We are at the beginning of a new decade and many opportunities. I start 2010 harvesting my knowledge with an urge to sharing it with you.

Here I am in this photo 35 years ago, a Marine corporal, taking part of a desert field exercise at 29 Palms CA. I was stationed at Marine Air Base 11, Marine Air Group 16, El Toro CA.

I would have never thought I would be doing what I am doing now and I had other plans. I was only 18 years old and at that age, well, I know I am not alone when I admit, the moment was my future if you know what I mean.

As time passsed, I was exposed to many things, my experience and maturity developed and a new meaning of what my future is unfolded.

Fast forward 16 years to 1991 to the Gulf War and here I am in this photo at El Kibrit, now a Marine warrant officer and taking part of a war. My duties changed and my responsilities multiplied. In both tours I accounted for manpower and personnel. The first experience was to track Marines to ensure daily accountability, a paper intensive process and time consuming. The second experience, I was held directly accountable for over 14,000 Marines in a time of war leveraging technology, this was a turning point for me.

I started to realize the value of many things. I recognized that every service member had one thought during a war environment and that thought is the safety of their family and frineds back home. During war, a warrior focuses on the battlefield and prepared to sacrifice the ultimate gift, life, for others to enjoy the land of the free. A compelling thought to consider for the new decade.

This period of time influenced what I wanted to achieve in my lifetime. I learned that all those that serve are skilled with doing anything they set themselves to do. We all have a business acumen and don't even know it! Yes, we were all trained to tracking something, getting the task at hand completed and to use whatever resources we can garner to complete the mission. 

I want to ask you to join me today to make a difference in your community. I need your help to reachout to all those that you know and ask them a simple question "Do you know a Veteran?" Do you know if the Veteran is enjoying what they have earned for serving our Country? How can you confirm that? Simple, ask the Veteran if they have a VA card like the one below. And if they don't, send them our way. We will guide them to get their VA card. This is our starting point to eradicating the notion of a homeless Veteran. And perhaps to guiding them to become a Veteran business owner! Will you help me?