Posted on

How I Found my Path in the Wilderness

July 24, 2015

By Tim Peterson

For 20 years as a Marine, I knew my place.

Starting in the mid 1980s as a 19 year old recruit on the yellow foot prints at MCRD San Diego, I learned my role and my responsibilities pretty quick. Years later as a Gunnery Sergeant and the Detachment Commander of the Marne Security Guards in Havana, Cuba when the demonstrations demanding the return of Elian Gonzalez to Cuba began, I and my nine Marines knew our role. We were there to protect classified material and the Americans working to keep  fragile diplomatic ties going. So in late December 1999, the day two million protestors marched past the compound, we all knew where to be.

Continue reading “How I Found my Path in the Wilderness”

Posted on

Built from the Ground Up

July 20, 2015

By Mark Oravsky

It’s a difficult thing to leave an Army career after 14 years, with a difficult tour to Afghanistan as an endnote.

We lost a lot of great people early on. That much time away from family led to my decision to pack it in and transition out of the military. But nothing could prepare me for the road ahead.

Prior to hitting the streets, I finished an emergency medical technician course and enrolled in my first semester of college. I finished strong in my first semester, but halfway through the second I felt disconnected, unsupported and without real purpose. Like I was lost at sea without a life preserver.

Continue reading “Built from the Ground Up”

Posted on

How “Honor, Courage, Commitment” Became More Than Just Words

July 10, 2015

by Tamara Geyer

Leatherneck FECC
The author, top right, in Afghanistan.

“Honor. Courage. Commitment.” Say those three words and any Marine will tell you exactly what they mean. They may still have their red card emblazoned with these words from boot camp in their wallet.

For me, those words took on a different meaning during my eight years in the Corps.

Continue reading “How “Honor, Courage, Commitment” Became More Than Just Words”

Posted on

A Collaborative Effort to Create Job Opportunities for Vets

July 1, 2015

DSC_0922

The Mission Continues welcomed St. Louis area business, academic and service leaders in the veterans community to our headquarters yesterday for the roll out of the Veterans Economic Communities Initiative (VECI), headed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Announced by VA earlier this month, the goal of VECI is to increase education and employment opportunities for veterans by bringing together local and national employers to coordinate services for veterans, service members and military families.

Building a stronger support network for local veterans starts with collaboration.

“​It is important that businesses, non profits and educational institutions are collaborating and enhancing opportunities for our veterans” says Meredith Knopp, senior vice president of programs and operations at The Mission Continues. “Knowing who all the players are – what unique programs, opportunities and support that each of us provide – and how to compliment one another is critical for us to establish in St Louis, and around the country.”

Continue reading “A Collaborative Effort to Create Job Opportunities for Vets”

Posted on

What Fellowship Orientation Did for Me

June 30, 2015

Alexis Wormley_2

Alexis Wormley served four years in the United States Marine Corps. In the spring of 2014, nearly ten years to the day after leaving the military, Alexis was introduced to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). The experience was the first step in his journey to discover a new passion – youth mentorship. It was while attending a WWP conference that Alexis was introduced to The Mission Continues and learned about the Fellowship Program. A few months later, Alexis found himself in Houston surrounded by veterans from across the country with experiences, passions and desires similar to his.

Continue reading “What Fellowship Orientation Did for Me”