I have stayed silent long enough... Part 1 Advocacy is not a buzzword for me. Advocacy is the air within my lungs. Advocacy means fighting for what is right no matter the personal retribution you may face. Veteran advocacy is not a job for me. It is showing up and speaking out for my brothers and sisters who simply are looking for ways to continue to serve after the military and not lose their mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical health in the process. Veteran advocacy is using whatever platform I have, to ease the path for those who come after me. I do not and have not taken this purpose lightly even at the potential detriment of my family's way of life. It even cost me my job in 2019... I would rather go back to being homeless and serving my fellow veterans in the Veterans Round Table than to stand by and watch veteran's mental health be affected by the using and abusing of their passion to serve. Since the day I left active duty in 2017, I have advocated and fought for #mentalhealthawareness, #milspousehiring, and veteran hiring Why? Because I was homeless, broken, and broke in 2017. Because I know the trials milspouse's endure every day after hundreds of 1-on-1 calls with milspouse members of the Veterans Round Table community. Because I know all too well the struggles veterans face seeking employment, fulfillment, and purpose post-military. I have and will also provide free career guidance to any and every veteran and milspouse that I find and to date have been blessed to serve my fellow veterans and milspouses numbering over 1,278 to date. To my brothers who endured 2019 along with me, I am sorry that you never received the apology you deserve or that no one had to answer for the damage caused..... It has been exactly 3 years till the day the nightmare began, yet we as veterans never falter or sway....look at each of us and where we are today. They tried to silence us but our integrity and discipline have shown through. With whatever platform I have and with what breath I have left in my lungs, I promise to continue to advocate for us no matter the cost. I have been silent long enough...... Part 1 #mentalhealth #servicenow #veteranhiring #advocacy #mentalhealthawareness