Making the Transition

Tue, 19 May 2009 05:00:00

MAKING THE TRANSITION

Like many of today's veterans, Brian Iglesias came home from the war expecting to put his skills as a Marine to good use in the civilian workforce. That didn't happen. Despite his high academic achievements and military honors, Brian struggled to find an entry-level job.

Brian eventually realized he had to go it alone and become an entrepreneur. He talks with Dick Gordon about the program that helped him convert his military instincts to business acumen. Brian has now become a filmmaker with his own production company. He's making a documentary about Korean War veterans, and he says hearing their stories about the tough transition to civilian life is also helping him.

Learn more about Brian’s entrepreneurship training program
Learn more about Brian's film

RAYA AND BASHAR

Raya Asee and her son Bashar

Raya Asee is an Iraqi refugee living in Sweden. Dick spoke with her last fall and all Raya could talk about was her 10-year-old son, Bashar. She'd had to leave him with extended family in Jordan when she'd gone to Europe to seek refugee status. The two had not seen one another for a year and a half.

Now all of Raya's paperwork has gone through, and just a couple of weeks ago, she was at the airport in Stockholm when Bashar stepped off the plane. Bashar and Raya talk with Dick about what it was like to see one another again, and how they're adjusting to life in Sweden.

The Story from APM - Making the Transition

Making the Transition

MAKING THE TRANSITION

RAYA AND BASHAR