Sentinels of Freedom

🇺🇸🫡 “I can say with certainty that the Sentinels of Freedom program helped me cross hurdles to get to this point. I owe some of my greatest memories and experiences, my literal dream career, to the Sentinels of Freedom Team. Supporting SOF is supporting veterans making that tough transition, finding their new purpose, and achieving their dream careers.”

Sentinel Jeramiah
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Bachelor of Arts Sustainable Development, Columbia University
Master of Science Protected Area Governance, University of Tasmania

To learn more about Jeramiah, visit our website >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/jeramiah-wegner/

🇺🇸 Podcast 18 features Graduated Sentinel Marlene who completed her Bachelor of Science in Recreational Administration from Texas State University, San Marcos.

Living up to our motto, Veterans Never Stop Serving, Sentinel Marlene worked with Military Warriors Support Foundation before accepting a position at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Last year she took a leap and started her own company, Fitness Brigade, a mobile Personal Training company bringing fitness to her community.

Marlene is one of only 500 women who have been awarded the Purple Heart, and she is the first woman to join the Military Order of the Purple Heart. She also plans to become the first female Purple Heart recipient to climb Mt. Everest.

Watch Marlene’s podcast on our YouTube channel >>> youtube.com/

Read her story on our website >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/marlene-rodriguez/

🇺🇸🫡 “Sentinels of Freedom is a premier organization, that continually goes above and beyond to support wounded veterans. It is an honor and a privilege to be associated with such an impressive group of individuals.”

Sentinel Daniel
Captain, U.S. Army, 2/75 Ranger Regiment
Master of Business Administration, Columbia University

Read more about Daniel’s story on our website >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/daniel-calbi/

🎙️🎧 Tune in to hear Marine Corps veteran Sam’s extraordinary journey from the elite Marine Raiders to overcoming a severe head injury. Discover how he navigated civilian life, found purpose in mentorship, and now contemplates a future in teaching.

Don’t miss this inspiring story of courage, resilience, and gratitude. Listen now on our YouTube channel >>> https://youtu.be/dUsMTu2njqU?feature=shared

Read more here >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/sam-schoenheit/

🎖️💜 Today is Purple Heart Day, a time to honor the brave men and women who were wounded on the battlefield or paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. 🇺🇸

Did you know 40% of our Sentinels are Purple Heart recipients? Their courage and resilience inspire us every day. Join us in recognizing their incredible sacrifices and celebrating their unwavering spirit. 💜🇺🇸🫡

🎙️🎧 In this podcast episode, meet Janet, a former Marine who transitioned from the Military Police to higher education with the incredible support of Sentinels of Freedom! 🇺🇸

From Camp Lejeune to Okinawa, Janet’s journey led her to earn two master's degrees and now pursue a Ph.D. in criminal justice. Despite financial challenges and raising three young children, Sentinels of Freedom provided the financial support, coaching, and mentoring she needed to succeed.

Join us as Janet shares her inspiring story of resilience and ambition. Watch her podcast here >>> https://youtu.be/onpFIH1YWss?feature=shared

Veterans Never Stop Serving - Episode 16 - Janet Mayo In this episode, Janet shares her story of transitioning from the Marine Corps to higher education, earning two master's degrees, and her upcoming pursuit of...

🇺🇸🫡 Meet Jake, a former logistics officer and Marine hero. Deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, he advised Afghan forces and survived an IED blast, resulting in the loss of both legs.

After months of rehab at Walter Reed, Jake regained mobility with prosthetics. With support from Sentinels of Freedom, he rebuilt his life, receiving housing, furniture, and a reliable vehicle.

Jake continues to serve by supporting other veterans through his campaign, Team Now Zad. Hear his inspiring journey from military service to community support on this podcast >>> youtube.com/ (podcast 15)

Read more about Jake on our website >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/jake-Dobberke/

🇺🇸🫡 Meet Katie B., Graduated Sentinel, Captain, U.S. Army, PhD in Nursing (Nurse Educator) from University of Washington.

Through support from Sentinels of Freedom, Katie attended school full-time and received financial assistance during her recovery from over 100 surgeries. She completed a PhD in Nursing Education at the University of Washington and actively advocated for workplace safety. Her goal is to shape policy on workplace violence prevention with major health organizations.

Read more about Katie’s story on our website >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/katie-blanchard/

🇺🇸🫡 Join us in honoring National Hire a Veteran Day on Thursday, July 25, 2024. This important initiative aims to inspire employers to recruit and hire veterans by recognizing the unique skills and values that former soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen bring to the workforce.

Did you know?
• Congress passed the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) in 2017. This resulted in the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, a federal award that recognizes a company or organization’s commitment to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development.

• The Department of Labor uses National Hire a Veteran day to encourage employers to increase their veteran workforce to qualify for a HIRE Vets Medallion award. is a proud recipient of the HIRE Vets GOLD Medallion award!

Dear Friends,
With all the good things we do at Sentinels of Freedom for the veterans we serve, there are also some rare times of sadness. Today, with great sadness and deep gratitude for his service to our nation, we report the passing of one of our outstanding Sentinel Graduates, United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant (Ret) Daniel (Dan) Smith. We send his family our deepest condolences and prayers in this time of sorrow.
Semper Fidelis Marine, Always Faithful!

Mike Conklin, the Chairman & CEO of Sentinels of Freedom Foundation, says, we were very proud to have assisted Dan in his post-military educational endeavors. He certainly had earned a place at our nation's table of opportunity and abundance. His example of success in pursuing his education post-military is an example for other wounded and injured veterans to emulate.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/daniel-smith-obituary?id=55541546

🎧🎙️ In this episode of “Veterans Never Stop Serving”, Mike Conklin, Chairman & CEO of Sentinels of Freedom, chats with graduated Sentinel and U.S. Air Force Veteran Eric B.

During his time with USSOCOM, he was told about Sentinels of Freedom and how we help veterans like himself. Eric was accepted to SoF for the fall 2021 cohort and received financial support and counseling, networking connections, mentoring connections, and the support of a case manager, while he attended the University of Arizona for his MBA.

Watch on the Sentinels of Freedom YouTube channel here >>> youtube.com/ (podcast 14)

Read more about Eric here >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/eric-ballester/

“I am grateful for the Sentinels of Freedom (SOF) grant, without it, I am not sure I would have been able to finish my education…I also received phone calls quarterly to check on how I was doing, and during every phone call, the SOF representative always asked if I needed anything and how I was doing physically. These calls were a little reminder that I was not alone in my education journey.”

Graduated Sentinel Lakeisha
Major, U.S. Army
Bachelor of Science
Dietetics and Nutrition
Keiser University

Read more about Lakeisha on our website >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/lakeisha-teague/

🎧🎙️ Have you watched or listened to Sentinels of Freedom’s “Veterans Never Stop Serving” podcast yet? Our CEO Mike Conklin interviewed 25 individual Sentinels to share their stories of successful transitions from military life to fulfilling careers.

In this episode, Mike Conklin, Chairman & CEO of Sentinels of Freedom, chats with graduated Sentinel and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Jhonny C. Hear Jhonny share his story as an immigrant, veteran, cancer survivor, single father, college graduate, and now a Tax Senior for Blockchain & Cryptocurrency at Deloitte's Innovative Solutions.

Watch on the Sentinels of Freedom YouTube channel here >>> youtube.com/ (podcast 13)

Read more about Jhonny here >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/jhonny-chinchilla/

Jhonny Chinchilla - Veterans Support Programs | Sentinels of Freedom Jhonny Chinchilla enlisted in the marines straight out of high school. After receiving severe injuries he was honorably discharged, only to find that his battle wasn't over yet. After remission, with Sentinels of Freedom by his side he went back to school.

“My mentoring relationship with Patty has developed into a long time friendship and I couldn't be more grateful to have her in my life."

Graduated Sentinel Ashley
Senior Airman, U.S. Air Force
Contra Costa Medical Career College, Graduate
Associates of Applied Science Surgical Technician

As our severely injured veterans embark on their journey to civilian life, they’ll be guided by mentors who help them visualize success in order to achieve their goals and overcome obstacles they may face along the way — including a few that might have looked insurmountable at first glance.

From deciding which degree or job to shoot for to learning tactics for financial stability, mentors in this program help Sentinels put the pieces together as they navigate this next, new, exciting phase of their lives, one victory at a time.

Learn more on our website >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/mentoring/

🌹Do you watch The Bachelorette? Season 21 just launched and there’s a familiar face in the mix! The first limo pulled up and it was our very own Sentinel Marcus Shoberg, a 31-year-old Army Ranger Veteran from Raleigh, North Carolina!

In the first episode, Marcus reveals how he has deployed out of planes and lived his dreams. He almost lost his life to a gr***de while serving, but he has a very positive outlook on his future.

To read more about Marcus’ story, visit our website >>> sentinelsoffreedom.org/marcus-shoberg/

🎧🎙️ Do you know about the Sentinels of Freedom’s “Veterans Never Stop Serving” podcast? Our CEO Mike Conklin interviewed 25 individual Sentinels to share their stories of successful transitions from military life to fulfilling careers.

In this episode, Mike Conklin, Chairman & CEO of Sentinels of Freedom, chats with graduated Sentinel and U.S Airforce Veteran Joshua S., born and raised in Fairfield, Montana. He enlisted in the Air Force in 2003 and arrived at Lackland AFB, Texas for Basic Training. During his 13 years of active-duty service, Joshua was stationed at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, Kunsan AB, South Korea, and Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.

Watch on the Sentinels of Freedom YouTube channel here >>> https://youtu.be/qfC2MShzMu4?feature=shared

Read more about Joshua here >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/joshua-smith

🇺🇸💥 Happy Fourth of July from all of us at Sentinels of Freedom! As we celebrate the birth of our nation, let's remember and honor the courage and vision of our founding fathers.

Here are some interesting facts about Independence Day:
• The original copy of the Declaration of Independence is housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
• 56 people signed the Declaration of Independence, with John Hancock being the first and famously having the largest signature.
• The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, who was 70 years old, while the youngest was Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, at just 26 years old.
• The Declaration of Independence was revised 86 times before its final adoption.
• The U.S. population in the 13 colonies was estimated at 2.5 million in 1776. Today, it's over 330 million, more than 130 times larger!

We hope you enjoy this special day with family and friends. Happy Independence Day!

🎧🎙️ Have you watched or listened to Sentinels of Freedom’s “Veterans Never Stop Serving” podcast yet? Our CEO Mike Conklin interviewed 25 individual Sentinels to share their stories of successful transitions from military life to fulfilling careers.

In this episode, Mike chats with graduated Sentinel Casey, a proud husband, father of four, unconventional leader, executive leadership coach, adventurer, prolific networker, keynote and motivational speaker, talent acquisition leader and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion champion.

Watch on the Sentinels of Freedom YouTube channel here >>> https://youtu.be/hylBvHXlV6c?feature=shared

Read more about Casey here >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/casey-mceuin/

🎓 Chris graduated from the University of Washington in May 2022. During his educational journey with Sentinels of Freedom, Chris was supported with a financial subsidy towards his living expenses, financial counseling, resume building assistance, networking opportunities, a connection with a mentor for career and personal development, personalized support from a case manager, and many resources at his disposal.

Sentinels of Freedom is proud to call Chris a graduated Sentinel and we look forward to seeing him continue to grow in his career!

To learn more about his story, visit >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/christopher-chomyszak/

🇺🇸🎶💥 While in DC, our CEO Mike Conklin attended the 35th Annual National Memorial Day Concert at the Capitol on Sunday, May 26, 2024. This annual celebration is an American tradition honoring the military service of our troops, veterans, wounded warriors, all those who have given their lives for our nation, and their families.

Mike, his son Curt, and grandson, Wyatt, experienced this amazing event that was sponsored by Lockheed Martin, and co-hosted by Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise. They enjoyed the perfomances, speeches, live music, and also had an opportunity to speak with several Gold Star Moms.

To watch the concert, visit >>> https://www.youtube.com/

“Sentinels of Freedom is a pillar of my education journey. I graduated college with a degree in human services that will help me help other transitioning veterans.”

Graduated Sentinel Andrew
Specialist, U.S. Army
Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts Human Services, Columbia College

To watch his podcast on YouTube, go to >>> https://youtu.be/21Bibe9ouRM?feature=shared

To learn more about Andrew’s story, visit >>> https://sentinelsoffreedom.org/andrew-coughlan/

Our CEO Mike Conklin hosted a wonderful group dinner at The Army and Navy Club with several guests connected with SoF, including mentors, donors, as well as current Sentinels, prospective Sentinels. He also included a couple he met at the restaurant that night (Tom & Leila), who ended up being a great addition, and truly enjoyed the evening talking with the Sentinels at their table.

Front Table (starting with the man in the back left with dark gray suit, light gray shirt and gray striped tie and moving clockwise): Derick Carver (current Sentinel), Eric Sheppler (Prospective Sentinel), Michael Matthews (Current Sentinel), Leila and Tom (invites Mike met that evening!), Cameron Baird (Prospective Sentinel)

Back Table (Starting with the woman in the white shirt on the left and moving clockwise): Nancy and Chris Marzilli (Chris is former General Dynamics EVP, SOF Board Member), General David Halverson (SOF Board Member), Michael McDermott (General Dynamics Mission Systems), John Wason, Jack Korba and Stacy Hadeka Korba (SOF Board Member)

📣 Happy Father's Day from all of us at Sentinels of Freedom! Today, we honor the incredible dads who have served our country with courage and dedication.

👉🏼 Tag your father, step-father, grandfather, or father figure if he's a veteran and share which branch he served in. Let's celebrate these important heroes together! 🇺🇸

🇺🇸 📚🎖️Sentinels of Freedom donated $1,000 to The Army and Navy Club library and research center in honor of Gen. Stanley McChrystal and Mrs. Annie McChrystal. 🇺🇸

Pictured in the first photo - Left to right: Ludane and Venol Raymond (Sentinel Graduate), Mike Conklin (Sentinels of Freedom CEO) , Steven and Adrienne Kambouris (Current Sentinel)

🇺🇸 🎖️🫡 June 12th is Women Veterans Recognition Day! 🌟

In honor of the 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act signing, 2024 is the 76th anniversary of that groundbreaking legislation for America’s military women, granting women a permanent place and an opportunity for a career in the nation’s military.

Join us in celebrating this special day designated to honor America’s military women, past and present!

📣 We’re proud to announce that Sentinels of Freedom has earned our 2024 Platinum Seal of Transparency with Candid! The Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency is the highest level of recognition that Candid (formerly know as GuideStar) gives to nonprofit organizations. It indicates that we are transparent and accountable, and exceed industry standards. 👏🏼

Get updates on our impact through our >>> https://www.guidestar.org/profile/20-8139201

🇺🇸 ⛴️ ✈️ BlueAlly invited our CEO Mike Conklin and his son Kris for a ride on the Catherine Marie to watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform acrobatics above Annapolis, Maryland during the commissioning week at the United States Naval Academy.

First photo - Back Row: Chris Marzilli (SOF Board Member), Kris Conklin, Garrett Jones (Sentinel Graduate and current Mentor), Jada Lassiter (Prospective Sentinel)

First photo - Front Row: Mike Conklin, Derick Carver (Current Sentinel), Kathy Farley, Jack Farley (Federal Judge, retired US Army, Sentinel Mentor and Peer Counselor)

Sponsored by , , , , , , , , , , ,

🇺🇸🫡 June is PTSD Awareness Month and we’re sharing information from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs about PTSD and effective treatment.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD is the world’s leading research and educational center of excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress. One of their programs is AboutFace. The Veterans on AboutFace, who span more than 6 decades of military experience, volunteered to share their stories about PTSD and what PTSD treatment is like.

Visit https://www.ptsd.va.gov/ to learn more about their individual stories.

🇺🇸🫡 "I am honored to be a member of the Sentinels of Freedom Board of Directors and to have the opportunity to give back to an organization that has given me hope, inspiration, and the tools necessary to succeed in life."

Graduated Sentinel Jason
Captain, U.S. Army Security Services
Masters Degree Georgetown University School of Foreign Service
Juris Doctor University of Wisconsin

To learn more about Jason, visit our website >>> sentinelsoffreedom.org/jason-church

To watch the podcast on YouTube, go to >>> youtube.com/watch?v=W1mHZZDx-MA



Mike Conklin

🇺🇸 In honor of Memorial Day, Sentinels of Freedom pays tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Join us in remembering and honoring our fallen heroes. Let’s uphold their legacy by reflecting on their courage and dedication. 🌟



Mike Conklin