Happy New Year, Combatants!

Blossom (verb): Develop in a promising or healthy way

2023 has been such a roller coaster that allowed me to return back to Combat4Her. In full transparency let me describe the ride...

For the past 2 years, I was working with the NYS Department of Health with helping New Yorkers navigate our new normal from the COVID-19 panorama. During those 2 years, I pivoted away from Combat4Her. At the top of this year, I was laid off. The pandora had "ended" therefore, I was out of a job. And during my lay off period, I found myself struggling to find new employment. I was working with a useless veteran unemployment specialist that I ended up teaching him new tools for job hunting, like ChatGPT or sharing career specific veteran job sites to pass along to other vets. Don't get me started on the unsuccessful encounters at these virtual & in-person career fairs where when you entered the room no one acknowledged you or when you reached out the them via DM no response. My pride and ego went out the window, so I applied to lower income jobs where I was overqualified, but still willing to take for the sake of some dinero- and still nada! And yes, if you are wondering, I even waved my "I'm a veteran. Hire me!" flag and that didn't work. I couldn't even land an interview. I was hitting a wall. But what also hit me was that I needed to supply helpful tools I acquired along this journey to my fellow vets.

I wanted to revamp this space where I could attend some of these career fairs and workshops and share some of the information I found helpful, so that you don't have to attend (if you were busy, of course lol).

I turned Combat4Her from just sharing stories, to also sharing your not so typical veteran information related to employment, mental health, and the "down bad" times I was experiencing. Everyone knows about the benefits like the GI Bill, VA home loans, and service-connect disability pay, but did you know that you can get help with clothing allowance if you wear prosthetics or if you or your surviving spouse needs assistance that requires a home health aid, you can get financial assistance with that too? Not only are you entitled to Federal benefits, but there are also specific benefits provided by your state, like taxes and DMV services.

*See the new tab "State Services" budding on our website!😉

This year made me blossom Combat4Her into a platform to share it all. #NoGateKeepingIn2024!! A lot of us are missing the fellowship portion to our veteran experience, since the people we shared our most vulnerable military experiences are scattered throughout this planet. I hope to use Combat4Her to inspire better fellowship through action and education within our community virtually until we see each other again.

Thank you for your unwavering support to blossom Combat4Her

and wishing you all a prosperous 2024!