Seann Ritzman is a New Jersey native. Raised by a single mother, Seann's grandfather was the father figure in his life. Seann was taught to take pride in his country; his grandfather having served in Korea in the Army Corps. of Engineers.
At seventeen, Seann joined a delayed entry program into the "Marine Corps. Chaffeur Crew," aka the Navy. Seann's boot camp was the summer after he graduated high school. He remembers boot camp as eye opening, the air thick with the moisture of sweat.
Seann's four year enlistment was spent at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
Seann elected not to re-enlist, and spent the next several years trying to find a purpose and direction for his life including: working for an alarm company, Hot Topic, ADP, and finally ending up at Cissco.
For the past eight years Seann has been instrumental in working with veterans through the Veteran Focus Resource Organization at Cisco.
Seann has devoted a great deal of his time, passion, and energy to Operation Enduring Warrior, an organization whose mission is to honor, empower, and motivate our wounded warriors. OEW is probably best known for their spartan races. OEW takes the broken and makes them whole. Honorees run races, accompanied by handlers wearing gas masks. Honorees receive the praise; handlers are blank slates.
Seann credits OEW for helping him find the right people to bring him out of a very frustrating and dark time.
Seann and I mention two OEW honorees whose stories were told on the We The People Our American Story podcast.
Ep. 25 No Legs, No Vision, No Problem-Matthew's American Story
Ep. 35 Ian's American Story-Featuring Medal of Honor Recepient Ross McGinnis
Find a purpose. "Whatever your gift, give it away." Find an organization to serve others, for there you will find strength and community.
Whole Vet
BeArded WarriorS
F3 Nation
Team Red White Blue
1 Tribe Foundation
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