Have you ever been deployed and found yourself absolutely desensitized to everything in the area of operations because of the task at hand? The fact that putting feelings into something or someone that might not be there tomorrow might just be the best way to keep you levelheaded and able to do what you must do, like living chow to chow daily. Then, you see the children, so innocent with their big eyes and smiling faces. Living in such a bad place, yet you make their day with whatever you have to offer them, be it candy, food, a bottle of water or just a simple wave and smile.

The things we forget sometimes is that we are made to feel. That’s been a huge struggle in my life. Coming home from the military and not feeling certain emotions about things. It almost makes you feel like a bad person when you can't connect with the outside world about what is important in life. I found myself in that same situation where I just couldn’t readjust very well.

Right out of school I went to the service and spent my later teenage years to mid-twenties absolutely swallowed by trying to be proficient at my job. Be a good Airman. A good student. Mold myself to be a good leader. By the time I got out, it hit hard that all I have ever wanted to do was serve my country. I was left jobless, with a lot of injuries to deal with. No other skills other than what I learned in the service, except a mechanics certification from a trade school that I could no longer use because of my spinal injury.

I felt chewed up and spit out by the system, with no purpose. But, then I thought about the children and their smiling faces. That feeling of joy I got from that interaction that my job and presence there did not bring me. So, I reached out to a local teacher at a school I mentored at in Ohio and brought an idea to her. The idea was simple, giving children of areas effected by the Global War on Terror the same option to pen pal.

I sponsored two children from Africa and talked with a few friends who I deployed with about some hardships they were going through. I explained how talking with these children and building a relationship overtime could help them as much as the children from the school mentorship program in the US helped me, but on a world-wide level. We all, as military members, veterans, family members, spouses and a community have felt the negative impact in some way or form of the Global War on Terror and this is one small way I myself and a few others have turned a negative feeling into a positive one. Just talking, writing, communicating positive affirmations to these children, donations and out of those other members of my community have built their own connections.

Senior Airman Randy Jones said in our January 28th interview: “To the people getting out who feel like they don’t have a purpose be that guy that finds a way to succeed. Everyone appreciates a comeback story you’ve always got a chance that it’s a matter of when not if it will come. To be that person’s light in the dark, find yourself first and the rest will come, If you don’t feel appreciated right now some day someone will need you to mentor them in what ever way your calling might be.”

Lisa Stanley from the VAMC said in our interview to veterans who are recently transitioning from active duty to “Give the VA a chance to help. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. There are a lot of benefits you are entitled to.” As a VA employee she feels its her service to those who have served. I can attest to Lisa on this when I truly say that the VR&E work rehab program when I came home in 2019 gave me that feeling of comradery I missed.

When I got the chance to work with the laundry department there when I needed some help with keeping a job and medical appointments It’s all in the same place so you don’t have to go far, Its non-taxable money because It’s a rehab program to help you find a job and if you are over a certain percentage you get paid mileage to go there and work. This was one thing I myself have had a lot of benefit from personally and something I would recommend because if you have injuries, sleeping problems, home problems etc. They aren’t there to fire you like a few jobs I had before that, they are there to help you grow from that and transition. It’s the VA form of the DOD TAPS program and in my eyes a needed continuation of TAPS I myself needed at that time.

These are all ways to help that transition period go a little smoother than they went for myself, and if you all in the Funker530 community have any other helpful information for the newly transitioning veteran reading this please feel free to leave them in the comment box. If you are interested in sending a letter to a sponsored child, please email me at [email protected], subject “Letter to Noura” and an email just as you want the letter to be sent. I will transfer it to them, then a third party in Africa will translate it. I will receive an email back via USPS, then transfer that email back to your email on file that you sent it from. Please be understanding right now this takes upwards to two months, but it’s helped myself and others a lot. I will end this with a prayer for all of you who need it.

"Dear heavenly father please look over all of our men and women who are facing their trails and battles after service and please bless it in their hearts the will to live and find joy when encountering trails as said in the words of James 1:2-4 “ consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.”