San Diego Veterans Mgazine by HOMELAND MAGAZINE

www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

SAN DIEGO

Vol. 1 Number 9 • September 2019 Issue

MAGAZINE

San Diego Veteran Tom Rice Normandy Jump 2019

San Diego Air Show Flying High with the Blue Angles

9/11

NEVER FORGET What’s Next Transition to Civilian Life

San Diego

Veteran of the Month “An Unsung Hero” - Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum

Enlisted To Entrepreneur LEGAL EAGLE

Healing Arts CYBERSECURITY

LIBERTY STATION - From Navy Base To Arts District WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

OFFER EXTENDED

E E R F S N VETERA +3 GUESTS FREE Now–Nov. 11

We are Proud to Salute the Men & Women Who Have Served in Our Armed Forces SeaWorld® San Diego invites any U.S. veteran to enjoy a one-time free Single-Day Admission, along with up to 3 guests.* Register online now–Nov. 11, 2019. Visitation valid through Nov. 11, 2019. For your service and sacrifice, we thank you.

Limited-time offer exclusively online at WavesofHonor.com *ONLINE ONLY — Tickets must be obtained in advance through the online registration process. Offer not available at the SeaWorld ticket windows. Excludes SeaWorld waterparks, Sesame Place® and Discovery Cove.® Ticket is non-transferable, non-refundable and not for sale. Not valid with any other discounts, offers and has no upgrade value. ™/© 2019 Sesame Workshop © 2019 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

EDITOR’S

LETTER

Publisher Editor-In-Chief Mike Miller mikemiller@SDVetsMagazine.com mikemiller@HomelandMagazine.com

Contributing Writers Holly Shaffner Veteran Advocate - Honor Flight SD

RanDee McLain, LCSW A Different Lens

Vicki Garcia

Enlisted to Entrepreneur

CJ Machado

SD Vets & Homeland Photojournalist

Kelly Bagla, Esq. Legal Eagle

Joe Molina Veterans Chamber of Commerce

Eve Nasby

What’s Next - Transitioning

www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

Amber Robinson Arts & Healing

Scott Hermann Cybersecurity

Greetings and a warm welcome to San Diego Veterans Magazine! Please take some time to get to know the layout of our magazine. The Magazine focuses on San Diego resources, support, community, and inspiration for our veterans and the military families that keep it together. Our magazine is driven by passion, vision, reflection and the future. 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 San Diego veteran organizations, resource centers, coalitions, veteran advocates, and more. We are honored to share the work of so many committed and thoughtful people. San Diego Veterans Magazine is a veterans magazine for veterans by veterans. We appreciate your support and are so happy to have you as a reader of San Diego Veterans Magazine.

Mike Miller Editor-In-Chief

mikemiller@SDVetsMagazine.com mikemiller@HomelandMagazine.com 4

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

Collaborative Organizations Veterans Association of North County • Shelter To Soldier • Wounded Warrior Project San Diego • DAV • Father Joe’s Village • VetCTAP • Flying Leathernecks • Give An Hour • UCSD • Courage To Call • Honor Flight San Diego • Veteran Advocates & Guest Writers

San Diego Veterans Magazine 9528 Miramar Road, #41 San Diego, CA 92126

(858) 275-4281 Contact us at: publisher@SDVetsMagazine.com San Diego Veterans 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.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6 San Diego - Veteran of the Month 8 Liberty Station - Navy Base to Arts 12 Flying Leathernecks Museum 14 Flying High with the Blue Angles 16 GI Film Festival 20 Remembering Our Fallen 22 Arts & Healing 24 Normandy Jump 2019 - CJ Machado 30 Wounded Warrior - Giving Back 33 Roy’s Run - Shelter to Soldier 35 A Different Lens - Mental Health 36 VANC - Back to School 38 What’s Next - Transition 40 Enlisted to Entrepreneur 44 Resume Advice - VetCTAP 46 Legal Eagle - LLC or S-Corp 48 Military Money - Emergency Funds 50 Cybersecurity - Protect Yourself 52 Positive Thinking - VCCSD

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

VETERAN OF THE MONTH San Diego - SEPTEMBER 2019 Veteran of the Month - Holly Shaffner, USCG This month Mike Miller chose a local Coast Guard retiree who was selected as the 78th California Assembly District Veteran of the Year and who gives back to her community. On July 15th, Assembly member Todd Gloria recognized Holly as his pick for the 78th District. In a ceremony at the Veterans Museum at Balboa Park, he said, “Veterans are the last to congratulate themselves. The veterans I have met do not call themselves “he-roes” or “she-roes” - they say they were just doing their jobs. I understand and respect that and what I take away is that it is even more important for us to highlight, acknowledge, and uplift those stories. And that leads us to today…Holly has immense integrity, fortitude, character, devotion to duty and commitment to serve.”

“I feel like it is our duty to make it better for those coming after us and to honor those who paved the way for us.” Holly has been writing for Homeland Magazine and San Diego Veterans Magazine since she graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism in 2015. Holly arrived in San Diego after a successful 24 year career in the United States Coast Guard. 6

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While she was in the CG, she served over eight years at sea earning her permanent Cutterman’s pin, she fired large caliber automated weapons as a Fire Controlman, busted drug runners and migrants in Puerto Rico, was second in command of an Anti-Terrorism team in New Orleans pre- and post-Katrina, and her final assignment was running a 24/7/365 emergency operations center in Northern California. When you ask Holly what her favorite job was, she’ll tell you that it was teaching law enforcement in Virginia. “I loved teaching defensive tactics – kicks, punches, stuns, take downs, baton strikes and deadly force. I was an expert marksman and it definitely made for some interesting conversation on a first date.” Holly learned those marksman skills when she was young. At 12 years old, her aunt showed her how to use a pellet gun to shoot at tin cans in the backyard. From there Holly went on to letter in shooting in high school and went to the Daisy Air Gun National Championships. Holly was born and raised in a small farming community outside of Hershey, Pennsylvania. The summer before her senior year in high school, her family moved to the big city of Annapolis, Maryland and it was in her senior year that she decided to join the military. The #1 movie that year was Top Gun and after seeing how much Maverick loved flying, Holly told a Navy recruiter that she wanted to be a fighter pilot. When she learned that women were not allowed in combat roles, she asked what jobs she was allowed to do. Not wanting to be a cook, personnel man or storekeeper, she called the USCG. The recruiter promptly told her, “There are no jobs closed to women - any job a man can do in the USCG, a woman can do. Men and women are serving together all over the world.” And two weeks later she was off to CG boot camp. Holly’s favorite part of the military was travelling all over the world, witnessing beautiful sunrises and sunsets while at sea, watching the Northern Lights dance in the Alaska sky, and making life-long friends. She was selected for Officer Candidate School, became an officer and retired on a grand stage with pomp and circumstance, and over 100 friends and family who came from all over the U.S. to be there for her special day.

And that leads us to San Diego. Holly stepped into “America’s Finest City” and instantly immersed herself in the active duty and veteran community. In her first year, she worked with wounded warriors, homeless veterans and gave back to her community. Soon after, she decided to give back to a cause near and dear to her heart (literally)…The American Cancer Society.

When Holly isn’t working or volunteering, she enjoys to golf. In fact, she was 1 of 11 military women to play in the first-ever Veterans Golfers Association National Championship in 2015.

When she was on active duty in 2010, she was preparing to retire and doctors found a mass on her chest wall during her retirement physical. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and spent the next year going through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments and when she pronounced, “free and clear”, she closed the military chapter of her life. In San Diego she became involved with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and became a mentor for newly diagnosed women. Today, she is a national trainer teaching new ACS volunteers how to mentor their fellow pink ribbon sisters. Of all the volunteer work she does in the community, she is most passionate about her work with WWII and Korea War veterans. She is the volunteer Director of Public Relations for Honor Flight San Diego, a local nonprofit organization that takes the most senior veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built for their services and sacrifice. “With over 300 WWII veterans passing away every day, I feel the sense of urgency to get these veterans to D.C. There are thousands of WWII veterans who went off to war, did what their country asked of them and then came home to the same pre-military jobs.

She was super humbled to play in the tournament and while she didn’t win, she had a great time putting all those SDSU golf lessons to work on the golf course! Holly has found her home in San Diego and continues to advocate for her fellow veterans. And that is why she is our Veteran of the Month!

They were never truly thanked for their service and for what they did to literally change the world. I will be very sad when the last of our living history is gone, for they truly are the Greatest Generation.” WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

LIBERTY STATION From Navy Base to Arts District

FROM NAVY BASE TO ARTS DISTRICT Nearly 20 years ago, the NTC Foundation embarked on an unprecedented opportunity for San Diego to create ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station, a significant new flagship destination for arts and culture. This new mission to create a significant legacy for the community is being realized. Just as the 1915 Panama–California Exposition helped establish the jewel of Balboa Park, a burgeoning hub for life and culture continues to grow into a premiere gathering place for visitors and locals alike. ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station is now San Diego’s newest cultural mecca—a destination for arts and culture at the former Naval Training Center San Diego in Point Loma’s Liberty Station. With 17 of 26 historic buildings completed, ARTS DISTRICT is home to over 120 tenants, including artists, galleries, creative businesses, museums, and nonprofits serving San Diego. Over 800,000 people visit ARTS DISTRICT annually, adding economic impact and jobs to what was once a shuttered Navy base. https://ntcfoundation.org/about-ntc/history-future/

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For more than 75 years, hundreds of thousands of Navy recruits were trained at Naval Training Center San Diego (NTC). It was here that these young men and women matured and received the knowledge and skills required for the challenges of military duty. Now inactive, NTC has been designated as a National Historical District for its architectural and cultural significance. It is a San Diego treasure and a significant community asset, and it continues to hold the memories of past generations of naval recruits whose lives were transformed at NTC. For a history of the Naval Training Center, we recommend Cradle of the Navy: The History of the Naval Training Center San Diego. When the Navy announced NTC’s closure in 1993, arts leaders saw that a long-term need for arts space could be met with the buildings. When the City of San Diego developed the NTC Master Plan, 26 buildings were set aside for arts and cultural uses in the historic heart of NTC, now called ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station.

The NTC Foundation was established in 2000 to oversee their development. It is the largest historical preservation project in San Diego. It is also the largest arts and cultural project in San Diego since the establishment of the Balboa Park cultural district 100 years ago. NTC is once again serving San Diego proudly and transforming the lives of new generations as ARTS DISTRICT, a new flagship for arts, culture, and creativity. ARTS DISTRICT’s stunning park-like campus, nostalgic promenade, and spectacular bay views provide an extraordinary setting.

VADM James B Stockdale and Sybil Stockdale Tribute – Dick Laub NTC Command Center, ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station, 2640 Historic Decatur Rd. Unmatched love and heroism during the Vietnam war, Vice Admiral Stockdale was the highest ranking Prisoner of War at the Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War. On the home front, his wife Sybil was not only raising their four sons, but changed government policy about our POWs and worked covertly with Naval Intelligence to get information back and forth from Jim. Their story is told in the book In “Love and War” and this exhibit is a tribute to their remarkable lives.

While recruits no longer train here, the Navy still has a presence in the Liberty Station neighborhood. Here are a few highlights you might want to visit. 52 U.S. Submarine Memorial at NTC Park, Liberty Station 52 U.S. Navy submarines were lost at sea during World War II. 3,505 submariners lost their lives. At NTC Liberty Station, the 52 Boats Memorial remembers the sacrifice of these men. The unique memorial runs along two beautiful walkways, and consists of 52 American Liberty Elm trees, 52 flags and 52 black granite markers. The history of each submarine and the names of lost crew members are recounted for future generations to remember. https://coolsandiegosights.com/2014/01/18/52-boatsmemorial-at-ntc-liberty-station/ Life of an NTC Recruit – Dick Laub NTC Command Center – ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station, 2640 Historic Decatur Road An exhibit that tells the story of the life of an NTC recruit from the time they stepped off the bus to graduation from bootcamp 12 weeks later. www.libertystation.com/go/life-of-an-ntc-recruit

Sybil Stockdale Rose Garden – Dick Laub NTC Command Center, ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station, 2640 Historic Decatur Road This intimate courtyard displays a central fountain, features intertwining pathways, and lies between two lawns. It was donated as a gift to honor Navy wives, and each vibrant rosebush located here has been thoughtfully selected and dedicated to loved ones. Set below our Point Loma Nazarene University Friendship Terrace and just outside our Dick Laub NTC Command Center, the Rose Garden is named after Sybil Stockdale, the wife of Vice Admiral James Stockdale. www.libertystation.com/go/sybil-stockdale-rose-garden

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USS Recruit - “The building that looks like a ship” – 4461 North Harbor Drive

Chow: Feeding a Navy, Building 201, ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station, 2820 Roosevelt

Over 50,000 recruits learned basic naval procedure every year on this two-thirds-scale model of a destroyer escort, a land-bound ship afloat on a sea of concrete. Commissioned on July 27, 1949, the Recruit was the Navy’s only commissioned ship that never touched the water, and it was playfully nicknamed “USS Neversail” by recruits. Here, recruits learned how to follow orders and how to maneuver around a ship. The Recruit was outfitted with standard naval rigging and even had a 3-inch gun. It was the first of three training structuresbuilt by the Navy after World War II, and it is the only one that remains. In 1982, the Recruit was reconditioned as a training guided-missile frigate.

Naval Training Center San Diego was the first Navy training school for Mess Management and was recognized for “Outstanding Large Mess Ashore.” See original recipes that fed thousands, sample menus and learn why the best time of a sailor’s day was Chow Time!

As California Registered Historical Landmark No. 1042, its plaque was placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in 2005.

Halloween at the Station, October 27 WoW Festival, October 17-22

Point Loma Legacy Exhibit, Dick Laub NTC Command Center, 2640 Historic Decatur Road An exhibit telling the story of Point Loma and its role as the Gateway to San Diego. Also, events in September and October include: FIRST FRIDAY FREE art and gallery walk, September 2, October 4 and November 1. (5 pm – 9 pm) Meet working artists, enjoy dance, theatre and music performances, visit museums and galleries and explore the 100-acre ARTS DISTRICT.

All listed here at www.artsdistrictlibertystation.com

Once Home To Proud Navy Recruits, Now San Diego’s Most Innovative

ARTS DESTINATION

FIRST FRIDAY of Every Month • 5-9 PM (((amplified))) Concert featuring B-Side Players, Local Bazaar Market and Craft Beer Garden 10/4 Dance performances, open studios & galleries, pubic art unveiling 9/6

Proud Resident of ARTS DISTRICT

Transforming Military Service into Civilian Success | hireheroesusa.org

ARTSDISTRICTLibertyStation.com

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

#ExploreLibertyStation

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

TBM 3E “Avenger” – An “Unsung Hero” of World War II – at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum - by Patricia Laubach The TBM 3E “Avenger” is a World War II-era Torpedo Bomber with a storied history. One famous Navy pilot who flew Avengers was the future president George H.W. Bush. After completing its mission, the Avenger Bush was piloting was shot down in 1944 near the Japanese island of Chicijima. Fortunately, the future president was rescued at sea. The World War II-era Avenger on display, a TBM, typically had three crew members—a pilot, turret gunner and radioman/bombardier. It is a slow-moving aircraft with a maximum speed of approximately 276 mph. Interesting features of the World War II-era TBMs: • Size: This is a largest plane carried on World War II ships. The wingspan on the aircraft is more than 54 feet! • The lower windows: This is where the bombardier laid down to man a gun to protect the craft from attack by enemy fire. • Landing gear: The landing gear folds into the wings leaving the bay free for bombs or a torpedo. • Ejection seats: There are none. Bailing out of a crippled aircraft was difficult for the crew and not routinely successful. The TBM on display (at the Miramar Air Show 2019, and permanently at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum) underwent a complete restoration under the direction of assistant curator Leon Simon this past year.

TBM 3E “Avenger”

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The dedicated team of volunteers -- including Wendell Johnson, Roberta-Ann Klitgaard, Willie Woodon, Jr. and Rob Sudman – spent over a year and hundreds of hours – to complete the restoration. Simon explained that to begin a restoration effort, the team first obtains a vintage photo of the aircraft and verifies the legitimacy of the photo. Then the aircraft is restored as depicted, including all markings. The TBM on display is painted in the colors of VMBT-132 when in July, 1945 TBMs were deployed in the escort carrier USS Cape Gloucester (CVE-109) and participated in the battle of Okinawa. Simon equated corrosion on a vintage plane to a cancer that needs to be cut out and stopped. The volunteers ground down the corroded areas of the TBM and replaced them with new sheet metal. Few replacement parts are available for World War II-era aircraft, so the sheet metal to repair the fuselage was fabricated by hand with the guidance of “old school math.” The replacement pieces were fastened into place using rivets, typically a tedious 2-person process. Simon estimated that nearly 1000 rivets were shot by the team.

Even the tires have a story. It had been more than 30 years since they had been changed. Physically cutting them off their rims was a lengthy process. Fortunately, modern tires in the size needed were available for purchase. Working on vintage aircraft is a calling for the volunteers, a calling that they approach with reverence. Deciphering clues left by crews from long ago including coins, nicks and changes to standard settings brings the restoration volunteers deeper insights into an aircraft and the crews that flew it. Several mentioned that perfection or as close to it as possible is what they want of the restoration process. For assistant curator Simon, the restoration work “brings the airframe back to life.” Restoring the airframe to how it looked in its glory days not only honors those who served, but also makes it an inspiration to museum visitors of all ages.

Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum at MCASMiramar is thriving. The curatorial staff continue to build the collection that now includes 48 rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, various ground support equipment artifacts, weapons, a research center of 1000 books and photographs, artwork, patches, uniforms and numerous other artifacts that help tell the story of Marine Corps aviation. The museum has more than 30 aircraft from World War II to present day on display along with artwork, photographs, uniforms and other artifacts. It is open to the public six days per week and manned mostly by volunteers, many of whom served as military pilots or aircrew. These veterans are quick to share their stories and experiences with visitors.

More programs to serve the public, veterans and Marines are being launched, including hands-on training in restoration techniques. More Than a Museum to Marines and Visitors To the museum’s curator, Steve Smith, aircraft such as the TBM are a tie to a time, place and people -- some of whom are no longer with us. He mentioned a veteran who walked silently around the drone in the museum’s collection for several minutes. Weeks later, photos of the drone in Iraq arrived at the museum. Veterans, family members and those whose lives were saved by the actions of Marines regularly visit the aircraft to get in touch with their own histories. Chairman of the museum’s foundation, Major General Bob Butcher, sees an even wider impact. “Youth are no longer being taught to appreciate the country and her history. Without that, we are perhaps in danger of losing our heritage and perhaps our country.” He is particularly proud of the work done by the museum’s volunteers to inspire youth who visit for school fieldtrips or Open Cockpit Days. Thank you letters, testimonials and reviews indicate that the museum is having the positive impact hoped on today’s youth. Volunteers are always welcome at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum. All are welcome. A military or aviation background is not required, and all training is provided. Visiting the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum The TBM and 30 other historical USMC aircraft are on display at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum in San Diego, CA. The sentry-free entrance to the museum is located 1.5 miles west of I-15 on Miramar Road. Open Tues-Sun from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Free admission and parking. Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum 4203 Anderson Ave San Diego, CA 92145 www.flyingleathernecks.org (858) 693-1723

During the summer the museum hosts Open Cockpit Days, a big draw for families. It is a popular venue for military ceremonies, school fieldtrips and military reunions. Programs sponsored by the museum and its foundation, the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation, include the Irene Ferguson Marine Wife Recognition Program and patriotically themed essay and art contests for students in San Diego County. The museum’s foundation has plans to build a new 90,000 square foot permanent museum to allow all the aircraft to be protected and displayed indoors. WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

Flying High With The Blue Angels By Amber Robinson The Mission Statement for the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, is “to showcase the pride and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and community outreach.” Since 1946 the Navy’s Blue Angels have accepted only the best of the best into their ranks. This team of flying aces were originally put together to raise public interest in Navy aviation and to boost sailors’ morale. And let us tell you, they have done just that. The first ever Blue Angels team was led by Navy Lt. Commander Roy Marlin “Butch” Voris. He selected three others, Lt. Maurice “Wick” Wickendoll, Lt. Mel Cassidy, and Lt. Cmdr. Lloyd Barnard. This small team began to train in secret, executing those initial show-y and dangerous maneuvers above the Everglades. Voris was quoted with saying, “that way, if anything happens… just the alligators will know.” All pilots managed to stay free of alligator jaws, and on May 10, 1946, the exhibition team performed to a group of Navy officials for the very first time. All flying the Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat, the pilots expertly delivered their flight demonstration to a hugely enthusiastic group. Audiences went wild as the Blue Angels started to showcase what planes like the propeller-driven F6 Hellcat, F8 Bearcat and the F9 Panther could do under the power of a well-trained pilot. Over the years the planes lost their propellers and gained jet engines, and the crowds got larger. It is estimated that a hefty 11 million people come to see the squadron during their season from March until November. Since their inception, they have flown for over 505 million spectators. Although assembled as non-deployable, the Blue Angels have had missions that were not for show. In 1950, at the very onset of the Korean War, all Blue Angels pilots volunteered their skills for the conflict. The squadron was then ordered to “combat ready status” and disbanded. They were all reassigned to the USS Princeton, an aircraft carrier, to a unit known as Fighter Squadron 191. They formed the nucleus of the unit, which was known as “Satan’s Kittens”.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

MISSION - HISTORY

This precision team of warfighters flew combat missions for one tour under their flight leader, Blue Angels Commander, Lt. Commander John Magda. Magda was sadly killed in battle on March 8, 1951. Although “Satans Kittens” squadron would go on to fly combat missions in the Vietnam crisis, the Blue Angels would not be a part. They were re-activated back in the states on October 25, 1951, and assigned to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. In the early Summer of 1952, they began performing again at a demonstration in Memphis, Tennessee. The Angels’ return after their tour of duty invigorated the American people, and audiences were larger and more adoring than ever.

First female pilot to join the Blue Angels. Marine Corps Capt. Katie Higgins

The unit’s evolution over the years has included many a milestone. In 2009, the Blue Angels were inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame right here in our local San Diego Air & Space Museum. In July 2014, Marine Corps Capt. Katie Higgins, 27, became the first female pilot to join the Blue Angels.

San Diego Community News

Over the years the Blue Angels have become synonymous with patriotism, professionalism and precision. They have become an American icon, as well-known as baseball or gramma’s apple pie. Now, 73 years after their inception, the Blue Angels are flying higher than ever.

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San Diego Veterans Magazine Your best source for San Diego military - veteran local news, press releases, community events, media, entertainment and more… WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

GI Film Festival San Diego Showcases the Hidden History, Talent and Dedication of our Military Celebrating its fifth year of authentic military storytelling, the GI Film Festival San Diego brings together more than 30 films for, by and about military service members and veterans from around the world. The themes of survivor’s guilt, overcoming military trauma, healing from post-traumatic stress through visual and performing art, drug addiction, and the LGBTQIA+ community, are featured in this year’s lineup. Exploring these sometimes difficult experiences, the GI Film Festival San Diego continues to play an important role in preserving our military history and creating community among military and civilians. “Take Me Home Huey,” a heartfelt story featuring the transformation of a U.S. Army Huey helicopter into a colorful, inspirational sculpture by contemporary artist and Southern California resident Steve Maloney, is the Opening Night selection this year. Directed by filmmakers Alicia H. Brauns and Christine Steele, the 56 minute film delivers a powerful message of healing through art. The film captures the captivating reunion of some of the Vietnam War veterans who used this very helicopter -#174 -- in wartime until it was shot down on Valentine’s Day 1969 during a medical rescue mission, which resulted in the death of two of their service brothers. Throughout the documentary, the viewer sees testimonies of war and post-war experiences from the veterans involved.

“The festival always opens with great untold stories about the triumphs and experiences of service members and veterans. We are so proud to continue this tradition this year with the untold story of Huey #174 and its role in the Vietnam War and the brave men who served on board,” says Nancy Worlie, associate general manager of content and communications at KPBS. The films selected for the GI Film Festival San Diego’s opening night screenings over the years included narratives and documentaries like “American” starring actor and activist George Takei, “The Registry,” “The 2 Sides Project,” and “USS Indianapolis: The Legacy.” “The military teaches you how to fight, but they don’t teach you how to come home.” In 2012, Maloney, who resides in Rancho Santa Fe and Palm Springs, California, was given the opportunity to create an art piece to be featured in the Palm Springs Air Museum. Inspired by the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War, the sculpture aimed to honor Vietnam War veterans who never received a respectful welcome home after their service overseas. Best known as the “Helicopter War,” the Hueys played crucial roles in the Vietnam War in getting members of our military to safety, making it the perfect element for the “Take Me Home Huey” sculpture.

The project featured in the film was created in partnership with Light Horse Legacy, an educational 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that restores and flies old military helicopters to encourage interest in aviation and support veterans experiencing PTS. Light Horse Legacy was a prominent resource in securing Huey #174 which was found decommissioned in an Arizona scrapyard. The organization also helped locate some of the veterans who were aboard the helicopter before its final flight.

“Take Me Home Huey” 16

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“The art primed the pump,” says Maloney. “It encouraged veterans, specifically Vietnam War-era veterans, to open up about their wartime experiences they were forced to keep to themselves for so long in fear of losing their post-war jobs and being judged. Talking about their experiences helped relieve their PTS. I was honored to listen to these veterans and reunite them with the Huey.” As the battered helicopter becomes whole through the artistic process, stories of Vietnam veterans and their families parallel the healing journey of Huey #174; viewers begin to understand what veterans must face finding relief from the trauma sustained during the war. The film inspires dialogue about post-traumatic stress, survivor’s guilt, and the importance of never giving up, especially for the veterans and loved ones who have lived with the long-lasting personal effects of war and the tragic crash of #174. “Take Me Home Huey” made its World Premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in 2017, and the transformed Huey #174 remains on display at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The GI Film Festival San Diego gives active duty military, veterans and allies a place to congregate and provides a space for dialogue, camaraderie, and listening. After each screening in the festival, in-depth panel discussions are held to give attendees the opportunity to have candid conversations with filmmakers, subjects, and local experts about what they watched on the screen. This not only reduces the military-civilian divide, but also affirms to veterans and families that they are not alone in their journey.

“Donut Dollies” The GI Film Festival San Diego brings together military stories from overseas and around the nation that portray the strength of the human mind and heart and the limits of human survival. One of these notable films is “The Donut Dollies,” a documentary feature following two best friends and former Red Cross “Donut Dollies” who reunite 47 years later in Vietnam to retrace their steps and unlock buried memories.

34 films from around the globe feature diverse military stories This year, the festival welcomes 34 films, ranging from documentaries, narratives, features and shorts. Selections highlight military experiences from within the Asian and Pacific Island cultures, as well as international films from Australia and Israel. Wars covered in this year’s lineup span the Civil War to present day conflicts. Also new this year is a film with a U.S. Coast Guard storyline. The GI Film Festival San Diego brings together military stories from overseas and around the nation that portray the strength of the human mind and heart and the limits of human survival. One of these notable films is “The Donut Dollies,” a documentary feature following two best friends and former Red Cross “Donut Dollies” who reunite 47 years later in Vietnam to retrace their steps and unlock buried memories.

“Escape by Sea” Another film is the narrative short “Escape by Sea” about two Scandinavian soldiers who flee the French Foreign Legion by jumping ship in the Strait of Malacca, and then are swept into the open ocean for weeks without food or water. The documentary feature “Homemade” is a story of survival and resilience and makes its World Premiere at the festival. The film is a groundbreaking, intimate, and durational documentary feature which captures a six-year journey following combat-wounded and highlydecorated Force Reconnaissance Marine Adam Sorensen as he navigates life after the war. The film exposes the effects of PTS, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and addiction on Adam’s marriage, family, and work. Continued on next page >

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

San Diego-centric films are once again included in this year’s schedule -- and are a big part of why the festival exists. Through the festival’s collaboration with Film Consortium San Diego, a social enterprise whose goal is to increase and foster film and television production in the region, the GI Film Festival San Diego has attracted several local filmmakers and actors who are given an opportunity to share their passion for creative storytelling on the big screen. The festival’s popular Local Film Showcase features seven films with San Diego County connections, giving filmmakers an opportunity to showcase their creative work on a national level. Like the international and national films, there are diverse, raw and inspiring storytelling in the local films. Some notable films on the 2019 schedule are “Deviant” and “This One Step.” “Deviant” is a narrative short based on true events that spotlights the horrors of conversion therapy, a severe and life-affecting issue among LGBT minors.

“Deviant” The narrative short “This One Step,” directed by Del Mar residents Austin and Westin Ray, tells the story of a young Texan veteran and his wife who must re-learn the rhythm of their relationship, complicated by lingering PTS.

Over the years, the GI Film Festival San Diego has worked to provide a platform for filmmakers who range from active duty, veterans and civilians to showcase their love for storytelling with an engaged audience. “The festival also opens up a network with other filmmakers to collaborate on more ideas and projects,” says Worlie. “We enjoy seeing filmmakers return to the festival year after year and are excited to see that this year’s film lineup is made up of mostly newcomers. Our dedicated team of festival organizers, volunteers, filmmakers, and supporters also look forward to seeing new and returning audience members at the fifth annual GI Film Festival San Diego.” GI Film Festival San Diego Deploys Sept. 24-29 The GI Film Festival San Diego is a six-day event from Tuesday, Sept. 24 through Sunday, Sept. 29 with films being screened at two locations—the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) in Balboa Park and UltraStar Cinemas at Hazard Center. The festival opens at MOPA with “Take Me Home Huey” on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. The screening is followed by a panel discussion featuring Maloney and the filmmakers, and a dessert reception. Many festival events have discounted opportunities for active duty personnel and veterans. Partner organizations will have complimentary tickets available for local military, veterans, and their families, including Elizabeth Hospice, Challenged Athletes Foundation, SAY San Diego, the Armed Services YMCA San Diego, Courage to Call, and more. A full screening and events schedule is available on GIFilmFestivalSD.org. Guests are also encouraged to pre-purchase individual tickets and All Access Passes before the festival begins. The GI Film Festival San Diego is organized by KPBS in partnership with the Film Consortium San Diego and the GI Film Group. Official sponsors of the 2019 GI Film Festival San Diego include Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling, The Super Dentists, BAE Systems, SAGAFTRA, and Scatena Daniels Communications. The GI Film Festival San Diego is a proud member of the San Diego Veterans Coalition and the San Diego Military Family Collaborative. For complete details on the fifth annual festival, visit GIFilmFestivalSD.org.

“This One Step” 18

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

Catch a film. Be inspired. Build community.

September 24-29, 2019 FILM PREMIERES  RED CARPET MOMENTS  FILMMAKER APPEARANCES  LOCAL FILM SHOWCASE AWARDS CELEBRATION  PANEL DISCUSSIONS  FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

Full lineup, venues, and showtimes available at

GIFilmFestivalSD.org GIFilmFestivalSanDiego |

@GIFilmFestSD | #GIFilmFestSD

   PRESENTED BY

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

LEAD SPONSORS

FEATURED SPONSOR

IN-KIND SPONSOR

KPBS is a public service of San Diego State University.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

Remembering Our Fallen 9/11 was a defining moment for many Americans who have served in The War on Terror, like Pearl Harbor was for those who served in World War II. Remembering Our Fallen is a war memorial that includes our nation’s military Fallen since 9/11/2001. It was inspired after reading an Omaha World-Herald article in September 2010 about Lonnie Ford, a Gold Star father, who felt that his son, SGT Joshua Ford, had been forgotten. Traditionally, our country must wait at least ten years from the end of a war to create a national memorial. With no end in sight, we wanted to do something. To help lessen the grief of the families of our nation’s Fallen and minimize their fears of their loved ones being forgotten, Remembering Our Fallen was created to: reassure families that their loved ones will not be forgotten; help others to remember and speak their names; educate Americans of the tremendous cost paid for our freedom. Thirty-two Tribute Towers include military and personal photos of over 5,000 Fallen. Included are several Tribute Towers to recognize those who died from non-combat deaths and those who struggled and lost the battle of PTSD. Prior to creating the national memorial, state-specific memorials for indoor display were completed and have continued to travel their respective states since 2011. Please visit www.RememberingOurFallen.org to Add a Fallen Hero; View the Photo Gallery; Bring Remembering Our Fallen to your Community; or to make a Donation to support additional Tribute Towers and the Tour. Gold Star family members have said, “I’ll probably cry at the sound of his name, but if you don’t mention him, the tears will still come and I’ll fear he’s been forgotten.” We hope this memorial will help to alleviate this fear. Please contact us to add a Fallen loved one, host the memorial, or make a donation at: info@RememberingOurFallen.org

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

www.RememberingOurFallen.org www.PatrioticProductions.org

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

Arts & Healing Arts for Military Veterans

By Amber Robinson

Shout and Stomp Workshop links veterans to performance therapies When you think about veterans healing from Post Traumatic Stress, you may picture vets sitting in a circle in group therapy, talking to therapists or even painting out their emotions. The goal of local nonprofit, The American History Theater, is to add yet another avenue of creative healing to that list. For the last three years, they have been hosting a workshop series called Shout and Stomp: Healing Through Movement and Theatre. This interactive workshop takes a look at how dance movement and theatre can open the minds of our community’s veterans to new ways of reconnecting with themselves and with those around them. The organization’s first Shout and Stomp was in partnership with Cygnet Theatre as part of a grant geared for veteran outreach in the world of stage performance. The workshop featured a local actor, a dance teacher, and an MST survivor who was an actress and poet. Each explained how their creative process has helped them heal through the repercussions of trauma. Interactive segments were encouraged. The most successful exercises were simple interactive dance exercises shared by Rayna Stohl, Dance Director for Canyon Crest Academy. The exercise bonded attendees and gave them permission to move or speak in odd and fun ways, using their bodies to express emotion. This year Shout and Stomp will continue to build upon the concept of reuniting body, mind and spirit through performance therapy. Expanded into a two-day event, the workshop will feature four teachers, all with extensive backgrounds in theatre, dance movement and performance therapy. On day one AHT will welcome back Katie Turner, Drama PhD and Erika Malone, Expressive Arts Practitioner & Therapeutic Dance Teacher. Day two will feature two new teachers, Francine Hoffman, M.A, Expressive Arts Therapist and Ofra Raz, M.A. Expressive Arts Therapist. Veterans suffering with Post Traumatic Stress often report a sense of feeling alienated from the rest of society and disassociated from their bodies. 22

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

The latter can become especially true about survivors of Military Sexual Trauma. All teachers will create a safe, mindful space for survivors of all types of trauma. To do that, each teacher will work to create a sense of community and trust among attendees. Through play and creativity, each instructor will encourage all to let down their guards to better connect with the world around them. “By coming together with others to immerse in an active and playful “time-out-of-time”, we create an experience of community, which the human spirit seems to crave,” says S&S teacher, Hoffman. “Intimate workshops (like this) help to lessen isolation while offering a safe space to explore new ways to experience ourselves and others in the world.” What AHT and workshop teachers hope veterans take away is a deeper sense of hope and self-understanding about what their healing can look like. “People deserve the most holistic and creative pathways to healing that we can give them,” says S&S teacher, Malone. “We want to give participants multiple entry points and diverse tools that they can use in their own healing process on their own time.” If you would like to attend 2019’s Shout and Stomp: Healing Through Movement and Theater this year, it is on September 14 and 15 from 12:30 to 4:30 at White Box Live Arts at 2590 Truxtun Road, #205, San Diego. This is a donation-based workshop, with no set fee.

Host this National Memorial in your Community

Please contact us to add a Fallen loved one, host the memorial, or make a donation at: info@RememberingOurFallen.org

www.RememberingOurFallen.org www.PatrioticProductions.org

Tribute Towers

Remembering Our Fallen is a national memorial unlike any other -with military & personal photos of 5,000 military Fallen since 9/11/2001 Unveiled at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 2017, it has since traveled the nation coastto-coast. This memorial also includes those who returned from war, but lost their inner battle to suicide, and those who died from non-war zone injuries while serving in their military capacity. Please contact us to add a Fallen loved one, host the memorial, or make a donation at: info@RememberingOurFallen.org

“If the purpose of a war memorial is to help us remember the sacrifices of the Heroes, and to help us heal from our sorrow, then your mission has been accomplished. Thank you for this tremendous gift.” - 1LT Daniel P. Riordan’s Mother

“There is a ‘disconnect’ between those we ask to serve our military objectives and our society at large. This memorial made that connection very dramatically and helped us understand the magnitude of their sacrifices. - Ed Malloy, Mayor of Fairfield, Iowa

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

Normandy Jump 2019 Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day

As a photojournalist for San Diego Veterans Magazine & Homeland Magazine, through the years I’ve had the honor to meet and write about our veterans, giving reverence to our “Greatest Generation.” For it was these ordinary men that became extraordinary heroes and saved the world.

I was on assignment with Homeland/San Diego Veterans Magazine at the 2018 Planes Of Fame (POF) Air Show in Chino, CA. My objective was to interview and document the remaining WWII veterans at the “Veteran’s History Project” tent.

My name is CJ Machado, patriot to the flag and to those who fought to preserve it, to those who died to protect it.

Serendipitously, Normandy veteran, C-53D Skytrooper, D-Day Doll and the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team (ADT) re-created a WWII parachute drop. WWII medic, Ed “Doc” Pepping from the 101st Airborne Division, was one of the spectators. “Doc” Parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and worked alongside medics, Robert Wright and Willard Moore at the aid station set up in the 11th century church at Augoville-au-Plain. They saved close to a hundred lives, both soldiers and civilians alike, including wounded German soldiers.

CJ Machado & Colonel Tim Tarris, USAF, Retired This is a recount of how the largest living historical event of our lifetime, the 75th anniversary of D-Day was able to be documented on film. “Libertas” is the first in the three-part Normandy Jump 2019 documentary series. The film title was inspired by our nation’s Statue of Liberty. A gift from the people of France to the people of America in celebration of our unity and allegiance to democracy. “Libertas” is Latin for the word liberty and is the Roman goddess and personification of liberty.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

Ninety-six year-old Pepping was so impressed at ADT’s demonstration, he waited for the Team to return from Jump ops. Then “Doc” Pepping thanked every & Franky Ortega ADT member for remembering and honoring his service through their public presentation. According to the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs, we are losing over three hundred WWII veterans every day. The time will come when none will remain and only their memories of dedicated service will be left for us to remember and pass on to the next generation.

Col. Steeley Maddie & Noah

While on assignment, it was ADT’s Chief of Staff, Colonel Raymond Steeley that recruited me to enroll and document their upcoming Jump School.

Having the responsibility of being a mother of twin sixteen-year-old girls, there was absolutely no way I was going to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Especially with my fear of heights. It was the Colonel’s sweet, southern charm that did however convince me to document their upcoming Jump School. Now remember, I had no intention on participating in Jump Training until…I met the co-pilot of D-Day Doll, Tim Tarris, a retired Air Force Colonel. Tarris convinced me that Doll’s most challenging mission was yet to come. The Colonel explained that “Doll” was about to embark on a journey to commemorate one of the most significant days in our history… D-Day. Vintage aircraft from all over the world were meeting to drop hundreds of paratroopers and parachutists into Normandy, France to celebrate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Well, that did it for me. A challenge and something meaningful to support. I committed to Jump School and I was motivated to earn my commemorative wings to experience and document the largest living historical event of our lifetime. That endeavor would require a film team that was well experienced in military projects, which led me to my film partner and Retired Navy Fighter pilot, Mark “Viz” Vizcarra, founder of Speed and Angels productions.

CJ Machado

Art & Shane Shaffer & CJ Machado

We both share the same passion for making films that honors those who’ve served. At the time, Viz had just completed “Thud Pilots,” a documentary about his father who flew the F-105 during Vietnam. The timing was perfect. Viz agreed to travel to Frederick, Oklahoma and shoot on location at an old Army airfield from WWII, home to the World War II Airborne Demonstration Team. Our Drill Instructor was Marine Corps veteran, Master Sergeant Jon Tehan. Being a Marine, he was already in my favor, “Whenever in need, call a Marine” has always held true with me. Tehan and the other instructors were determined to have us succeed. We reviewed the basic parts of a round canopy parachute and received an J. Tehan & R. Morris extensive overview of airborne operations. There were many students that could not complete the program. On our first day of jump ops, the only thing that calmed my fears was a picture I noticed that was taped onto the aircraft’s cabin wall. It was a picture of a WWII paratrooper. He couldn’t have been twenty years old. The picture was in memory of his service My fears were put on hold as I pondered the point of his existence almost seventy-five years ago. These young men had the weight of the world on their shoulders and the price of freedom was paid at the perilous risk of their souls.

Tom Rice & Nicolas Ancellin

Film Team

Continued on next page >

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of our Jump Master yelling, “Six minutes.” Which was quickly followed by “Stand up…Hook up…Get--ready” and a thumbs up. Then the Jump Master yelled “GO!” …And out the door we went, engulfed into the uncertain atmosphere. The land approached quickly. I was frantic trying to find the drop zone arrow to guide myself in, but with a round canopy parachute, you are mostly at the mercy of the wind and your weight. I finally landed in a muddy mess about a foot deep and to my amazement, I was completely intact. It was terrifying. It was exhausting, but I made it. I made it! I completed the required five jumps in a round canopy parachute and “earned my commemorative wings” with the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team. In a lifetime of memories, I doubt any will exceed the honor of having my wings being pinned by Ninety-three yearold, “Battle of the Bulge” Vincent J. Speranza.

Vincent J. Speranza & CJ Machado

Speranza is famous for serving beer from his helmet to a wounded comrade in Bastogne. His legacy remains in the hearts of the people of Belgium and still to this day they serve “Airborne” Beer from a ceramic helmet in his honor.

Once our film team was back in San Diego, our primary goal was to interview the remaining WWII paratroopers that served on D-Day. Local Coronado resident, Tom Rice was an Honor Flight San Diego alumnus. They put me in touch with Tom’s guardian angel and good friend, Christophe Dugas. A Frenchman from Montpellier who was eternally grateful for his country to have been liberated by these brave men. Christophe did not want Tom’s service to be forgotten. He was determined to fulfill Tom’s ambitious wish to jump in the same drop zone as he did on D-Day, to jump for those who can’t. It took tremendous coordination by many organizations, businesses and the support of friends and family to bring Tom’s dream to fruition.

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One of the organizations directly involved with Tom’s jump was the Round Canopy Parachuting Team (RCPT) International. Hubert Achten, President of RCPT International sponsored Tom Rice’s jump. Hubert arranged for the most qualified tandem jumper to drop Tom. With well over seventeen thousand jumps, Art Shaffer with RCPT US based out of Skydive Palatka was chosen. In the meantime, Colonel Tarris with D-Day Doll arranged for our film team to document Doll’s journey across the United States before her Atlantic crossing. Doll’s final stop was in Oxford, Connecticut where she and the D-Day Squadron encircled our symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty. We arrived in France, the primary country that helped secure America’s independence and freedom. It was apparent that the people of France have not forgotten their liberators and they took an astonishing effort to make certain Tom knew it. The town of Carentan gave “Team Tom Rice” the “Red Carpet” treatment. Mayor Jean-Pierre Lhonneur himself hosted a banquet in his executive office complete with honey brought from his own beehive.

Carentan’s press attaches, Deputy Mayor Sebastien and Denis Van Den Brink included Tom in every dedication during the Tom Rice & Dennis commemoration Van Den Brink ceremonies. People from all over the world came to thank revered “Screaming Eagle,” Staff Sergeant Rice. Some traveled thousands of miles to share their stories of liberation. I have never witnessed such gratitude of nations in wanting to express their sincere appreciation. The day finally came to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, “Operation Overlord.” Dakotas from all over the world lined the Cherbourg runway waiting to drop the massive group of parachutists. It was D-Day veteran, C-47 Sky Train, ‘Drag ‘em’ Oot’ that once again fulfilled her duty and dropped Tom Rice behind the Normandy beach heads.

Normandy Paratrooper, Tom Rice impressed the world as he landed in the same drop zone as he did on D-Day seventy-five years earlier. Tom’s jump made international news with over 20 million views and counting. Because of the love and appreciation of a gentleman from Montpellier, the collaboration of the beholden town of Carentan and the generosity and support of the Round Canopy Parachuting Team, Tom’s service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Tom was ninety-seven years old and is committed to jumping until he’s one hundred and one for the 101st Airborne Division.

Tandem Team Tom Rice & Art Shaffer

Airborne! All The Way!

D-Day Doll & ADT

Photos: Nicolas Ancellin, Thomas Goisque, Shane Shaffer, CJ Machado, Remi Martin, Julien Delavier

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

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WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

CHARGE

Controlling Hunger and ReGulating Eating for Veterans Do you lose control when you eat? Do you binge eat? Do you want to lose weight? If yes, you may qualify for a UCSD research study designed to help adults regain control over eating and lose weight.

Eligibility Criteria: - A Veteran between 18-65 years old - Overweight (BMI between 25-45) Treatment is 5 months and the total duration of the study is 11 months.

NO charge to participate. Compensation is provided. For more information, please call 855-UCSD- 4-W8 or email: CHEAR@ucsd.edu Our website: chear.ucsd.edu

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

Wounded Warrior Finds Peace by Giving Back at National Park Francisco Chavez returned relatively unharmed from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he worked convoys for the U.S. Army. But an explosion stateside ended his civilian job as a mechanic at Naval Base San Diego. “My whole face was shattered after the shop explosion,” Francisco said. “I have nine implants in my face. I also lost most of my teeth and part of my tongue.” Francisco spent 30 days in intensive care, followed by physical rehabilitation and months of additional surgeries and therapy. His jaw was wired shut for a while and he only ate liquified foods. Anxiety started to creep in, he began mixing his medication with alcohol, and his family life suffered. “I didn’t want to be around anyone,” Francisco said. About the time he started to lose hope, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) gatherings brought peace and purpose back to him. “Wounded Warrior Project saved my life,” he said. “I was headed down a bad direction.”

Francisco Chavez Center

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

When a friend told him about WWP, his first reaction was, “I’m not a Purple Heart guy.” Then he learned WWP had resources to help him manage his journey to recovery, regardless of the type of injury. He recently hiked and gave back to his community at Sequoia National Park with WWP and The Mission Continues. “I met new warriors again; I always meet great people through Wounded Warrior Project,” Francisco said. “You can let your guard down because you know you’re surrounded by people you can trust.” He worked alongside other veterans to clear invasive plants and open paths. After the work was done, they walked through magnificent Sequoia forest and took pictures of a mama bear and her cub. They then set up camp and enjoyed a peaceful night. “It felt good to help the park and help nature in a small way,” Francisco said. “Being in the tent felt peaceful and quiet – I had never camped like that before and would love to do it again.” 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://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Carry Forward® 5K San Diego The sun shone on supporters of wounded veterans and their families in San Diego’s NTC Park during the Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Carry Forward® 5K, delivered by CSX® on Saturday, August 24.

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. San Diego Veterans Magazine works with nonprofit veteran organizations that help more than 1 million veterans in life-changing ways each year.

Resources. Support. Inspiration.

More than 1,500 people showed up to support wounded veterans and their families – a testament to the character of the San Diego community and its powerful connection to our military. Carry Forward will carry on in Nashville (Sept. 21); San Antonio (Oct. 5); Jacksonville, Florida (Nov. 9); and at virtual events through the end of the year.

At SD Vets 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:

www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

FIGHTING PTSD

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

THIS IS OUR CALL OF DUTY.

For nearly 70 years, Father Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Villages has been taking care of the immediate needs of homeless Veterans, while also helping end their homelessness for good. Call 1-619-HOMELESS or visit NEIGHBOR.ORG to learn more.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

“Roy’s Run”

-- 100 Miles in 24 Hours -- Benefits Shelter to Soldier By Eva Stimson Ultra-distance runner and Los Angeles resident, Roy Wiegand, reached out to Shelter to Soldier as a participant of his annual 100-mile run in 24 hours to promote mental health support services for veterans and animal rescue. Roy began his run at the Los Angeles Rams Training Camp at the University of California Irvine’s Crawford Field beginning at 1:00 pm on Friday, August 2nd for their Everyday Heroes practice honoring military members, first responders and their families. Roy completed his run at the finish line located at Shelter to Soldier’s training facility at partner Pacific Pet Resort, 2909 San Luis Rey Rd, Oceanside, CA, on Saturday, August 3rd, where guests of a ticketed fundraising event “Saving Lives, One Step at a Time” welcomed Roy. Guests enjoyed live music by Joe Cardillo, small bites by Bad to the Bone BBQ, a beer garden sponsored by Breakwater Brewing Company, family-friendly activities and meet and greet experiences with Shelter to Soldier training teams and service dogs. Proceeds raised by Roy’s Run fundraiser, supporters along his route and the finish line event totaled $8,402 to benefit Shelter to Soldier’s service dog training program.

and we felt this was a wonderful way to highlight the geographic reach and impact of our program as well as the population of veterans and homeless dogs in need of our support in the Southern California region.” The Los Angeles Rams have joined the Shelter to Soldier organization as a $15,000 Red Star Sponsor by underwriting the cost of training a service dog that they have affectionately named “Cooper Pupp”, after Los Angeles Rams Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp. Cooper is a welcomed addition to the Shelter to Soldier service dog trainee team, where he will be trained and paired with his new veteran handler after a 9 to 12-month intensive training period. Shelter to Soldier relies on Red Star Sponsorships to achieve their mission of “Saving Lives, Two at a Time.” ™

Along Roy’s route, he journeyed through neighboring communities in Irvine, before heading South to Laguna Beach, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, and Camp Pendelton, where supporters and partners of the nonprofit organization assembled at Marriott Irvine Spectrum and Raising Cane’s (off El Toro Blvd.) among other locations to support the cause. Shelter dogs that are adopted and trained by Shelter to Soldier to become service dogs are paired with veterans who suffer from post- 9/11 combat wounds and forever transform each of their respective lives for the better. “We were honored when Roy reached out to us for this event. It’s a fundraising model we have not previously participated in, and we’re excited to shine the light on some of our supporting partners throughout Southern California along Roy’s run route”, said Kyrié Bloem, Director of Operations and Co Founder of Shelter to Soldier. “Shelter to Soldier adopts dogs and serves veterans in San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties, and we felt this was a wonderful way to highlight the geographic reach “Shelter to Soldier adopts dogs and serves veterans in San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties,

Cooper Kupp & “Cooper Pupp” (Photo Los Angles Rams)

“I’m excited to complete this personal challenge that was much bigger than just a run,” said Roy Wiegand. “Shelter to Soldier accomplishes heroic work and I hope that this 24-hour event helped raise awareness and support for our military heroes in addition to muchneeded funds.” To contribute to Shelter to Soldier’s mission, visit www.sheltertosoldier.org/events to make a tax-deductible donation.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

A Different Lens

S S E R ST

Mental Health Monthly By MJM

EN M E G A N MA

EING B L L E W R O F

OK, today I’m feeling overwhelmed by stress, and I know I’m not alone; it’s practically a fact of life that everyone has to deal with stress.

Someone asked me if it was good stress or bad stress. That made me think, how can stress be good? So let’s look at this through a different lens, and maybe I can find some good stress. Stress... it’s a word we’ve been taught to steer clear of since birth, but through the course of life and human experience, we find out that it’s totally unavoidable. But here’s the interesting thing... stress is actually necessary, so I’ve put together some tips on how you can decipher the good from the bad and manage the inevitable. Contrary to popular belief, we all need some stress in our lives to move and function, which is why stress management is more important then stress elimination. In fact, finding the right balance between too much and too little stress is an essential part of your overall wellbeing. GOOD stress vs. BAD stress and balancing the right amount So, how much stress should you allow in your life before it becomes too much and what can you do to manage it all? Well, you must first understand that determining the right amount of stress can be tricky because it varies from person to person and is rooted in perception. For instance, riding on a roller coaster might be delightfully fun for one person, but terrifying for another; or having many demands on you at one time may make you feel energized, but may overwhelm someone else.

There are signs you can look for to help determine a stress level that’s right for you and you can start by learning the difference between the good and the bad: Good Stress: Makes you feel motivated, inspired and focused on doing your best. Gives you energy, ambition and enthusiasm. Strengthens your immune system. Bad Stress: Harms your health and well-being, causing symptoms such as headaches, stomach discomfort or insomnia. Makes you feel frazzled, frustrated, upset, out of control or overwhelmed. Makes even simple tasks become difficult or impossible to accomplish. At the end of the day, stress, in the form of good and bad challenges, helps us to flourish and grow. Do your best to take life one day at a time and you’ll find yourself living healthier and happier in no time. Managing stress is all about taking charge of what you can control and learning to become flexible regarding the things you have no ability to influence or change. To manage stress when the demands stack up, be sure to identify the triggers that cause you stress and resolve to make realistic, healthy changes. To be successful in this, it’s important that you: Get the right amount of sleep. Schedule time for relaxation each day. Eat a balanced, nutritious diet and exercise regularly. Cultivate supportive relationships. Have fun and try to laugh more. Laughter is a great stress reducer and has the added benefit of increasing social support.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

“The men and women who serve our Nation deserve our support — Today, Tomorrow, Always —” www.vanc.me

Back to School As Summer comes to an end, we shift towards that last part of the year. Kids and teachers go back to school. Football season begins for the NFL and for Colleges across the County. Our opportunity to make a difference, to move the chains, and to complete our goals before this year ends, is before us. Those of us at VANC have a great deal we want to accomplish in the next few months and we are starting off with a bang. A special thank you to Legacy Brewing Company for their awesome tap takeover. We had a house full enjoying great local brews including the unveiling of our house beer: VANC’s own Blue, White and Red Ale, brewed for us by our friends at Legacy. We will be sure to have more, so hit us up at www.vanc.me The American Legion will be launching us into our back to school season with a LUAU on September 7th. We will have a great deal of food and fun with a few surprises you will have to attend to know about. So find your favorite Hawaiian Shirt and help us raise money for the American Legion 760. The Legion will be celebrating it’s 6th month in existence and has a great deal planned to support the community. Our next class of Military Transition Services (MTS) will be graduating as their families return to school in September. We had our biggest class ever receiving professional transition assistance classes with us. They enjoyed a delicious dinner, quality classes and opportunities to meet and network with veterans and community members helping them find their next career choice. That support continues as we start our next Cyber Security classes, Culinary classes and more. Check in at the web site to see when you can attend these classes.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

We will be hosting our next CA Hunter Safety classes with dates in September and October. You can sign up at the CA Hunter Education web site or find the link at www.vanc.me. Team Rubicon will be starting up their classes in September as well. You can find those classes on Roll Call on TR’s site as well as on ours. In fact, you can see a calendar full of meetings, yoga classes, training programs and social events on our web site. Never heard of VANC? A click can take care of that. This time of year gets busy. As kids return to school and we all return from the Summer. Keep this in mind: The Veterans Association of North County is a one stop shop for veterans, active duty and their families. We provide opportunities to come together during military celebrations and holidays. We connect the North County Community and the military community under our roof. We would love to see you here.

Always a lot going on at VANC. You can see for yourself the upcoming events at VANC on www.vanc.me. In the mean time, thank you to all those who support our organization with your attendance, your financial support and your participation. We will continue to offer free programs and services that our relevant in our community while supporting our active duty military, our veterans and their families. If you are a member of the veteran service community, join us on the first Monday of each month at noon for an opportunity to network with others serving our veterans. And when you walk in the door, sign in to our guest book.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

WHAT’S NEXT Transition to Civilian Life By Eve Nasby

Transition like a STAR AV-8 Harrier pilot, and 7 year veteran of coordinating the Mira Mar Air Show for the Marines, Phil Kendro had the world at his fingertips. He admits “I thought I could succeed in anything, and it got a bit to my head.” Five years before getting out, his boss at Miramar pushed him to first join LinkedIn, then to start networking as Operations at the Air Station also had a large involvement in community relations. There wasn’t a person in San Diego that didn’t know Phil Kendro. He was a connector! As the time grew closer and closer the names in his contact list grew to the hundreds but the offers for employment after the Marines were at one and for a job that wasn’t on his dream list. “It was a true rollercoaster ride with the highest peaks and lowest troughs.” I can say that YES, I did generally stay positive as I was surrounded by an amazing network of friends and supporters, but there were many dark days in my household, mostly within myself. After 20+ years of so many mission successes, how could I fail my family in such a fashion?” Now on the other side, with a dream job at United Airlines, we caught up with Phil to ask his advice.

“Phil, what are two pieces of advice you’d give your fellow transitioning brothers and sisters?” “First, NEVER pay for advice, counsel, or job training. There are groups that will ask for thousands of dollars to help place you and network. I tried it. It was a miserable failure, but I was desperate at the time as I was leaving the military and still didn’t have a job.” “Second, learn to interview like a boss!” We couldn’t agree more. When you finally get the interview, you have one chance to nail it. In last month’s column we touched on the how the S.T.A.R method is effective in keeping you focused in an interview. Trained for combat but not trained for an interview, those veterans who are not well practiced in interviewing, fail. Don’t be the interviewee from ‘Talkers Anonymous’ AKA ‘Al-on and on and on and on’. Youwill not get a job. Just as making a great shot depends on sight picture and trigger control, a great interview depends upon staying focused and purposeful in your execution of your answer. Let’s put Phil’s interviewing skills to the test by using S.T.A.R. (Situation - Task - Action - Results) Phil, “Tell me about a time when you were faced with a challenge and how you overcame it.” Using “Situation”. “I was an Iraq Invasion Company Commander and a Harrier pilot at time when the Harrier aircraft had severe maintenance issues.” This is good. In one sentence, Phil is setting the stage for his answer before he moves into what he was assigned to do.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

Tell a succinct story of how you created RESULTS and offers will be knocking at your door.

Using “Task”. Phil continues, mentally moving to the “T” part of his answer. “While stationed in Iraq I was given the position of Company Commander for the 2003 Invasion to takeover and rebuild air bases, provide refueling for aviation assets anywhere. I had zero previous experience.” Using “Action”. Phil moves on in the next sentence of his answer to the “A”, or Action that he took in response to the Task. “In a very short period of time we rebuilt 3 different airfields, including one the size of Miramar Air Station. We also provided security, food, living quarters, and an airfield to thousands of pilots and aircrew. Our team included military police, engineers, fueling experts, logisticians, motor transport personnel, administrative staff, fire/rescue, expeditionary airfield personnel and an explosive ordnance disposal team.” And now for the moment that the interviewer has been waiting for. The “R”. Results. Phil goes on to finish his well framed answer with the results his actions had on the organization. “With no previous knowledge of the job I was to perform, I rebuilt multiple airfields in a high-risk environment with no casualties, and returned everyone home safely. Our team achieved accolades from all who worked with us. From the lessons that were learned I helped develop the standard operating procedures for future missions. I went from having no knowledge of the unit to which I was assigned to a subject matter expert in rebuilding, maintaining, and multiple airfields throughout southern and central Iraq.” Great job Phil! Hear me on this. Employers are results driven. Past performance predicts future behavior. The results you created while you were in the military matter to your potential employer as they are expecting you to do the same for them. How did you increase productivity? How did your leadership result in achieving an outstanding safety record? How did you save time and money for your division?

Got questions? Need help? Don’t jump with out connecting with experts who will help you.

Getting to your STAR moment. There are dozens of steps that you must take before you land your first interview. The second Phil of our column today is none other than Phil Dana who offers a glimpse into those first critical steps, Phil Dana is no stranger to this community. A graduate of the Naval Academy, Phil’s corporate resume is remarkable. He was a Talent Acquisition leader at Amazon, where he and his team were responsible for responsible for thousands hires annually and set up the Veteran Hiring program there, which set the standard for Corporate Veteran Hiring programs across the nation. His broad experience in biotech, technology, non profit and education make him a well-rounded powerhouse who doesn’t follow other best practices, but creates his own for others to follow. When I asked him what he believes the biggest struggle for transitioning veterans is today he said, “I think first and foremost, transitioning vets need to spend more time understanding who they really are and what their “Why” is.” Phil suggests taking a Gallup Strengths and or a Predictive Index behavioral survey and reading Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why” as homework before worrying about a LinkedIn profile or resume. He notes that, “The next steps are to have 50 cups of coffee with influencers and leaders and start all of this at least 12-18 months before transitioning. He cautions that, “Many vets wait far too long and end up with a J-O-B, rather than a fist pumping awesome career because they rushed and got too distracted with translating their resume.” Take aways? Know who you are. Surround yourself with an intelligent network that will help you transition well. Use the STAR outline to answer interview questions. Don’t give up.

Eve Nasby is a hiring expert with almost three decades invested in these topics. Join her on LinkedIn today. www.linkedin.com/in/eve-nasby-given-0050452

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR By Vicki Garcia

Don’t Try This Alone Starting up a new business is thrilling. It can also be very lonely and isolating. If you’re a social animal that needs lots of contact and feedback, you might find entrepreneurship challenging. There’s no buddy to tell you you’re doing the right thing. You can’t bounce it around with office mates, or bitch about the boss. YOU are the boss. Research on entrepreneurship acknowledges loneliness adds to stress and self-doubt. It is, however, mostly ignored and rarely discussed in business circles. People are reluctant to admit to it. We’re all supposed to be “on” 100% of the time, right? According to a story in Harvard Business Review… Some of the first-time solo entrepreneurs studied have reported feeling this more acutely than others. In the Self-Employment Review conducted by Julie Deane, the founder of Cambridge Satchel Company in the UK, isolation was cited as one of the biggest challenges faced by business owners and sole traders, with almost 30 percent of respondents saying that it was either “a big problem” or “something of a problem”. I’m old school when it comes to human beings. Everything can’t be solved from behind a computer or iPad. In fact, technology is contributing to loneliness. Google “Is Technology Making Us Lonely?” and scores of both scholars and “experts” will prove it to you.

for learning new tricks of the trade—they’re also replete with other cabin-fevered entrepreneurs looking to connect. Meetup requires real, face-to-face get-togethers. If you want to be a leader, start a Meetup of your own and showcase your expertise at the same time as making new friends. 4. Get a Dog (or Cat if you’d Rather). They say, “if you want a friend in Washington DC, get a dog.” So, follow that advice. Lots of businesses have an office dog or kitty. They lower your stress and point out that there are other things in life than chasing a goal. How about chasing a ball? My little 8lb furball will tell me when it’s enough. “Get up and play with me”. Walk me!” You can’t argue with them and they are conversation starters. 5. Find a mentor. “Operation Vetrepreneur” is the ticket. A City of San Diego grant has paid for this innovative program to launch and support veteran (Military & Spouse) startups and growing businesses. Working with highly experienced entrepreneurs, and using a brainstorming high-touch model, you get mentoring and info while in the company of other like-minded veterans. Only 1 morning a week over 4 weeks. Recruiting right now for Early Fall. Starts Sept 3, so sign up right now at www.veteransinbiz.com or www.meetup.com/Operation-Vetrepreneur-San-Diego/

The Prescription to Beat Loneliness 1. Get Out There. For a lot of new small businesses, renting office space can be too costly. But there are happymedium alternatives to the tiny workspace wedged into the corner of your kitchen: answer emails from a café, rent pay-as-you-go desks at coworking spaces, or consider pooling together with other entrepreneurs to share a studio. 2. Connect with Other Entrepreneurs and Hone Your Craft by Enrolling in Workshops and Courses. Find a community. The same people often show up at these opportunities, and soon, you’ll have a friend or two. 3. Join Meetup. Whether you’re treating yourself to a trip to attend an out of town small business conference, or popping into a local meetup, events are great for not only 40

Vicki Garcia is the Co-Founder of Operation Vetrepreneur & President of Marketing Impressions, a 30+ -yearold marketing consulting firm.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

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When is a Resume NOT a Resume? By, Janis Whitaker, VetCTAP Executive Director

Resumes are very valuable and an important part of the job search process. Yet, there are really no standardized formats for job seekers to follow. This can be very frustrating for the military members and veterans who want to be certain they are able to compete equally in today’s competitive job market. Here are some general guidelines to think about when “painting” your ideal resume masterpiece. A resume is not a resume if… …you copy and paste lines directly from someone else’s resume or a job description. It is okay to use another resume to glean ideas, but create your resume from your own experiences. Job descriptions are essential roadmaps for you to use as a reference so you can customize your work of art for the job you are seeking. Absolutely DO incorporate “key words and skills” that are listed in the company’s job description, if you possess those qualities. But don’t duplicate entire phrases or lines. A resume is not a resume if… …you list your age, family members, hobbies, favorite sports teams, or musical group. A resume represents your work history, education, certifications, and accomplishments as it relates to the position you are seeking. It allows the potential employer to see that you have the basic qualifications that are needed for the job. If you do, they will be ready to invite you to the next step-the interview! A resume is not a resume if… …you have listed more than ten years of your work history. Yes, you have worked hard for your promotions and ranks however, this is not a treatise on your entire life. Your resume should highlight the most recent relevant experience and focus how that experience demonstrates your qualifications for a specific position.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

A resume is not a resume if… …it includes references. Personal and professional references are important to have. Keep that information on another page and have it ready when a potential employer asks for it. A resume represents your authentic and professional brand. It highlights your skills, education, accomplishments, certifications, and experience as it relates the job you are seeking. It takes a lot of hard work to gather, recall, interpret, and design (paint) this purposeful masterpiece. But, it is worth it. Spend the time to develop this work of art and it will be something to be admired by all that read it. And, it will confirm you are the perfect candidate for the job!

Learn about resumes, interviewing, networking and more for veterans, military, and spouses. Attend our VetCTAP workshop series. www.vetctap.org

Quick Tips

Starting a Business as a Veteran?

SEO Tips

Research the following SEO Ranking factors. To optimize your whole site for search engines, you’ll need to follow these basic tips: 1. Make the website about one thing. 2. Target smart keywords and use keywords in your images. 3. Mention keywords where they matter most. 4. Link to internal pages on your site. 5. Use a permalink structure that includes keywords.

The transition from military service to civilian life can be a difficult one, especially when it comes to your career.

6. Remove anything that slows down your website. 7. Use keywords in your images.

That’s why a growing number of veterans choose to forge their own path and become entrepreneurs after leaving the Armed Forces.

8. Link to other websites with relevant content build quality links.

While starting a business comes with numerous challenges, former service members do have one distinct advantage: the veteran community.

9. Update your website frequently.

“The strength and power of veteran entrepreneurs comes from other veteran entrepreneurs”

10. Make sure your website is indexed in search engines.

Unlike most highly competitive entrepreneurial environments, veteran entrepreneurs share information much more easily. If you or someone you know is a veteran looking to start a business, please feel free to contact Vicki Garcia. Vicki is the Co-Founder of Operation Vetrepreneur & President of Marketing Impressions, a 33+ -yearold marketing consulting firm. If you want support for starting up a business, email her at vicki@ veteransinbiz.com. For advice, tips and programs you can read Vicki’s monthly column at SD Vets Magazine or visit www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com and click on the banner:

ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

legal Eagle Straight-forward legal tips for Military and Veteran Business Owners By Kelly Bagla, Esq.

LLC OR S-CORPORATION? - WHICH ONE’S RIGHT FOR YOU? As a business attorney, the number one question I am asked is: “Should I be an LLC or an S-Corporation?” The business structure, in terms of the legal entity you choose for your business, significantly impacts some important issues in your business life. These issues include the exposure of liability and at what rate and manner you and your business are taxed. Your choice of corporate structure can also substantially affect issues such as financing and growing the business, the number of shareholders the business has, and the general manner in which the business is operated. You should be aware of some of the differences in business formation, especially when choosing between an LLC and S Corporation for your business. OWNERSHIP OF AN LLC An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is allowed to have an unlimited number of owners, commonly referred to as “members.” These owners may be U.S. citizens, non-U.S. citizens, and non-U.S. residents. LLCs may be owned by any other type of corporate entity and they substantially face less regulation regarding the formation. LLC business operations are much simpler and the requirements are minimal. While LLCs are urged to follow the same guidelines as the S Corporation, they are not legally required to do so, such as adopting bylaws and conducting annual meetings. LLCs are not required to keep and maintain records of company meetings and decisions in the way that S Corporations are required. The owners of an LLC are free to choose whether owners or a designated manager will run the business. If the owners decide to run the business then the business operates more closely as a partnership, which can pierce the limited liability protection of the owners and hold the owners personally label to creditors. One area where LLCs typically face more stringent regulation than S Corporations is that of transfer of ownership. Transfer of LLC ownership interest is usually only allowed with the approval of the other owners. In contract, stock in S Corporations is freely transferable.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

OWNERSHIP OF AN S CORPORATION The IRS is more restrictive regarding ownership for S Corporations. These businesses are not allowed to have more than 100 shareholders. S Corporations cannot be owned by individuals who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Further, the S Corporation cannot be owned by any other corporate entity. This limitation includes ownership by other S Corporations, C Corporations, LLCs, business partnerships or sole proprietorships. There are significant legal differences in terms of formal operational requirements, with S Corporations being much more rigidly structured. The numerous internal formalities required for S Corporations include strict regulations on adopting corporate bylaws, conducting initial and annual shareholder meetings, keeping and retaining company meeting minutes, and following extensive regulations related to issuing stock. Regarding management of the business, S Corporations are required to have a board of directors and corporate officers. The board of directors oversees management and is in charge of major corporate decisions, while the corporate officers mange the company’s business operations on a day to day basis. Unless, a director of an officer of the company violate their ethical rules, they are usually never held personally liable for the company debts. A major difference between the LLC and the S Corporation is that an S Corporation’s existence, once established, is usually perpetual, while this is not typically the case with an LLC, where events such as the departure of a member may result in the dissolution of the LLC.

DECIDING ON A BUSINESS ENTITY A business owner who wants to have the maximum amount of personal asset protection and plans on seeking substantial investment from outsiders, or envisions becoming a publicly traded company will likely be best served by forming an S Corporation. An LLC is more appropriate for business owners whose primary concern is business management flexibility. This owner wants to avoid all but a minimum of corporate paperwork, does not project a need for outside investment and does not plan on taking the business public. Further, this business owner’s business will usually end if the owner decides to retire, has an accident or becomes disabled. LLCs are easier and less expensive to set up and simpler to maintain and remain compliant with the applicable business laws since there are less stringent operational regulations and reporting requirements. Nonetheless, the S Corporation format is preferable if the business is seeking substantial outside financing or if it will eventually issue stock. Further, if the business owner wants to leave a legacy behind or wants to expand nationwide or even internationally an S Corporate structure would allow for this growth. When deciding which entity is right for you, a consultation with a business attorney is highly recommended as there are a lot more deciding factors that come into play. You have already put in the hard work to get your business up and running, don’t let a simple and most often costly legal mistake cause you to lose it all.

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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.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

MILITARY MONEY MINUTE A Monthly Financial

By Lara Ryan, Daniel Chavarria & Michael Biemiller

EMERGENCY FUNDS Did you know that 56% of people in the US don’t have an emergency fund that could cover 3 months of expenses? I often wonder if the reason most people don’t have one is because they don’t actually know what an emergency fund is or how it works. WHAT IS IT? If you’re wondering what an emergency fund is, it is accumulated or “liquid” (easily accessible) savings to cover unexpected costs in your life. What we know about emergency funds is that it is not a question of if something is going to cost you money, it’s when and how much. While there isn’t a cookie-cutter formula for an emergency fund because everyone’s financial situation is different, the general rule of thumb is to save between 3-6 months of your monthly “run rate” or what you spend monthly on necessary living expenses. When we say necessary living expenses, we mean paying your mortgage or rent to have a roof over your head or making your car payment to get to work on time. Another rule of thumb relates to how much to set aside in your emergency savings: it can be closer to three months of necessary living expense if you have two sources of income, and should be closer to six months if you only have one. WHY DO YOU NEED IT? So, we all agree that “life is going to happen,” and because of that universal truth, it makes sense to have some money readily available to cover costs for obligations you must meet, for which you don’t want to have to sell or leverage anything, and that you don’t want to put on a credit card. A credit card is not an emergency fund. That fact may even be more the case for servicemembers and their families because they are more likely to have “emergency” expenses arise from the many transitions that come with military life: extra costs for PCS’ing and deployments can add up quickly. Emergency funds are the backstop to what isn’t covered in your monthly budget. The best time to start saving for a rainy day is when it’s not raining. Having money set aside for life’s curveballs can keep you out of financial trouble. 48

HOW DO YOU DO IT? If being able to set aside 3-6 months of “run rate” seems nearly impossible, the good news is that you don’t have to do it all at once – even a little money in savings can go a long way. Just remember that “slow and steady wins the race.” Starting small is the key to successfully building a solid rainy day fund. If you’re too focused on finding a big chunk of money with which to start saving, you may feel overwhelmed. So, start by putting aside a little each week. The act of doing so will become a habit – a good habit. Want to make saving toward your emergency fund even easier? Go automatic. Have the money taken out of your checking account automatically each week and deposited into some kind of savings account. You won’t have to think about it, and you may not even notice the money is gone. WHERE DO YOU PUT IT? The point of an emergency fund is to have a reserve of cash that’s easily accessible when you really need it. That’s why a savings account is a good place to start. These days, there are a number of great online banks that offer high yield savings accounts. Open one! The reason to have an emergency fund is simple: You don’t know what’s going to happen. Wouldn’t it feel great to have a buffer between you and the curveballs life throws at you—a cushion that helps you sleep soundly because it turns a major life crisis into just a slight

Lara, Dan & Michael work with a team and run a comprehensive financial planning practice that specializes in working with active duty, retired, veteran and militaryconnected individuals, families, and businesses. They are not fee-based planners and don’t charge for their time, but believe every servicemember needs and deserves a financial plan. Lara.ryan@nm.com (307) 690-9266 Daniel.Chavarria@nm.com (702) 497-3264 Michael.biemiller@nm.com (858) 663-4296

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

CYBERSECURITY Credit Monitoring, Identity Theft Protection, and Data Breach Management

By Scott Hermann, CEO and identity theft protection expert www.identityiq.com/SDVets

With data breaches on the rise, know how to protect yourself Capital One, Sprint, LabCorp, and Quest Diagnostics are just some of the companies that have experienced a data breach in the last few months. With data breaches making headlines almost daily – coupled with the largest ever data breach at Equifax in 2017 that exposed 147 million people – you should probably just assume your personal information is at risk. The question now is: What can you do to protect yourself? 1. Educate One of the most important steps you can take is to become more educated about the tactics identity thieves use. To start with – and especially with the increase in data breaches – make sure your information is secure from hackers online. This includes protecting your home network and never logging into accounts on an unsecure public Wi-Fi network. You should also be aware of the security used on the websites you visit. Make sure that any site you enter your personal information into displays proof of encryption with the https identifier in the web address. Updating passwords consistently is important as well. Make sure to use strong passwords that aren’t easily cracked and different passwords for different accounts.

Hacking isn’t the only way cybercriminals try to gain your personal information. Another method identity thieves use is phishing scams, such as phone calls, texts, or emails, to gather your personal information. In a phishing scam, cybercriminals will ask for personal information such as your account number or Social Security Number (SSN) that they say is needed to verify a purchase or to warn you about a security-related threat. Never give your SSN or other personal information out over the phone or via email. You also don’t want to fall victim to a “shoulder surfer” when using your computer or other devices in a public place. Be aware of your surroundings so you can avoid a criminal trying to watch over your shoulder so he or she can steal the information you’re typing into your device. Shoulder surfing also can be done at an ATM or other locations when you use a card with a PIN. Swiping your credit or debit card at a card reader requires you to be on the lookout as well. Card skimmers can be installed onto an ATM, card reader at the gas pump, and other locations. The skimmer can read your card information and record your PIN, giving thieves complete access to your account.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

2. Take Precautions There are other important precautions you can take to secure your personal information. Keep all your important documents and cards, such as your SSN card, military discharge papers (DD Form 214), and copies of your credit and debit cards, in a lockbox or safe at home. Only bring the essentials, such as your credit or debit card, out in your wallet or purse in case it gets lost or stolen. If you have documents with personal information you no longer need, shred them instead of throwing them in the trash or recycling bin.

San Diego Community News

Those annoying credit card offers you receive every week also should be shredded instead of just thrown away. Those mailings along with bills, credit card statements, and other mail you receive are an easy target for an identity thief. Retrieve your mail from the mailbox daily and use a locking mailbox is possible.

www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

3. Credit and Identity Theft Monitoring Credit and identity theft monitoring are essential to keep an eye on your personal information. If you have credit and identity theft monitoring, you should start by actively reviewing your credit report and score so you can be aware of any existing suspicious activity. Credit and identity theft monitoring will typically alert you of suspicious activity, such as new credit accounts and loans, changes in your personal information, and reports of delinquent accounts. This allows you to act quickly if there is fraud. For identity theft protection, services can include dark web monitoring to see if your personal information is for sale along with monitoring of national and international criminal databases for anyone using your personal information and alerts when your SSN is used. No one wants to fall victim to identity theft. An identity thief can open new credit cards in your name; clone your ATM card; make fraudulent purchases; open new phone and utility accounts in your name; log into your accounts; change your billing address; receive a new driver’s license in your name; and even use your identity when questioned or arrested by police. Identity theft can negatively impact your life for years. Unfortunately, the growing number of data breaches and new hacking techniques used by cybercriminals means your chances of becoming an identity theft victim are probably increasing as well. Make sure to stay educated, take precautions, monitor, and protect your personal information to reduce your risks. In great appreciation for your service, feel free to reach out to us for more information at www.identityiq.com/SDVets

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Veterans Chamber of Commerce By Joseph Molina www.vccsd.org

2. Some of us grew up with the mindset that opposites attract, and this turns out to be true when it comes to magnetic forces (Magnets) but in the internal world, it is just the opposite, this means that focusing on positive thinking tends to create positive results. Positive thoughts energize us while negative thoughts create emotions of doubt and/or fear. Benefits of Positive Thinking: • Positive thinking tends to influence better health, better mood. • Increased levels of satisfaction. • Increased levels of Motivation (We enjoy what we do and who we are). • Decreased levels of Stress, Fear, Doubt and other negative emotions.

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING Positive Thinking is a powerful tool that could help with stress and feelings of anxiety. It helps create better self-control and a Stronger Mindset. Keep in mind that thinking positively is Intentional! The question: How to control random thoughts and emotions? Positive thinking can be defined as “an attitude of the mind that helps us achieve encouraging results”. It is also said to be a process whereby thoughts are been created to transform and develop positive and satisfactory results and behavior. Some Concepts to think about: 1. A mind that thinks in a positive way tends to experience higher levels of satisfaction. We could say that results are a consequence of a positive thinking while holding a positive mood. This means that the way we think and feel has a direct effect on the results and these are perceived. 52

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Benefits of positive thinking seems to be obvious. HOW can we implement a life-style that will reflect a positive thinking in our everyday lives? 5 Ways to train our mind to creating Positive Thoughts 1. Expose those thoughts! Random thoughts that stay inside our minds get stronger by the minute, they run around in our head, these thoughts, if they stay inside our mind, will most likely “trigger” negative emotions. Suggestion 1: (The 3 times concept) 1. Write your random thought down, throw the paper away. 2. Write your thought one more time, throw the paper away. 3. Write it one more time (three times) – You will see that each time the thought becomes less and less important. *Replace random thought with a Positive thought that, “You Create” Suggestion 2: Say your random thought aloud (or to someone), share it just the same way you would share a silly dream, This allows for the thought to lose its effectiveness creating a “Not real sense”, just like a silly dream would be.

Always replace the random thought with a Positive thought that, “You Create” 2. The power of Visualization Visualization helps refresh the mind, builds resilience and helps reduce stress. Visualization gives you control of what you want to think about. Think of visualization as “Building Mind Muscle” Random thoughts come in uninvited, visualization is an intentional action and it is created and control by you. 3. The Power of Gratitude Gratitude is an action that creates positive emotions, creating positive emotions helps us create positive thoughts. Gratitude brings about positive thinking and it is often said that when we express feelings of gratitude, we are making use of the highest degree of positive thinking. 4. Helping others Something bigger than our selves; helping others tend to reduce stress and increase a sense of satisfaction and a sense of self-worth. Keeping our focus on others tends to create positive emotions. 5. Get Disconnected - Taking Time off Planning time-off is critical to creating positive thinking opportunities and creating a positive mindset. Suggestion: Identify a place where you can be on your own, even if it is for a couple of hours, this is a great opportunity for creating personal discipline of internal focus. The more relaxed we are the easier it is to practice creating positive thoughts. The interesting part of all this is: 1. We have the power to choose our thoughts. 2. It is up to us to manage and control the way we respond to random thoughts. 3. Controlling random thoughts, allows us to better control our emotions.

In SUMMARY: Positive thinking is Intentional, and it requires time to overcome years of random thoughts, if they stay inside our mind, they will most likely “trigger” negative emotions. Stay poisitve foir a stronger mind-set.

San Diego Veteran Resources & Organizations

Navigating the resources available to veterans can be confusing, but San Diego Veterans Magazine believes no veteran should have to go it alone. At San Diego Veterans Magazine you can find Veteran organizations and private nonprofits with resources for veterans that can help ease the process of attaining earned benefits, coping with the lasting effects of service-connected injuries and finding programs and services that meet your specific needs.

Visit SD Vets today at www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

San Diego Veterans Magazine A Veterans Magazine for Veterans by Veterans

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Caring for our veterans

Veterans facing the challenges associated with a life-threatening illness can rely on The Elizabeth Hospice for the medical, emotional and spiritual support they need and deserve. Our skilled, compassionate caregivers are trained to address PTSD, depression, anxiety, survivorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guilt, and soul injury. Complementary therapies, including physical therapy, music therapy, aromatherapy and pet visits, are used in combination with medical support to help alleviate pain. We celebrate and thank our patients for their service at bedside pinning ceremonies officiated by a veteran or active duty service member. Since 1978, The Elizabeth Hospice has touched the lives of more than 100,000 people in San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County. To learn more about our hospice care, palliative care and grief support services for veterans, call 800.797.2050 or visit www.elizabethhospice.org.

The Elizabeth Hospice is proud to be a We Honor Veterans Level 5 Partner, the highest level of distinction.

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HONOR OUR VETERANS! Invest in the future of Miramar National Cemetery Hundreds of veterans, active duty military, families, businesses, and the public have invested in the future of Miramar National Cemetery. Thanks to their generous contributions The Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation sponsors: • The Avenue of Flags • Veterans Tribute Tower & Carillon • Annual Veterans Memorial Services • Annual Veterans Day Observances • Coordinates Veterans Memorial Monuments

Honor our past, present, and future military veterans! Send your donation, today, to the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation All contributions are fully tax deductible.

Help the Foundation Support Miramar National Cemetery. Please go to www.miramarcemetery.org and click on “Contribute” for information about how you can donate to the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation.

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