The Salvation Army USA Central Territory’s Post

I was honored to help raise money for the Marine Raider Foundation by running the Semper Five 5K this past weekend. I’ve been criticized by some who say I shouldn’t be sharing posts about my family, military service, and community service on LinkedIn because those topics aren’t business-related. I don’t mind the criticism, but I disagree and I’ll explain why. Business leaders are people, not AI-powered robots. All things being equal when it comes to results and performance, people prefer to do business with other people who share their common values; people they can respect, trust, and even admire. So if family and community service are values that mean something to you too, then let’s get to know one another and find ways to do business together. I promise that working with me and my world class team of recruiters at Blue Signal Search will be more than just the award-winning results and performance we’re known for. It will be an experience you will actually enjoy! #semperfi #marines #veterans #communityservice #executivesearch #legalrecruiting #lifesciences #staffing #bluesignalsearch #Linkedin #military #legalservices United States Marine Corps

🔥 Introducing Blackbearing: A Brotherhood of Veterans & First Responders 🔥 At Blackbearing, we’re not just a community — we’re a global brotherhood. Modeled on the structure of motorcycle clubs (without the illegal activities), our mission is to build a worldwide network where veterans and first responders can count on each other, wherever they are. 🌍 Worldwide Network & Support. Our members are welcome at any chapter across the globe, creating a support structure / family and sense of belonging. Whether attending local meets or participating in large-scale international events, Blackbearing offers a space where you can reconnect with those who share your values and experiences in a productive, safe environment. ⚡ Mental Health & Retreats. We understand the unique challenges our members face, which is why we’ve established mental health support across the UK, including retreats and formal services. Our goal is to ensure every member has access to the help they need when they need it most and not from a faceless corporation. 🏞️ Adventure & Tactical Training. We’re excited to announce that Blackbearing has a dedicated training ground in Croatia, where members can come to hone their skills or learn new ones, veterans can rekindle the excitement and camaraderie of military life with like-minded individuals. It also serves as a perfect space for tactical training for established companies looking to re-sharpen their skill set, instructed by ex Tier 1 operators from the UK and EU. 🙏 A Spiritual Approach. With a focus on camaraderie, personal growth, and positive activities, Blackbearing incorporates a spiritual aspect that helps members reconnect with themselves and others. It’s not just about action—it’s about purpose. For veterans and first responders who are looking for more than just a club, Blackbearing offers a true community, support, adventure training, and the opportunity to grow and thrive. Interested? Let’s connect and build something truly meaningful together. www.blackbearing.co.uk huge thankyou to all our supporters 🙏 email: contact@blackbearing.co.uk Instagram @_blackbearing_ #Veterans #FirstResponders #Brotherhood #MentalHealthSupport #Training #AdventureTraining #TacticalTraining #GlobalCommunity #Blackbearing #military #veteranowned #army #navy #raf #police #UK #club #growth #support #community #family #belonging

Your Volunteers are a Sleeping Army ... How to Recruit, Motivate, and Retain Your Volunteer Army. Check out this week's Blog to get started: https://lnkd.in/eGrQp38T #effectivechurch #ChurchGrowth #ChurchVolunteer #pastors #churches #church

THROUGH PAIN COMES GROWTH As I packed my boxes, I cried. As I loaded my trailer, I cried. As I drove away and out of North Carolina….yup..you guessed it. I cried. This move is different. It’s not to a new base where I’ll put on the uniform and walk into a room full of people I have something in common with. We move often as members of the military and seldom think twice as it just comes with the territory. Forming a life, a circle, a community, an understanding of your environment is not easy. Yet, we do it as often as we see the Olympics, if not more. Closing a chapter of life that I didn’t think would end this soon, or in this fashion, is difficult in and of. itself. When you intertwine human connections in the form of some of the best humans you’ve ever encountered…it just plain hurts. I loved my time in the #Army. It was very different than my time in the #MarineCorps. Not better; not worse-just different. They have individual culture, identities and characteristics to them that make them unique in their own way. As I step away from my military service it’s difficult not to be emotional. There is sentiment in every duty station, every move, every deployment, every unit and many individuals I formed a bond with. My goal in this time as I head west from #NorthCarolina for #Montana is to be deliberate in processing those emotions and understanding how to utilize them to my benefit. Easier said than done. Prioritizing healthy habits is an important part of life, so I’ll be MAKING, not taking, but MAKING the time to walk 🚶🏻. To stretch 🤸🏻. To journal. 📝 Lastly, as always, eat good food. 🌯 I’ve started my trip with a minor inconvenience that I was able to fix on the side of the road in the rain…fun times. I’ll take it over having an actual breakdown any day. Grabbing some shut eye in West Virginia and will continue on. What do you guys do when traveling to help stay healthy or simply to feel sane?? Travelling can really take it out of you!

I’m reaching out to let you know that I know how it feels to be laid off. When I left active duty in the Marine Corps, I had to go on employment because I couldn’t find a job right away. I’ve been there and have experienced the lack of confidence and self doubt that accompanies it. Here’s my advice to you, now, standing on the other side of it. Here are some actionable steps you can take: Make a list of people you admire and respect, determine how they can each help you, and then make a plan to reach out to the people on that list. Being proactive and being clear when you ask for help are the things you can control within a seemingly uncontrollable situation. ❤️ #unemployed #laidoff #marinecorps

Military bonds run deep. The other day, I got a message from a friend that he was in town. I quickly asked what his schedule looked like so we could catch up. We had not seen one another in years. We made plans for the next day. We spent 6 hours talking about old times in service, how our post-service life was going, family, updated each other about other friends, and more. Our wives were with us, it was like we had just spoken last week. A little back story about the first time I met/spoke to Ken. 17 years ago, I was brand new to the unit and was placed in a senior leadership role with next to no guidance. But I was a young hard-charging Marine, and I took it on with a passion. I sent an email to the company’s all-hands list introducing myself. I had not hit send more than a minute before my office phone rang. It was Ken telling me to stay put, he was on his way. He gave me a butt-chewing on proper etiquette. I was like wow; this is going to be a long tour. But we grew to understand one another, worked closely on many projects, and grew to have a great respect for each other for how we conducted ourselves personally and professionally. If anyone had said how good of friends we would become over the years and that we would stay in contact all these years later, I would have called them crazy. But here we are. This is the kind of camaraderie we lose once we take the military uniform off for the last time. We no longer have this on a daily/regular basis, and it hurts. But the time we spent together the other day means more than I can explain with words. I NEEDED that time with someone who was with me on deployment and was a mentor for me as I was growing into a senior military leader. Reach out to your friends. Do your buddy checks. It is healing for both of you and helps with our mental health. #friendship #mentor #veterans #military #camaraderie #mentalhealth #buddychecks #BruceTalk

Your Volunteers are a Sleeping Army ... How to Recruit, Motivate, and Retain Your Volunteer Army. Check out this week's Blog to get started: https://lnkd.in/enawscWt #effectivechurch #ChurchGrowth #ChurchVolunteer #pastors #churches #church

As a woman veteran, aligning with your core values and priorities is essential for rediscovering your sense of purpose after military service. Clarifying what truly matters can pave the way to a fulfilling post-military life that resonates with your personal and professional pursuits. Here are some suggestions to help you get started: Define Your Values and Priorities 💎 Identify what truly matters to you by determining your core values and understanding how they impact your goals. Get Clear about Your Goals 👀 Create a vision board or a list to prioritize different aspects of your life, such as family, education, career, or community involvement. 🤔 Ask yourself: Which area of your life is your top priority now, and why? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below; your journey and insights could inspire others in our community to reflect on their values and priorities. #SimmonsLifeStrategies #VeteranWomen #PostMilitaryLife #WomenVeterans #LifeCoach #FemaleVeteran

As a woman veteran, aligning with your core values and priorities is essential for rediscovering your sense of purpose after military service. Clarifying what truly matters can pave the way to a fulfilling post-military life that resonates with your personal and professional pursuits. Here are some suggestions to help you get started: Define Your Values and Priorities 💎 Identify what truly matters to you by determining your core values and understanding how they impact your goals. Get Clear about Your Goals 👀 Create a vision board or a list to prioritize different aspects of your life, such as family, education, career, or community involvement. 🤔 Ask yourself: Which area of your life is your top priority now, and why? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below; your journey and insights could inspire others in our community to reflect on their values and priorities. #SimmonsLifeStrategies #VeteranWomen #PostMilitaryLife #WomenVeterans #LifeCoach #FemaleVeteran

Derek’s Daily Stoics: The transition from military service to civilian life can feel overwhelming, especially during the job search. So much lies outside our control—timelines, decisions of others, or even the right opportunity showing up. But true freedom, as Epictetus reminds us, comes from focusing on what we can control: our mindset, our preparation, and the effort we put into each application and interview. As I navigate my own journey, I’m learning to embrace this freedom, staying grounded in the present moment and focused on the steps I can take to create a fulfilling civilian career. #MilitaryTransition #VeteranSupport #JobSearchTips #VeteranCareer #MilitaryToCivilian #Stoicism #DailyMotivation #FocusOnWhatMatters #ControlTheControllable #FreedomInMindset #VeteranLife #VeteranSuccess #MindsetMatters #DerekDailyStoics #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #Empowerment