USO’s Post

The Power of Public Service: A Personal Reflection from Naval Boot Camp Graduation On August 22, I had the honor of watching my son-in-law graduate from Naval Boot Camp at Great Lakes Recruit Training Command (RTC). Seeing him and his fellow sailors take their oath to serve our country filled me with immense pride and brought home the true meaning of sacrifice, commitment, and honor. Having spent a good part of my own career in public service, with time in law enforcement and government, I’ve always believed in the power of dedicating oneself to something greater. While my days of serving in the military have long passed, attending this ceremony reminded me that the spirit of service is something that never leaves you. It’s a lifelong commitment that continues to shape who you are and how you contribute to the world. Tomorrow, Sept. 5, is regarded as International Day of Charity, and I ask you to reflect on the many ways you can give back, no matter where you are in life. Whether it’s volunteering, supporting a cause, or simply lending a hand to someone in need, every act of service counts. Afterall, public service is more than just a career—it’s about being there for others, in both big and small ways. Watching my son-in-law recently step, or rather, march, into his new role reinforced the idea that while we may not all wear a uniform, we each have the capacity to serve. So, let’s consider how we can make a difference in our communities and positively impact the lives of those around us. #USNavy #Service #PublicService #LeadershipLessons #ExecutiveInsights #GivingBack #InternationalDayofCharity #Leadership #MilitaryPride #ServiceMatters #MakeADifference #Volunteer #Nonprofit

🚀 **Combating Underemployment for Veterans and Military Spouses** The real challenge for returning service members isn’t just finding a job – it’s finding the right job. At American Corporate Partners (ACP) we're dedicated to helping veterans and active duty spouses secure meaningful employment and build long-term careers. 💡 Did you know? Over 90% of our expenses go directly to our career development program. Leading charity evaluators praise nonprofits that allocate 75% or more of their budget to their programs. You can be sure your donations to ACP are used effectively to make a difference. 🔗 How We Fund Our Mission: - Corporate Partners - Individual Contributions - Foundations By providing one-on-one mentoring, networking, and career advice, we support almost 5,000 participants annually. Every $1,000 raised funds a personalized career development pathway, complete with a handpicked mentor and dedicated case worker, achieving a 98% satisfaction rate among veterans and spouses. ✨ Your support matters! Every gift, no matter the size, makes a tangible impact. To learn more about our organizational transparency, visit our About page. Ready to make a difference? Head to our Donation page and contribute to fighting veteran and spouse underemployment. 🔗 Visit our Donation Page: https://lnkd.in/ex68dXVr American Corporate Partners (ACP) proudly holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum transparency rating from Candid – the highest accolades from the top charity evaluators. Join us in empowering our veterans and military spouses! #Veterans #MilitarySpouses #CareerDevelopment #Mentorship #Nonprofit #DonateNow

During our upcoming panel discussion, SAX’s team of experts will highlight the current state of #philanthropy and the “Giving Crisis,” presenting strategies and initiatives #nonprofit organizations should implement to continue their missions.   Our panelists include: • SAX Nonprofit Partner April Kushner, CPA • SAX Nonprofit Partner Adam Holzberg, CPA • SAX Strategic Business Transformation Director Lauren Frary   Sign up now! #nonprofitbusiness #nonprofitboards #notforprofit #fundraising #givingcrisis

Are you asking yourself, “What does an accounting firm know about fundraising, philanthropy, and giving?” We know nonprofits! We work with so many of you day in and day out. We hear your challenges! Join us on March 14th as we give you some strategies to combat the giving crisis. #nonprofits #fundraising #giving

I'm very excited about our new Veteran 501c3 nonprofit website (https://lnkd.in/eGmPCue9) that launched this past Monday. We couldn't have done this without a full team effort over the course of 4 months. Programs were designed, more leaders were added to our team, we have several interns join to help the cause, and we have a new board of directors. All of our services are free of charge. The academic programs can be signed up for on our website and include: -The Next Step Program, a 6-month curriculum dedicated toward enhancing leadership skills, resume knowledge and creation, determining the appropriate major and minor as well as college, university, or trade school, and more. -The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Refresher, a 1–2-hour presentation from an elite, retired military officer who taught TAP for 7 years upon retirement. After several conversations with members of Congress, we've determined TAP is not being attended as the law dictates (averaging 30% attendance), and so this refresher will certainly be an abbreviated form of the Next Step Program, and for those who didn't have an opportunity to attend TAP, provide everything you need to know about career preparation and more. Health care advocacy, essentially a patient advocate for all Veterans no matter the time in service or discharge type, is becoming ever more important in this evolving health care world. Veterans Affairs has new policies and programs everyday but are often unannounced or not understood. Some Veterans need help with their enrollment, their patient experience, or even knowing how to retrieve service records. We also help those who are homeless get the resources they need. Check out our health care advocacy pages on the website and send an inquiry to us; we'll respond timely. Our new and first-ever Veteran nonprofit collaboration with New Balance Athletics allows us to sell New Balance gear on our website! Take advantage of the shop, shown on our website. We have shorts, hooded sweatshirts, t-shirts, polos, and more all for men, women, and youth! We have a calendar of events, webinars, fact sheets, and more under our resources section. These will be continuously updated and added to over time. Be sure to register for webinars and other events. Lastly, your generosity and support has made all of this possible. Please consider donating any tax-deductible amount to our organization to support our Veterans and the programs we're now delivering. We're filling the gaps for Veterans, for better outcomes. If you want to help, come join us. From WWII to present, we'll be delivering results that our Veterans deserve for so courageously serving our nation. Thanks to John (Punky) Brewster, Shenika Vilton, MD, Naomi Savaro, Gabriella Leverence, M.S., Adeline Hatfield, Alisa Andrews B.S. B.A., Sydney Gochenauer, MD, MPH Candidate, Maria Mongiardo, Heather Shore, our directors, and many more!

Happy Memorial Day: Today we remember and honor those who served in our military and those who were killed or are missing in action. Here are some ways you can honor those who serve or have served in the military: Say thank you A simple, heartfelt, and sincere thank you can show your appreciation for what veterans have faced and given up. You can also thank them for their sacrifices, valor, courage, strength, and dedication. Fly the flag Flying the flag outside your workplace can show appreciation for veterans, especially if they are employees or contractors. Many veterans see the flag as a symbol of their honorable service. Volunteer You can volunteer at an organization or event that supports wounded warriors, or find out about volunteer opportunities at a Veterans Affairs hospital. Volunteering can also be a good way to build rapport with colleagues. Donate Donating to veteran organizations can help them provide shelter, services, and more for veterans in need. Attend a veterans event You can attend a ceremony, parade, or other special event to honor veterans. Visit a war memorial or veterans' cemetery You can say a silent thank you or moment of silence at a war memorial, or visit a veterans' cemetery in your area. Create a care package You can put together a personalized care package for a veteran you know, or mail one to someone in need. Some ideas for what to include are candies, an American flag, socks with rubber grips, and toiletries. Write a veteran's story You can write down the story of a veteran you know, or write it for your school or local paper. 

Despite numerous discussions, the reality is that without the contributions of non-profit organizations, little progress would have been made for Veterans. Nevertheless, for individuals aspiring to work for esteemed non-profit agencies like the WWP, it is crucial to enhance their salary packages. These salaries must reflect the current cost of living to attract a significant workforce. #GotYour6 #CraigNewmark

I know LinkedIn is very corporate-focused, and a great place to learn and grow as an employee or employer. However, there are huge benefits in both of those areas in volunteering. Yes, I mean volunteering, not 'voluntolding' in the workplace!! I do a few things around the place, but one of the ones that brings me the most joy is my work with the Australian Fromelles Association. It's a role that unites two of my great loves, Australian military history (especially World War 1), and genealogy research. For years we've been gradually chipping away at identifying all of the unknown soldiers found (through the work of a Lambis Englezos, who is a retired teacher!) at Pheasant Wood in France, all killed in the Battle of Fromelles and buried in a mass grave. I spend about ten hours on the project every couple of months, using my expertise in South Australian records to deal with any SA-based angles other researchers have thrown up during the previous few weeks. I trawl BDM records, newspaper records, cemetery records and a few niche local sources to help find living relatives of WW1 soldiers that can then be approached to submit a DNA sample. If they are from SA, I'm the lead researcher and it's on me to find everything we have in SA that might lead to a living descendant. Last year, for the first time, a soldier I provided the primary research for was identified, and now he lies in a named grave rather than one dedicated to 'the unknown soldier'. Through my involvement in my school's France Trip, it's very likely that in years to come I will get to visit Oscar Baumann's named grave and know that was a gift I gave to him and to his family; a way to say 'thank you' for his service and sacrifice. If you don't currently have a genuine volunteer or community service role, I encourage you to take one on. Think about what skills you have and who might be able to make use of those. Dollars in the bank are not the only way to be rewarded. https://lnkd.in/ge_zH46b

Marine Corps Acronyms & Abbreviations Here is a starting point for recruit families to learn the thousands of acronyms for the Marine Corps. https://lnkd.in/gAmiXvTn This page is a great reference for those who want to learn military acronyms and abbreviations. The military uses many acronyms that troops must learn. There are some that are specific to a branch, including the Marine Corps. Find acronyms and abbreviations at MarineParents.com. https://lnkd.in/gxzz6YGE

Consider donating to a good cause supporting a local Non-profit which support local veterans in the North Carolina area. Support Marine Corps League Detachment 1001 Supporting Veterans: The Marine Corps League typically consists of Marine Corps veterans and supporters. Donating to such organizations can help provide support, resources, and assistance to veterans and their families. Community Impact: Contributions to local chapters of organizations like the Marine Corps League often directly benefit the community. These groups may be involved in various community service projects, charitable activities, and events that contribute to the well-being of the area. Veteran Assistance Programs: Donations to the Marine Corps League may fund programs and initiatives that assist veterans in areas such as healthcare, education, employment, and housing. Preserving Marine Corps Heritage: Many Marine Corps organizations are dedicated to preserving the history and traditions of the Marine Corps. Donations can support efforts to maintain museums, memorials, and educational programs that honor the Marine Corps legacy. https://lnkd.in/dTp-FVeK