Join us in this inspiring story with Gunnery Sergeant Leticia Garcia as she shares her remarkable journey in the Marines.  From the streets of Anaheim to the challenges of Sana City, her story is a testament to resilience, discipline, and the power of determination. In this video, Gunnery Sergeant Garcia opens up about her early life struggles, including her family's encounter with domestic issues and gang violence. She vividly recounts how these experiences shaped her upbringing and led to...

This week on Urban Valor,  we chat with Sergeant Major Alex Caro. Alex's journey began in Brooklyn, NY, where he overcame the challenges of gang-dominated streets and avoiding the gang lifestyle. His inspiration to join the Marines came from when he joined the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). In his military career, Alex started with an open contract, assigned to be a Inventory Management Specialist. He has served in critical deployments across Iraq, Afghanistan, and as a...

In Today's episode of Urban Valor, we have Guest Army veteran Chris Cleland. Growing up in El Monte, California, Chris found himself in trouble, leading to an arrest for grand theft auto. But he turned his life around by joining the Army Infantry, a decision that took him on several deployments to Iraq. You'll get to hear first hand the challenges Chris and his unit faced, especially their encounters with IEDs. He shares his stories from Baghdad, one in particular, where Chris's unit was...

This weeks episode from Urban Valor features Robert Wood. Born in Bellflower, California, and raised in Buena Park, Robert's life was forever changed when his mother saw his bullet-riddled car on the news. Faced with a life-altering decision, Robert chose the path of Valor, enlisting in the Marine Corps over moving to Mexico or attending college out of state. His life in the military saw him become a skilled Radio Operator with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance, where he became good...

From the small town of Bloomville, Ohio, Maranda Moon's early life was fraught with challenges. Her journey to the Marine Corps stands as a powerful testament to resilience and courage. Maranda's childhood was marked by financial hardship and a critical father, driving her to seek a new beginning. Enlistment became her escape route to California, a dream sold to her by Marine Corps recruiters. Yet, the dream was not without its shadows. Maranda's story darkens as she faces the grim reality...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine veteran Prime Hall. Prime grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas on North Padre Island. He battled his way out of a troubled childhood, attended military school to refine his discipline, and unexpectedly developed street smarts. Through his sit down with Urban Valor's Josh Gutierrez, Prime overcame an extensive criminal history to earn his spot inside the Marine Corps and, eventually,  earned his way into the Marine Special Operations Command. He...

Welcome back to Urban Valor, where we have the incredible Marine veteran, Byron Rodgers, joining us once again! In this episode, Byron shares his remarkable life experiences and discusses the profound belief that he has been divinely protected throughout his journey. His stories include a chilling childhood encounter when intruders broke into his family's home, a near-death experience in Iraq after surviving a massive IED blast, a haunting incident where he mistakenly believed a comrade was...

In this week's Urban Valor episode, we sit down with Marine Veteran Annika Hutsler to discuss her remarkable journey. Annika's story begins in Aurora, Colorado. Her life took a turn after high school when she decided that college wasn't for her. Inspired by a fellow student, she made the life-changing decision to join the military. Around the halfway mark of her boot camp, she began experiencing a lot of foot pain. Little did she know, this pain would lead to a life-altering discovery - an...

After witnessing the aftermath of 9/11 firsthand, more than the devastation, what stood out was the unyielding unity on 9/12, showcasing the resilience of the American people. You won't want to miss this week's Urban Valor episode! Kevin served as a Motor Transport Mechanic in the Marine Corps for 6 years. But life after service wasn't exactly what he thought it would be. After receiving an honorable discharge, Kevin, his wife and their 4-year-old son, faced one of life's harshest realities...

In this week's gripping Urban Valor episode, we listen to the extraordinary life of Coast Guard veteran, Juan Reyes. Born and raised in Colombia, Juan’s brave trek to the United States is a story of courage and resilience. At just 8 years old, Juan and his mother started the long trek from Colombia to the United States with the help of Coyotes. Their journey took them to a terrifying stay at a house in Panama, under constant threat from drive-by shootings. Despite these hardships, Juan and...

Welcome to this week's Urban Valor episode, where we introduce you to the remarkable journey of Army veteran Hector Bravo. From Brawley, California, Hector enlisted in the Army's infantry to escape the confines of his small town. He was deployed to Iraq from 2004 to 2005, facing intense combat during the Iraqi insurgency and enduring the painful loss of close friends. Upon returning home, Hector battled heavy drug and alcohol abuse, but his story takes a powerful turn. He chose to seek help,...

In this week's Urban Valor episode, we're joined by Marine veteran Christopher Cendana. Hailing from Fremont, CA, Chris's journey into the military was inspired by his best friend and the uncertainty he faced after high school. He enlisted in the Marine Corps, specializing as a Diesel Mechanic. Chris shares his experiences from two deployments to Iraq, including a tragic incident where he was compelled to engage with an Iraqi family, resulting in heartbreaking consequences. Following his...

In this week’s Urban Valor episode, we welcome back retired Marine First Sergeant Randall Parkes.  A dedicated Marine who served from 2001 to 2021, he recounts his experiences from his early inspirations in California to becoming a drill instructor at Paris Island, South Carolina.  In this gripping narrative, discover the challenges faced by Marines during training, the discipline instilled in recruits, and the deep bonds formed on the battlefield. The highlight of this video unveils the...

In this week's episode of Urban Valor, we shine a spotlight on Juan Marquez, a Marine veteran with an inspiring journey. Hailing from a quaint town in Northeast Oklahoma, Juan's upbringing was shaped by its small community atmosphere. His high school graduating class comprised a mere 56 students, a testament to the tight-knit nature of his environment. Juan's journey was marked by its remarkable distinctiveness, largely shaped by his upbringing as a Jehovah's Witness. This resulted in a...

In this deeply personal video, Krishna America Flores, a dedicated member of the US Marines, shares her poignant journey from enlistment to combat deployment.  Born in New York and having grown up with a backdrop of the El Salvador Civil War, Flores enlisted as a Private First Class and quickly rose through the ranks. Her story takes us from the bustling streets of New York to the challenging terrains of Okinawa deployment and the war in Iraq. As a female marine, she faced unique challenges,...

In this week's Urban Valor episode, Marine veteran Don Tran takes the spotlight. Don's upbringing was in Long Beach, CA. Despite multiple arrests during his juvenile years, he made a pivotal decision to enlist in the Marine Corps, seeking a transformative path for his life. Don went on his Marine Corps journey as an 0341 Mortarman, gradually progressing to become a part of the Marine Special Operations Community. Through numerous combat deployments, Don drew upon his training and...

This week's episode of Urban Valor introduces Jesse Galvan, an Army veteran hailing from the Inland Empire of Southern California. Jesse's early life was marked by a deeply challenging experience of childhood sexual trauma, significantly shaping his upbringing. As he approached adulthood, a pivotal decision arose when his father presented him with a choice between pursuing higher education and enlisting in the military. Opting to embark on a path of service, Jesse joined the Army as a Combat...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine veteran, Spencer Zeisset, also known as Z. Z grew up in Bethalto, Illinois. As a kid, he and his friends would create fight games and engage in hand-to-hand combat. On one occasion, Z's eye was nearly injured by a sharpened spear during one of these games. He recounts the incident when he was sent flying through a van window as it rolled over and came to a stop on top of him. Z's inspiration to become a Marine was ignited by playing video games...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army veteran, Fernando Arroyo.  Fernando grew up in Bell Gardens, CA where he witnessed gang violence from a young age.  Since a kid, he’d been interested in joining the military, but the 9/11 attack on America solidified it. Fernando enlisted into the Army on a paratrooper contract. He’s conducted multiple combat deployments and speaks on the difficulty of transition after his experience in the military.  Fernando has also written a book called “The...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant,  Robert Porter aka “Bar.”  Bar grew up in Albany, New York and was adopted as a child. He talks us through 21 years in the Marine Corps in occupations not limited to Military Police, criminal investigations, Drill Instructor, and Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival. Upon transitioning, Bar began helping out with Toys for Tots, which led to his festive transformation to Gunny Clause. #military #veteran...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine and Army veteran Jose  Valenzuela.  Jose was born in Mexicali, Mexico. He grew up in poverty and came to the United States around the age of 7.  In today's episode, Jose shares of his immigrant journey to the United States and the U.S. Military.  After Marine recruiters visited his high school, he was inspired to join the military.  Jose spent 13 years in the Marines and 7 years in the Army before retiring as a Staff Sergeant.  He’s...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine veteran Miguel Linares.  Miguel was born in Westminster, CA. He enlisted in the Marine Corps as an  Aviation Mechanic, but after 9/11, Miguel wanted to fight and changed his  job to Infantry Rifleman.  He got what he asked for and fought through Nasiriyah’s “Ambush Alley” during the Iraq invasion of 2003. Miguel recalls and shares vivid details of the War in Iraq, and Ambush Alley in today's episode. Miguel talks us through what life was like...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine veteran Gino Garcia. Gino was born and raised in Pomona, CA.  At the age of 14, he joined the Devil Pups program, which inspired him to want to become a United States Marine. Gino initially wanted to enlist in the infantry; however, some of his veteran family members convinced him to choose an occupation that would make for a smoother transition back into the civilian world, so he picked supply.  He conducted three deployments during his...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine veteran, Ryan Coughlin. Ryan grew up in North Brookfield Massachusetts. He was inspired to join the Marines by his Marine veteran grandfather who fought in Iwo Jima during WWII. Ryan served two combat deployments to Afghanistan. He talks about how his deployments made him appreciate his life in America.  Towards the end of his enlistment, Ryan succeeded in qualifying for a lateral move to Explosives Ordinance Disposal but was denied...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine veteran Nivardo Gonzalez.  Nivardo grew up in Long Beach, CA. He wasn’t interested in college, so he enlisted in the Marine Corp as an Infantry Rifleman. Nivardo conducted two combat deployments during his enlistment.  During one of those deployments, he and his unit were met with intense combat after occupying a Taliban stronghold known as the “Green House.”  Nivardo leaves us with how his experience in the military changed his life and what...