In 2003, 21 year old Marine Corporal Noah Currier from Poplar Grove, IL, was deployed to Iraq with Charlie Co 1st LAR as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Three days after arriving home from combat Noah and a fellow Marine were in a vehicle headed back toward Camp Pendleton when the driver fell asleep at the wheel sending their vehicle rolling down an embankment. Noah suffered a severe paralyzing spinal cord injury from the accident.

Seeking a way to afford the necessary physical therapy for himself and a fellow injured Marine, Noah came up with the concept of using a t-shirt inspired by his brotherhood in the Marine Corps as a fundraiser. He designed a shirt that boldly stated He who sheds blood with me shall forever be my brother across the back. The shirts quickly caught on with supporters and the fundraiser turned out to be an overwhelming success. Enough units were sold to afford Noah and his friend another six months of additional life-changing physical therapy.

Connect with Noah & OscarMike.org

• OscarMike.org

As a Marine officer, Justin Constantine volunteered for deployment to Iraq in 2006, and served as a Civil Affairs Team Leader while attached to an infantry battalion. While on a routine combat patrol, Justin was shot in the head by a sniper. Although the original prognosis was that he had been killed in action, Justin survived. Through teamwork and a positive mental attitude, he has had quite a successful recovery. Justin now speaks to audiences large and small about personal leadership, the critical role of teamwork in facing life’s challenges, and the upside of change. He applies his incredible story of overcoming adversity to every level of an organization, and all audiences to move beyond the challenges they are facing in their own lives.

While on active duty, Justin had served as a Judge Advocate in the Marine Corps. Upon recovering from his injuries, Justin continued to serve in the Federal government in a number of attorney positions, including the Department of Justice, Capitol Hill and most recently with the FBI on a counter terrorism team. Despite being shot in the head, Justin was the Honor Graduate of his class at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He also recently completed the Master of Laws (LLM) program at Georgetown University focusing on National Security.

Justin retired from the Marine Corps Reserves at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and now serves on the Board of Directors of the Wounded Warrior Project, Give An Hour, and SemperMax. In addition, in 2011 the Secretary of Defense appointed him to serve on a 4-year Congressionally-mandated Task Force for Recovering Warriors. In 2012 the Virginia Legislature passed a commending resolution highlighting Justin’s continued support of veterans and other wounded warriors.

Most recently, Justin was awarded the prestigious inaugural 2014 Lincoln Award recognizing his outstanding achievement and excellence in providing opportunities and support to our nation’s veterans and military families. Justin has also been named a Champion of Change by the White House, and was presented with the All-American Hero Award at the 2013 All-American Inaugural Ball. Further, Justin was invited to introduce President George W. Bush at a veterans’ symposium at the Bush Institute in February 2014.

Justin is a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in connection with their Hiring Our Heroes campaign, and works with a number of corporations on their veteran hiring initiatives. Justin has also been featured in magazines and programs such as CNN, Fox News, Men’s Health, the Huffington Post, the Atlantic, Financial Times, and the Department of Labor’s America’s Heroes at Work Success Stories.

Through his journey of courage, injury, resilience and triumph, Justin demonstrates that we are all stronger than we think we are. His personal story of recovery and success is a testament to the power of the human spirit, and the message he shares applies to every member of the audience. All will leave inspired to attack any difficulties in their own lives, and will search out opportunities to excel at work and at home.

Connect with Justin:

• JustinConstantine.com
• Justin on LinkedIn
• Justin on Twitter

Anthony Garcia is the CEO & co-founder of GuideOn, Inc. GuideOn’s Mission – Pioneering technology solutions for the transitioning Veteran. Prior to founding GuideOn, Anthony worked in operations at SRI International where he later left to start his first business – GuideOn is his third.

He served in the U.S. Army for eight years as an officer and Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) helicopter pilot. He served two back to back, combat deployments to Iraq (May 03 to April 04/Dec 04 to Nov 05), where he managed 21 Blackhawk helicopters, led over 90 pilots - flight engineers - and medics, while directing over 4,000 flying missions.

As a Captain and pilot-in-command (PIC) for the 54th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), his unit evacuated and provided critical lifesaving care for over 6,500 patients, comprised of Coalition Forces, Iraqi civilians, and insurgent enemy forces. They were awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Some of Anthony’s awards consist of 2 Bronze Stars for leadership in combat, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Air Medal, and the Sikorsky Aircraft 1000- hour award.

After his military service, Anthony obtained an MBA from Cornell University. He received a BA in Business Administration from St. Mary’s University of San Antonio and is a graduate of Robert G. Cole High School, Fort Sam Houston.

Anthony was born in Frankfurt West Germany at the 92nd General Hospital and is the son of a retired Lieutenant Colonel.

Connect with Anthony & Guide-On

• Guide-On.com