June 9, 2024 ~ Josh Parrish, co-founder of VETLIFE, shares his life story, highlighting his challenging upbringing on a Native American reservation, where a strong sense of duty and high military service rates influenced his decision to enlist at age 20. He served in Iraq as a combat engineer, where his high-stress job of disarming explosives led him to lean heavily on the disciplines of structure and accountability. Parrish goes on to discuss the difficulties he and many service members face in transitioning from service to civilian life, and emphasizes the importance of finding purpose, accessing benefits, and embracing mental health services. He also highlights support systems like VETLIFE and initiatives like Vet Fest, which help veterans and their families by expanding support networks and increasing resource utilization.