HONOR ACROSS ARMS

DESMOND DOGAN--Following high school, Desmond served his country for five years in the US Navy. Throughout his military term he further developed leadership skills as a Navy Corpsman in Yokosuka, Japan. His hard work and dedication once again exceeded expectations leading to the prestigious Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, which he and his shipmates were awarded for “Superb medical support” that was provided between July 1986 with the unit he was attached to.

Although Desmond had a thriving military career, he was ready to explore new heights and pursue his love of the arts, fitness, and healthy/ wellness development. The road to success didn’t come easy. He took the skills he learned in the Navy and landed a position with the prestigious Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He worked an Operating Room Technician in the mornings and auditioned for dance jobs in the afternoon. His 12-year medical career included assisting with the open-heart surgery, liver and kidney transplants and all other surgical practices. Desmond simultaneously continued his pursuit of a viable dance role. His talent didn’t go unnoticed. LA Models began to represent him and eventually a major breakthrough presented itself. “Hip Hop Body Shop,” a fitness and dance show on ESPN II that Desmond co-created and co-hosted received 5 stars from Fitness Magazine.

Mark Olson is a retired Marine Corps Colonel, with multiple combat tours during his 28 years as a Marine.

He began his USMC career as an artillery officer. His service included leading crisis response for the Marine Corps at the Pentagon prior to and on 9/11, Director of Operations for Multi-National Forces (West) in Iraq and development of US Army and Marine Corps Counter Insurgency policy.

He was diagnosed with PTSD in 2007. Medical professionals put him on Prozac and cocktails of multiple similar drugs. After too many personal relationship issues and too many jobs he discovered CBD and then medical cannabis. Today he is PROZAC free. He now owns Greater Than U Farm (>U Farm). His focus is on helping others see how CBD and medical cannabis and a healthy lifestyle can make lives better for his fellow veterans, first responders, law enforcement personnel and all Americans.

In the fall of 1996 Shane took a job in a factory that made plastic yard decorations (i.e. pink flamingos). He was put on third shift which went from 11 PM to 7 AM. Even though it was fall time it was miserably hot. The guys he worked with were former felons and listening to his coworkers complain about life woke him up to the real world.

One morning, he punched out at 7 AM and never went back. Shane went on to join the military the next year and became a firefighter EMT until 2001. After he was Honorably discharged from the Air Force he worked as a civilian firefighter for the Navy for a year before working in Afghanistan.

In 2006 Shane first started experiencing symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis but was able to combat it for 10 years with diet changes and medication.

After leaving Afghanistan, Shane ran his own home remodeling business from then worked as a contract firefighter in Kuwait which was by far his favorite job. The men and women he worked with were both great workers and friends.

Shane met his wife in the summer of 2010 and in March 2011 took a job as a fire inspector in Ohio. In 2014 he applied for a job as a firefighter near his wife’s home town in Florida.

Unfortunately, in 2016 the pain and swelling from his RA got so bad that he was forced to medically retire.

Growing up Shane struggled with dyslexia but he still enjoys reading and writing books is a challenging but fun experience.

In the fall of 1996 Shane took a job in a factory that made plastic yard decorations (i.e. pink flamingos). He was put on third shift which went from 11 PM to 7 AM. Even though it was fall time it was miserably hot. The guys he worked with were former felons and listening to his coworkers complain about life woke him up to the real world.

One morning, he punched out at 7 AM and never went back. Shane went on to join the military the next year and became a firefighter EMT until 2001. After he was Honorably discharged from the Air Force he worked as a civilian firefighter for the Navy for a year before working in Afghanistan.

In 2006 Shane first started experiencing symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis but was able to combat it for 10 years with diet changes and medication.

After leaving Afghanistan, Shane ran his own home remodeling business from then worked as a contract firefighter in Kuwait which was by far his favorite job. The men and women he worked with were both great workers and friends.

Shane met his wife in the summer of 2010 and in March 2011 took a job as a fire inspector in Ohio. In 2014 he applied for a job as a firefighter near his wife’s home town in Florida.

Unfortunately, in 2016 the pain and swelling from his RA got so bad that he was forced to medically retire.

Growing up Shane struggled with dyslexia but he still enjoys reading and writing books is a challenging but fun experience.

Lieutenant Colonel Bishop was commissioned in 1996 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. During his 22 years of active-duty service as a bioenvironmental engineer, he served as an Air Staff officer, element chief, flight and squadron commander, executive officer, Air Force Fellow and MAJCOM staff officer. He has held numerous positions including: installation Crisis Action Team director, installation radiation safety officer; consultant to wing Emergency Operation Centers; consultant for environmental, safety and occupational health committees and MAJCOM/installation readiness/force protection/threat working groups; and functional consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General, AMC, AFSOC and Seventh Air Force Surgeon General.

Share a story: SrA Littrell and his willingness to volunteer to stay longer in Kuwait. That is when I knew you were always going to be successful in life because you were willing to sacrifice for your fellow airmen.

Great assignment – Each one afforded me the chance to work with some amazing people across all of the services.

The greatest lesson learned was the importance of service to others (servant leadership). If you genuinely care for your fellow soldier, sailor, airman, marine or coastie, then you will gain the trust and respect of others and your unit will benefit from everyone’s success. When you are willing to sacrifice for others, then we will know that you are attempting to make the best decision for your organization. In the end, you will walk away from your military service with very few regrets.

Michael J. Penney is a combat veteran of Iraq & Afghanistan. He served in the United States Marine Corps infantry with 3rd Battalion 7th Marines deploying twice to Ramadi, Iraq, in 2005-2006 and 2007. Michael reenlisted during his second tour and transferred to Quantico to become a weapons instructor. He is certified as a combat marksmanship coach, trainer and instructor trainer. He’s a formal school instructor, school trained designated marksman, small arms weapons instructor and foreign weapons instructor. In 2011 Michael deployed on a third combat tour, this time with 1st battalion 5th Marines, leading a section of advisors through Kajaki & Sangin Afghanistan.

Having served in two wars, over 8 years of service in the Corps, Michael was honorably discharged as a Sergeant. Now he is an Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker,

Business Development Professional.

In March of 2016 he presented at TEDxRaleigh, “What’s Your IED: How to Add Value During Life's Explosive Situations”, combining military and personal experiences in an effort to bridge the lives of veterans and civilians. (view @ MichaelJPenney.com) This one talk has cultivated many wonderful relationships between veterans and business leaders.

In April of 2017, Michael released the “5 Paragraph Business Plan” - taking the military operations order format and applying it to business. 5ParagraphBusinessPlan.com

He currently works as an advisor to business leaders around the globe, calling upon his military experience to assess, train, advise, and assist businesses in the implementation of the 5 Paragraph Business Plan. Empowering leaders with an action oriented business management tool focused on business creation, growth, and long term sustainability.

Michael is a proud father of four, married, and resides near Raleigh, North Carolina.

Service Years: 1999-2004, Bioenvironmental Engineering Career field. Responsibilities: manage activities in the fields of industrial hygiene, occupational health, radiological health, and environmental protection to ensure healthful working conditions. Accomplished by site inspection, emergency response to CBRNE events, review plans/ contracts, sample collection and monitoring. Basically OSHA, EPA, and Homeland Security rolled up into one.

Duty Stations: Spangdahlem AB, Germany, Robins AFB, GA, Deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom 2002.

Benefits of Serving:

Work Related: Gain experience, learn a trade (instead of going to college), increase your overall long-term marketability/employment, provide a stable platform for your career development (Core Values: Integrity, Service, Excellence), Educational/Training opportunities (inside and out of the service), challenge your skills/abilities (troubleshoot, research, problem-solve), increase your communication and team-work skills, become a complete professional, INVEST IN YOURSELF.

Individually Related: learn more about yourself (resiliency, self-awareness, overcome challenges, team-work) sense of belonging to something bigger (ie. Serving your country and community) develops some form of self-pride because of the hard-work and energy spent, travelling opportunities (both professional and personal related), develop new friendships and sense of camaraderie with people from all over the world, keep the family tradition going (3rd Generation Air Force enlisted), further my educational background, military and VA benefits, most importantly the friendships we develop through the whole experience.

* Military is a lot like college, except you’re getting paid to learn and work and not going into debt!