Veteran's Playbook

Iron Mike Steadman was a boxing champ at the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Marines in Afghanistan, Japan and the Philippines; he started a boxing gym in New Jersey that develops young underprivileged athletes in and out of the ring.

Former U.S. Army staff Sgt. Charlie Webb jump-starts his entrepreneurial career with a degree from the Culinary Institute of America ;he refines his craft with Detroit-style pizza, placing second at the International Pizza Expo in 2022.

Afghanistan combat veteran AJ Beaudoin launched Battle Fish Charters to help everybody (especially veterans) find peace through fishing; AJ and his team of licensed guides go beyond amazing fishing adventures, and they call it "recreational therapy."

Daryian Rhysing developed carpal tunnel syndrome working on Army CH-47s and Black Hawk helicopters; he and his wife, Evaguel, founded United Aircraft Technologies and created a smart clamp that replaces the clamps that caused Daryian's condition.

U.S. Navy SEAL Alex Othmer hit rock bottom after leaving the service; he healed himself through non-traditional therapeutic methods and felt a calling to launch his nonprofit to address veteran first responder mental health and wellness.

Patrick Bowers retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel with 26 years of service; the former paratrooper, Army Ranger, Special Forces Green Beret and avid sailor operates a nonprofit where he can share his love of sailing with Gold Star family teens.