Leading From the Front: Marine Gives Back to Combined Arms
“The Marine Corps opened the door for the American Dream.”
Motivated by the events of 9-11, Juan Pablo Osorio, an immigrant from Colombia, made a life-changing decision. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves right after high school. This decision, as he would later reflect, was the catalyst that opened the door to the American Dream. Deploying overseas twice, Osorio served six years before deciding to explore other career opportunities.
“At first, I wanted to be an artist, but my brother, also a Marine, convinced me to become a businessman.”
So, using his GI Bill, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Houston.
However, upon graduation, finding a job was challenging, so he started volunteering with the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
“I was inspired by all of the stories of immigrants that had overcome challenges and made it- with no excuses,” recalled Osorio.
Motivated by these stories, he enrolled in Graduate school and received a Master of Business Administration.
Armed with both degrees, Osorio was ready for the next step but found it difficult to be away from his military community.
“You can feel isolated and that you’ve lost your tribe. Now you have to find a new community and opportunities,” explained Osorio.
Thankfully, Osorio discovered Combined Arms, which directly connects veterans and military spouses to free resources via its 340 vetted partner organizations that address 19 social service categories of needs. Most importantly it helps veterans find their way back to a supportive community.
“If you find a community like Combined Arms, it can help you reconnect and get on your way to success,” said Osorio. “Combined Arms connected me to those who really wanted to help me. I went from feeling isolated to having connections nationwide.”
Through Combined Arms, he was also linked up with Bunker Labs. A vetted partner organization, Bunker Labs provides community programs, & courses to help Veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs start and grow businesses and startups.
Not only did his experience at Bunker Labs help open doors, but he also found his “tribe.”
With the support of Combined Arms and the direction of Bunker Labs, what started as a dream in his living room has grown into Alpha Co. Marketing, a bilingual website and digital marketing service. Boasting clients like Pepsi and the federal government, Osorio wanted to give back to those who helped him.
In honor of #GivingTuesday, Osorio presented Combined Arms with a check as a gesture of gratitude.
“Veterans that are successful should reinvest in those that are helping other veterans. If you can’t make a financial donation, donate your time. Volunteering not only grows your network, but it feels good,” said Osorio.
Osorio’s journey exemplifies the power of resilience, community, and giving back. From the challenges of transitioning out of the military to achieving entrepreneurial success, his story is a testament to what can be accomplished with the right support and determination. Now, as he reinvests in the veteran community that helped him succeed, Osorio is paying forward the opportunity that Combined Arms provided him—offering a literal and metaphorical hand up for the next generation of veterans.
On this #GivingTuesday, you can make a meaningful difference. Your support can help empower more veterans like Juan Pablo Osorio to thrive in civilian life. Give Now.
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Combined Arms (CA) is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to transforming the way veterans and military families connect with vetted resources needed to thrive. Through innovative technology and data sophistication, the Combined Arms platform unites top-tier veteran service organizations, state and federal agencies, and communities with data-fueled insights. This optimizes connection to resources and drives network-wide efficiencies and transparency, ultimately improving the quality of life for veterans and military families so they can thrive.
For more information, visit CombinedArms.us.
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