma can be daunting, there are resources and strategies available to help transitioning military and veterans navigate this process effectively.

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1. Self-Reflection and Assessment: Encouraging individuals to engage in self-reflection and assessment of their skills, interests, and values can provide valuable insights into potential career paths that align with their strengths and aspirations.

2. Career Counseling and Mentorship: Seeking guidance from career counselors and mentors who specialize in working with transitioning military and veterans can provide invaluable support. These professionals can help individuals explore different career options, identify transferable skills, and develop a strategic career plan.

3. Skill-Building and Education: Pursuing additional education or training programs can enhance the marketability of transitioning military and veterans.

By acquiring new skills or certifications, individuals can expand their career options and increase their confidence in choosing a career that is a best fit.

Navigating career choices can be a daunting task for transitioning military and veterans, with 86% expressing a desire to start a new career but feeling stuck in the decision-making process. The challenges of translating military skills, lack of information and guidance, and the need for self-reflection all contribute to this dilemma.

However, there are solutions available to help these individuals overcome these obstacles.

Engaging in self-reflection, seeking career counseling and mentorship, and pursuing skill-building and education can all aid in making informed career choices.

By providing the necessary support and resources, we can empower transitioning military and veterans to successfully navigate their career transitions and embark on fulfilling civilian careers.

BEFORE SERVED HONORABLY.

www.bandofhands.com

Workshops for Warriors is a nonprofit school that provides veterans and transitioning service members with hands-on training and nationallyrecognized credentials in CNC machining, CAD/CAM programming, and welding.

Our students earn credentials that open doors to jobs anywhere in the U.S. Call us at (619) 550-1620.

AFTER EARNED A CAREER IN JUST 4 MONTHS. ENROLL NOW AT WFW.ORG CAD/CAM Programming CNC Machining Welding eve@bandofhands.com DoD SkillBridge Organization WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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Franchise Frontline Success Stories & Resources

By Rhonda Sanderson

rhonda@sandersonpr.com

Patrick Daniel A Navy Veteran and His Business Partner Put Their Respective Talents to Work as Owners of Floor Coverings International of the West Florida Panhandle Patrick Daniel was born and raised in Washington State where he married his wife Emily in 2010. Daniel then joined the Navy in 2012. His first assignment out of Navy RTC (boot camp) was in Pensacola Florida.

“I was an E-6 Leading Petty Officer/Computer Network Defense Manager. I joined the Navy to be part of something larger than myself and to expand my horizons beyond my hometown. Prior to joining, I had never left the US. Upon separating, the Navy had brought me to 27 countries. I had the opportunity to meet amazing people and participate in some amazing missions during my time and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to serve for the time that I did. I have no doubt that my service and education has helped me succeed in every part of my life going forward,” Daniel recounted fondly.

As far as returning to Pensacola goes, “My wife and I fell in love with the area. I was assigned to a ship in Rota, Spain for three years, and when it was our turn to come back to the US, we chose Pensacola to be our permanent home. We feel incredibly lucky to have found this community which we love and raised our two daughters here.

Daniel, 34, served at Correy Station in Pensacola.

During that time, he and his wife launched two real estate investment companies, one focused on renovating and selling dilapidated homes in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to address the affordable housing shortage in those areas and the other focused on multi-family real estate.

In 2021, Patrick met Isaac Phillips, who had worked in operations management for 15 years and previously led a company and team that managed a commercial real estate portfolio, a role that he loved.

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“Despite that, I was reminded that it was just another job, building someone else’s dream, and not my own, and would never be anything more. I had always wanted to own my own company and that longing had grown stronger over the years,” shared Phillips.

The pair met through common real estate interests when both were considering service-based franchise opportunities. Sharing common goals, they decided to form a business partnership, with Phillips relocating from Michigan with his family.

Through due diligence and research, it became clear to the two real estate pros that Floor Coverings International, a Georgia based franchisor, was the right company for them. The company brought awardwinning customer service technologies and incredible training and support programs to the table. After meeting CEO Tom Wood, these already very able partners were all in.

Their FCI of West Florida Panhandle also has a storefront at 698 E. Heinberg St., in Pensacola, with a second location expected to open in the Destin/Fort Walton Beach area in July. But the mobile showrooms are part of what makes the company so special. The Floor to Your Door customer experience has literally changed the way homeowners and/or business owners are shopping for flooring solutions. The company boasts of over 3000 samples that can make a great experience, since the customer sees all samples in their home or office, with their own lighting, accessories, and paint pallet all around them.

“I loved my time, the camaraderie and accomplishments I achieved in the Navy,” Daniel said. “Now I am equally thrilled with this new chapter in my life.”

www.HomelandMagazine.com

Transitioning out of the Military into the Civilian Workforce?

Finding a job in the civilian world may seem easy at first. After all, you have learned skills, practiced leadership and demonstrated initiative that will make you successful wherever you go.

The reality, though, is that it can be difficult.

In fact, it can be downright depressing, demotivating and you may feel totally disillusioned.

Veterans In Transition is dedicated to you and to helping you succeed in your transition.

For editorial & monthly columns regarding transitioning to business, career advice, tips, workshops, transition to education, entrepreneurship, straight-forward legal tips for Military and Veteran Business Owners and more visit Veterans In Transition at www.tinyurl.com/Veterans-In-Transition

About FCI Floor Coverings International currently has 240 franchisees with 30 more under development.

For information on a franchise go to www.flooring-franchise.com

VETERANS IN TRANSITION

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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BUSINESS FOR VETERANS

By Barbara Eldridge www.mindmasters.com

Face to face business requires relationship building, and a database system that builds loyalty and longevity. In this case we are not just scanning a business card, but also gathering significant intelligence that will lead to priceless opportunities. The marketing campaign might include the same outreach as the on-line list but goes beyond “technology”. It requires a more personal connection that translates into repeat business and opportunity.

Your Greatest Business Asset Besides You

There are some key factors to consider in developing a strategy: 1. Get to know the people, so it is not just a numbers game.

The marketing holy grail these days is building your email list. We have been told that if you have a big list you have tremendous marketing leverage.

Is this true? Sometimes we need to step back and question what might seem like divergent philosophies.

2. Create a system for recording what you know about all the people on your list.

If you look at your e-mail list, do you see a lot of changes? People opt out without any need to explain, some just get kicked back because they no longer exist.

Some of the people you may know, some you have met, but how personal of a relationship do you have with all of them on your list?

4. Create your marketing around how you will follow up – 40% of business is left on the table because professionals do not stay in communication with new accounts, past customers, and advocates.

It is not just a matter of “who you know, but rather how well you know them. The size and quality of your list is the most important factor in determining the end result of any business building program. After all, the best marketing campaign in the world will not generate results if it goes out to a small number of poorly qualified leads! So, how you build your list is crucial to the success of your business. Do you have an on-line business or one that has more face-to-face interaction to close the sale?

Here are some rules of thumb for list building online: Make it easy on your site for visitors to have plenty of clear opportunities to subscribe by offering value. You could have exclusive web offers, advanced notices, or helpful tips. Visitors need to see the value of signing up to your newsletter or offer if they’re going to give you their information.

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3. Target your efforts to meet the right people for opportunities leads for new business, referrals and sales.

“There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long risks and costs of comfortable inaction.”

- John F. Kennedy So, challenge yourself get those business cards off your desk and into an organized system so your marketing targets each category of people differently.

Barbara Eldridge has built a solid reputation as a Results strategies specialist, within industry and business over the past 40 years. Her unique message, since starting Mind Masters 30 years ago for entrepreneurs and small business owners, continually stresses vision, purpose and values as the key elements of business philosophy. Her undying compassion for the entrepreneur’s journey, her tireless capacity to listen, and her sincere enthusiasm for other’s success have insured her growing influence and her own mastery with MIND MASTERS. www.mindmasters.com

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Contact Us Today: www.NonProfitPros.Org WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

53

RISKY BUSINESS

Insurance Info & Risk Management Tips

By Hadley Wood www.hlinwood-insurance.com

Management Liability If you are an Officer, Director, Board-Member or Key Advisor in or to a company or non-profit, you may be surprised to learn that you have Personal Liability exposure that you may not be covered for. While the Company may carry insurance for the Company itself, it likely does not extend to you personally, if you are named as an individual in a claim or lawsuit.

Let me explain – if a claimant can show that the Officers, Directors, Board or Advisors could have personally prevented the claim by mitigating a situation before damages occurred, the court can find the Company’s Executives personally and separately liable.

It is a frightening scenario - especially if you are on the board of a Non-Profit and volunteer your time and efforts only to find out that you are at risk of losing your personal assets!

Thankfully there is an insurance product called Directors and Officers Liability (aka D & O), which is a type of Management Liability Insurance. It is typically purchased separately from a normal General Liability or Professional Liability but is often bundled with Employment Practices Insurance (EPLI), which we have discussed previously.

Common D & O claims include: • Negligent management • Breach of contract • Regulatory claims • Employment lawsuits • Antitrust claims • Inadequate disclosure in financial

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reports or statements • Breach of fiduciary duty resulting in financial losses D & O Claims also have cross-over into Cyber incidents and data protection. Because it is the responsibility of the key Directors of the company to protect the data, if there is a data breech, it can be pointed back to the Directors personally.

With the average D & O payout over $400K and with many claims running into the millions of dollars, you can see why this coverage is personally important to you.

Just the cost of hiring an attorney to defend yourself could bankrupt you as many of these claims take years to resolve.

If you think you might have legal exposure in this situation, make sure to inquire whether the Company carries D & O coverage. You should request a copy of the policy to verify and see the limits and terms.

If the Company does not carry this coverage, you should encourage them to get it in place to protect the key decision makers. And if they refuse to carry this, you need to make a serious decision whether you want to risk being a part of that Company.

If you have any questions about Management Liability, D & O, Cyber Liability, or any other type of business insurance, please contact 760-828-0403 or visit www.hlinwood-insurance.com I want to thank each Veteran for their service and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

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WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

55

legal Eagle Straight-forward legal tips for Military and Veteran Business Owners

By Kelly Bagla, Esq.

15

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON STARTING A BUSINESS Having been a start-up lawyer and entrepreneur, I have been asked many of the following questions over the years by entrepreneurs when starting their company. Sometimes there isn’t an easy answer, and as lawyers often like to say, “it depends on the circumstances.” But here are my short-hand answers to the frequently asked start-up questions: 1. Should I form my company as C corporation, an S corporation, an LLC, a partnership or a sole proprietorship?

Start it as an S corporation unless you have to issue both common stock and preferred stock; in that case start it as a C corporation. And an S corporation can easily be converted later into a C corporation. LLCs are popular but can get overly complicated. Partnerships and sole proprietorships are to be avoided because of the potential personal liability to the owners of the business.

2. Where should I incorporate my business?

The standard answer to this is Delaware because of its well-developed corporate law. My answer is that it should be the state the business is located, as this will save you some fees and complexities. You can always reincorporate later in Delaware.

3. How much should I capitalize my business with at the beginning?

As much as you can reasonably afford, and in an amount to at least carry you for 6-9 months with no income. What you will find is that it always takes you longer to get revenues, and that you will experience more expenses than you anticipated.

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4. How likely will it be that I can get venture capital financing?

Extremely unlikely. Get a product done, gain some traction, get a good management team, and then consider getting venture financing.

5. Should I require prospective angel or venture capital investors to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) so they don’t steal my idea?

No, don’t waste your time. It will be counterproductive and slow down your fund raising. And many investors will refuse anyway. It’s hard enough to get a meeting with an investor, don’t put another roadblock in the way. For the most part, it’s not the idea that is important, it’s the implementation of the idea and the entrepreneurs behind it.

6. How much dilution in share ownership of my company should I give up to investors in my business?

Whatever amount gets you funded. Don’t try to over optimize on ownership. Get cash to grow your business and make your investors happy as well.

7. How big should a stock option pool for employees be?

15-20%. Standard vesting for options is 5 years, with a one year “cliff vesting” and monthly vesting after that.

“Cliff vesting” in this context means the employee must be employed by the company for a minimum of one year before the employee earns any of the options.

8. How can I get a venture capitalist to pay attention to me?

Any of the following: • Get a ton of traction in the marketplace • Have meaningful growing revenues • Have a world-class management team • Have truly innovative technology with a big market opportunity • Get a personal introduction to one of the VC firm partners from a respected colleague

9. How can I come up with a great name for my business?

This is difficult. First brainstorm with a bunch of different names. Then do a Google search to see what is already taken, and that will eliminate 95% of your choices. Make it easy to spell. Make it interesting. Don’t pick a nonsensical name where people won’t have a clue as to what you do. Do a trademark/tradename search on the name. Then make sure you can get the domain name.

10. What are the biggest challenges to starting a business?

The answers are: • Shortage of capital and cash flow • Having a good business plan • Coming up with a great product or service • Sticking to it • Working more than you expected • Getting through the frustrations of being constantly rejected by customers • Hiring good employees • Knowing when to fire bad employees • Having to wear so many hats • Managing your time CONTRACT • Maintaining some kind of work/life balance

11. What kind of business should I start?

A business that: • You are passionate about • Doesn’t take a kazillion dollars to fund

13. How can I protect my great idea?

Ideas are a dime a dozen. It’s the actual implementation of an idea that is more important. If it’s truly unique, get a patent for it (see www.uspto. gov). You may get some protection through copyright, trade secret programs, or NDA’s, but not a lot.

14. Do I need a lawyer to start a business?

Unless you know how to issue stock and to whom, it’s usually a good idea to have an experienced business lawyer on your team who has advised many start-ups.

Hire only a business lawyer, not a general practitioner or divorce lawyer. Experience matters.

15. How can I obtain the domain name I want?

Every good “.com” domain name is already taken. And I usually only recommend “.com” names.

Ultimately, 99% of domain names are available to be bought – you just have to be prepared to pay for the name. Do a “WHOIS Search” at www.networksolutions. com to find out the contact information for the owner of the domain name you are interested in, and offer to buy the name. Don’t be naive and offer $500 for a premium domain name. You will be ignored. Be willing to pay a fair amount for a good name.

Becoming a business owner, you control your own destiny, choose the people you work with, reap big rewards, challenge yourself, give back to the community, and you get to follow your passion.

Knowing what you’re getting into is smart business because the responsibility of protecting your business falls on you.

• Has the potential to grow into something big in a reasonable time frame • You have some experience in 12. What are the biggest mistakes made by startup entrepreneurs?

• Not starting with enough capital • Thinking that success will come quickly • Not carefully budgeting • Not focusing on the quality of the product or service • Underestimating the importance of sales and marketing • Not adapting quickly enough • Not understanding the competitive landscape • Ignoring legal and contract matters • Hiring the wrong employees • Mispricing the product or service

For more information on how to legally start and grow your business please visit my website at www.BaglaLaw.com Disclaimer: This information is made available by Bagla Law Firm, APC for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, and not to provide specific legal advice. This information should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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Legally Speaking Military Focused Family Law Facts

By Tana Landau, Esq.

The Court concluded: “Congress clearly intended veterans’ disability benefits to be used, in part, for the support of veterans’ dependents.” Therefore, although your VA disability benefits cannot be divided by the Court as property, the Court will consider it in determining how much child or spousal support you must pay.

Can My Disability Benefits be Garnished?

Veteran Disability Pay and Divorce: What is There to Lose?

If you are a Veteran receiving VA disability compensation, you may be concerned about how much of that income you may lose during a divorce. While each state has different laws governing divorce, child support, and spousal support, there are federal laws that every state must follow. These are some of the questions you may find yourself asking if you are going through a family law matter.

Can Disability Benefits be Divided as Property When I get Divorced?

No. Under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act, VA disability payments are exempt from being treated as marital property. This means it is not an asset which can be divided at divorce.

Will VA Benefits be Considered as Income for Purposes of Child Support and Spousal Support?

Yes, VA disability payments are considered as income for calculating child support and spousal support. In Rose v. Rose, 481 U.S. 619 (1987), the U.S. Supreme Court found that VA disability payments were intended not just for the veteran, but as the law stated, to “provide reasonable and adequate compensation for disabled veterans and their families.”

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Yes, there are circumstances where VA disability benefits can and do get garnished (in other words a portion of your disability payment can be taken directly). If you fail to pay child support or spousal support your disability payments can be garnished, but only when you’ve waived part of your military retired pay in order to receive VA disability benefits.

So if you waived part of your taxable military retirement to receive nontaxable disability compensation, your disability benefits can be garnished to meet alimony and child support obligation. This is because the purpose of VA benefits is to provide support not just to a veteran but to his/her family as well.

How Much of my Disability Benefits Can be Garnished?

Typically, between 20% to 50% of your disability pay can be garnished depending on your support obligation.

However, only the portion of your disability income you are paid in place of your military retirement can be garnished. The remainder of disability pay cannot be garnished and is protected.

Will a Garnishment Ever be Denied?

Yes, under certain circumstances a garnishment to a former spouse can be denied if: 1) The garnishment was to cause undue financial hardship 2) The veteran’s former spouse or child has not filed for apportionment 3) The former spouse is living with or married to another person 4) The former spouse was found by a state court to have been guilty of infidelity (in an “at fault” state)

What is an Apportionment of VA Benefits?

Apportionment is when the VA divides up your veteran’s disability compensation amount among those who are entitled to a share of it for support purposes. The VA will pay your former spouse and/or children a part of your veteran’s disability payment directly, thus reducing the amount of benefits you will receive.

Your former spouse must file for apportionment from the VA for themselves (if spousal support is ordered) and for any dependent children (for child support). The VA will require both of you to submit a financial statement to determine if an undue hardship will be caused. It is important to note that you can also file for a hardship reduction in apportionment if you are unable to meet your basic financial needs at any time. In addition, the VA will not approve a garnishment in any case where a request for apportionment has not been filed.

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If My Benefits Can’t be Garnished, Can My Former Spouse Still Ask for an Apportionment?

Your former spouse can ask for the VA for an apportionment for child support even where your VA disability benefit can’t be garnished. You do have the right to object to the apportionment even if you have been court ordered to pay child support.

It is important if you are a veteran going through a divorce that you have a clear understanding on how your disability compensation may be handled through the process. Remember that each state has its own laws.

If you are receiving veteran disability pay and going through a divorce, you may want to consult with an experienced family law attorney to help you understand how your income may be affected.

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This article is intended only for informational purposes and should not be taken as legal advice.

Legal Experts with Humanity WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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Opportunities in Law Enforcement You’ve served your country, now serve your community!

Military and law enforcement have had a longstanding relationship with overlaps in training exercises, equipment, and, most important, personnel.

It is not uncommon for a service member to make the jump from the military to law enforcement as both professions look for the same characteristics; leadership, fidelity, chain of command, and teamwork are all common themes in both professions.

Quite understandably, many American military veterans often gravitate to a career in law enforcement when the time comes to rejoin the civilian workforce.

The two professions have many fundamental similarities; from the uniforms they wear with pride, to the firm command structure they serve under, to great personal risk they endure while protecting those who cannot protect themselves.

The following agencies are actively hiring & proudly support our veterans, active military and the families that keep together.

www.rva.gov/police/personnel

www.rva.gov/police/personnel

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Be the

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Veterans! Join Our Team

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$103,116 - $147,628 TEXT “JoinSFPD” to (415) 704-3688 www.JoinSFPD.com WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / November 2023

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SDPD Ride Along: A Story of Two Marines

By Amber Robinbson San Diego Veterans Magazine When I asked to go on a ride along with the San Diego Police Department, making a special request for any veterans-turned-cops, I expected a really serious, possibly dangerous, afternoon of shadowing our city’s toughest crime fighters.

What I got was an afternoon of heartfelt service to our San Diego community, honorable humility and a lot of respect.

When I asked whether former Marine Sergeant Major, Mark Wright, and his partner, former Marine Staff Sergeant, Sean Bunch, had rank or titles he said their titles were just San Diego police officers. They are relatively new partners, but act like they’ve known each other for years, which is usually the case when you get Marines together.

Most of our particular day was cruising around beautiful Balboa Park running car tags to see if they were current, from cars not displaying proper plates and placards to those double parked. Bunch says they often catch parole violators or even stolen cars doing just this.

I was struck as I watched both officers go out of their way to look in and around vehicles to find plates or disability placards not displayed correctly so as to avoid issuing superfluous tickets.

“We try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt,” said Wright. “We’re not out to get anybody.”

Wright is a newer addition to the force, coming on board two years ago, with Bunch only having two years left.

Although, both officers confirm that enforcing even the most basic of park rules can yield large payoffs. During a recent patrol Bunch spotted an individual smoking in the park, which is illegal. As he circled back round, the individual turned and rapidly tried to walk away, which activated immediate suspicion. He was detained and came back with a warrant for numerous kidnapping and child molestation charges.

Officer Mark Wright

Officer Sean Bunch

Currently, these brothers-in-arms spend their days patrolling the entirety of Balboa Park.

Although neither men are taking fire or kicking in the enemy’s door on this beat, like during their time in Iraq or Afghanistan, they still work hard to serve their local community. Service which can range from tracking down criminals to answering questions from lost pedestrians, to giving out stickers to kids and never backing down from a chance to turn on those flashing red and blues just to make one of them smile.

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Both men say a lot of what they do is talk with museum owners and those living in the neighborhoods surrounding the park about their concerns. A shared concern by all is the park’s homeless population.

Bunch says their posture towards the homeless is mostly that of assistance, adding there are many resources available for those who would take them.

The city spends a lot of money on resources,” said Bunch. “The biggest problem we run into is whether or not the [homeless] people want them, and a lot of them don’t.”

Thus, the men tend to run into the same issues with the same people pretty often. Although frustrating, they have learned that respect goes a long way when challenged with these repeat offenders. Bunch recalls spotting one such offender in the park, who was in violation of his parole and wanted on warrant. He was unable to get to the offender immediately, but still apprehended him with a verbal request. The parolee waited patiently to be hand-cuffed and arrested, simply out of the respect he held for the law man.

Bunch, for instance, did not come to the force straight from the Marines, but from Hollywood. Surprisingly, he is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, working as a military advisor on various productions, like Lonestar 911, and appearing in some as well, such as one of the most recent Men in Black movies.

“I grew up outside of LA,” said Bunch. “So, I’ve always just kind of been around the business and found a place for myself there with all my military experience.”

Bunch hopes to return to work in Hollywood after he leaves the force, bringing with him a new level of experience and respect.

Both men say a huge part of their work is being able to connect and communicate with the myriad of people they meet daily.

Wright, who retired from the Marines as a Sergeant Major never worked in Hollywood, but he does have plenty of stories about being a proud grandfather, father and new amputee. When I entered the Central Division Station and met him, he said he was just getting back to work after some time off after losing his leg.

Bunch says he feels he and Wright are lucky to come to the force later in life, given it means they have a wider frame of reference for those they meet and serve daily.

“We deal with people who are going through all kinds of things in life,” said Bunch. “And it’s helpful to be able to say, ‘hey I know what you are going through, I’ve been there.”

Wright remained unscathed during his over-20-years in service, overseas deployments and endless combat train ups. It wasn’t until after service that he lost his leg in a motorcycle accident late one foggy night a little over a year ago. Wright says it had been an eventful second watch and he was leaving the station about 2 AM on his motorcycle when it happened.

As the day progressed, I realized that both gentlemen definitely had a long list of tough and unique life experiences to pull from. Both proudly served the United States Marines for years, traveling to war and all over the world, experiences that yield much wisdom as well as many a story.

“It was only about two minutes from work,” said Wright. “I was coming around a curve and entered into what I thought was fog, and as I’m entering, I see a headlight and side mirror in my lane.”

“Being respectful of everyone despite their lot in life goes a long way in this job,” said Wright.

That headlight and mirror became an entire car that was blocking Wright’s entire side of the road.

“I was a heuy crew chief in the Marines and reverted to my training from that, grabbed my shoulders, braced for impact and went flying like a human lawn dart over my handlebars,” said Wright.

Wright landed in the ditch on the side of the road. He says he realized immediately that he had a back and leg issue. He learned that a bystander had called 911, but he requested they call back and state that the injured motorcycle rider was a policeman with the San Diego Police Department and expedite services.

This one request would become pivotal in saving Wright’s life.

Continued on next page >

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“What I didn’t know at that time was that I had severed two arteries in my leg, and I was bleeding out,” said Wright.

What Wright would learn later is his heel had also been torn off on the wrecked car as he sailed past it into the ditch. After much pain and many surgeries, Wright would finally lose his leg from the knee down. says he doesn’t let it get him down, though. He’s proud to continue to serve as one of our city’s finest.

Both he and Bunch take much pride in their time as Marines and as San Diego Police Officers. Each officer comes from strong military stock, with Wright’s grandfather being a World War II veteran and Prisoner of War and Bunch’s father a decorated veteran of Vietnam.

All in all, this Army vet’s afternoon with two Marines was an impressive one. Both seasoned public servants, these honorable men have discovered you must give respect to get it, that violence is often not the answer and the most important thing to keep in mind along the way, is a good, human dose of empathy.

SDPD Ride Along

SDPD

NOW HIRING For more information visit www.joinSDPDnow.com or email us at SDPDrecruiting@pd.sandiego.gov

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www.joinSDPDnow.com SDPDrecruiting@pd.sandiego.gov

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From Navy Sailor to San Francisco Police Officer

By Holly Shaffner

“Being able to talk to people, figure out what they are going through, and what they need is a huge portion of the job. I enjoy interacting with the public, and engaging in what I call verbal judo.”

- Officer Cindy Ovares

Changing careers can be exciting, exhilarating, and filled with trepidation. Meet Officer Cindy Ovares who has made the transition numerous times – from active-duty service member, to student, massage therapist, teacher, and now police officer.

The life experience she gained in those previous longterm jobs set her up to be successful today. She is doing what she’s always wanted to do – have a career that is challenging and rewarding.

Cindy was like many seniors in high school as she contemplated what she would do after graduation.

When the Navy recruiter called the house looking for her brother, the recruiter instead got an eager, independent 17-year-old woman who wanted to find adventure. Just a few months later, she was off to “see the world” and start her first career.

As an Aviation Machinist’s Mate, Petty Officer Ovares was a jet engine mechanic. It was a male-dominated job, and she wanted to prove that anything a man could do, she could do better. She attended military schools in Florida and Virginia to learn her trade, and was later stationed in Lemoore, California. She was attached to VFA-22, an F/A-18 Super Hornet squadron, that deployed on ships. After serving four years on active duty, she earned Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits, and chose to leave the Navy to attend college.

After completing her bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and being a fluent Spanish speaker, she was hired to be a high school Spanish teacher. The job was gratifying; but also, under resourced, understaffed, and had little room to grow professionally. She wanted something new and challenging, was drawn to the community where she grew up, so, in her late 30s she applied to be a police officer.

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Officer Ovares was accepted to the San Francisco Police Academy and has been an officer for the last three years. She is a foot patrol officer working in the Tenderloin District – a 50-block area that has a storied history, and has been known for homelessness, drugs, and crime.

“Being able to talk to people, figure out what they are going through, and what they need is a huge portion of the job. I enjoy interacting with the public, and engaging in what I call verbal judo,” said Officer Ovares.

As a Latina giving back to her community, she admits that the job comes with highs and lows. Officer Ovares recommends a career in law enforcement for those military members looking to make a smooth transition to a new chapter.

To learn more about the San Francisco Police Department, or to connect with recruiter, go to: www.sanfranciscopolice.org/your-sfpd/careers

For Officer Ovares, the parallels between serving in the military and serving in law enforcement made the transition go smoothly: • Routine – You know what to expect before your shift begins (what time to report, what uniform to wear, the structure of the day).

• Camaraderie – The bond between fellow officers is like the bond between your fellow military brothers and sisters.

• Variety – Every day is different with different assignments and duties, so the job is never boring.

• Benefits – Include a competitive salary, paid vacation days, floating holidays, and sick days, healthcare, retirement, and special pay for certain assignments and being bilingual.

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WE DON’T JUST THANK

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Resources Support Transition HEALTH INSPIRATION

Homeland Magazine A Veterans Magazine by Veterans for Veterans Voted 2020, 2021 & 2022 BEST resource, support media for veterans, military personnel & their families

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