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Air Force Veteran Brian Reese served in Afghanistan and received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He then earned his MBA as a National Honor Scholar from the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University, so he is no slacker. Nor does he wish any other Vet to be, so he started VA Claims Insider, a Coaching and Consulting company whose mission is to educate and empower veterans to get the VA disability benefits they’ve earned for their honorable service. But let’s start at the beginning of his military service. Not from a military family, Brian loved ice hockey and dreamed of the NHL. But D-1 athletics was more doable, and when touring the Air Force Academy, fell in love with the Academy and Colorado Springs. He’s always been an entrepreneur, even the “store” he had in his locker in grade school. Flying was not a passion at the Academy, so taking the business path was a natural. Brian has always sought to solve problems and add value to people and the business school was a fantastic experience. And coming from a small town, he thrived on the stimulation of different people, backgrounds and attitudes. But structure also was a new experience, he had never been bounded by guidelines so strongly before and though it pressured him at first, he grew to embrace the attributes of having rules. But the 2011 deployment to Afghanistan left him with traumatic stress that led to the predictable alcoholism and drug abuse and Brian knew it was time to move to civilian life. Coming to grips with his condition was the difficult part and breaking down in front of a friend who literally walked him to mental heath resources was the start. The next big step was to simply start writing down in a notebook who he was, to regain his sense of self. Then the desire to take this help to others was the “ah-ha” for the business. He realized with his knowledge of benefits and entrepreneurship, he could help other Veterans navigate the problems with VA bureaucracy, get the help and benefits they need, and lower the suicide and ruined lives rate that dominates the Veteran community. Be sure to check out his book - YOU DESERVE IT: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veterans Benefits You've Earned Veteran Founder Podcast with your hosts Josh Carter and Cynthia Kao We record the Veteran Founder Podcast inside NedSpace in the Bigfoot Podcast Studio in beautiful downtown Portland. Audio engineer, mixer and podcast editor is Allon Beausoleil Show logo was designed by Carolyn Main Website was designed by Cameron Grimes Production assistant is Chelsea Lancaster Theme music: Artist: Tipsy Track: Kadonka Album: Buzzz Courtesy of Ipecac Records 10% of gross revenue at Startup Radio Network goes to support women entrepreneurs in developing countries thru kiva.org/lender/markgrimes