One wrong step.

That's literally all it took to change the direction of Erik Monarca's Marine Corps career.

In Part 3 and the final part of my conversation with Erik, he talks about a training accident that started with simply stepping the wrong way. What seemed like a foot injury he could push through eventually became something much more serious — doctors discovered two crushed bones in his foot, leading to surgery and ultimately changing his plans to stay in the Marine Corps.

But getting out was only the beginning of the next chapter.

Erik talks about losing the purpose and structure that came with being a Marine, trying to find his place in civilian life, and finally beginning to get himself back on track.

Then September 11, 2001 happened.

Erik was still in the Individual Ready Reserve, and just days after the attacks, he received a phone call telling him to report for a physical. Suddenly, the possibility of putting the uniform back on became very real.

We also talk about where life eventually took him, the veteran community, why our stories matter, and how a 2 a.m. conversation between a few Marines eventually became the Chat 62 Podcast.

And since Erik and I recorded this conversation, that shared belief in veterans supporting veterans has grown into something new: V.E.T. — Voices Empowering Tomorrow, a Veteran Podcast Network.

Erik, Jonathan Cole of The Bunkhouse, and I are the three co-founders — and we're just getting started.

This is the final part of Erik Monarca's story.

Your story matters.

Semper Try Podcast — Because Trying Beats Quitting.

V.E.T. — Voices Empowering Tomorrow.

CONNECT WITH ERIK & CHAT 62:

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Email: [email protected]