Related:

• Jobs scarce after ‘ratting out’ corrupt cops
• Marine’s plan to focus on his family falls apart
• Tough to stay positive amid personal struggles

The post Decision to act ‘was the end of my career’ appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“When I got out of the Marines, I was a federal cop in Hawaii and California. We worked on military installations as federal civilians. We did the policing on the bases so that the MPs could go deploy.

“But I ended up being a tattletale. I’m a rat. I ratted out other cops. But when people are corrupt, I don’t care who it is, if you’re a cop or a civilian. If you break the law, I’m going to tell on you. That’s my job, to report violations. Even if you’re the chief, then so be it.

“It happened in California. The chief and deputy chief were strong-arming military families while their husbands and wives were serving overseas. That’s not right. I just couldn’t keep quiet about that. I got there in October and I reported it in December.

“They did everything they could to force me out. They threatened me with this, threatened me with that. They tried to terminate me. I said, ‘Go ahead, terminate me. I’ll see you in court.’ I got my job back and they didn’t. The chief and deputy chief both got relieved.

“But it was the other officers who ended up forcing me out. There were a lot of places out there where someone could disappear, and that sort of thing. So I had to leave.

“Unfortunately, after that, nobody has wanted to touch me. When you’re a cop and you’re a tattletale, nobody wants any part of you. But I knew what would happen. I knew the minute I opened my mouth, that was the end of my career.”

— Robert Ortiz

Related:

• Marine’s plan to focus on his family falls apart
• Decision to act ‘was the end of my career’
• Tough to stay positive amid personal struggles

The post Jobs scarce after ‘ratting out’ corrupt cops appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I took a year break after graduating high school before joining the Marines. I served about 10 years. I was stationed in California and deployed twice to Iraq.

“My son was born just before my second tour. I was there for his birth in October, but by January I was gone. So I saw his first smile on a video, his first laugh on a video, his first steps on a video. That’s when I decided I had to go home. I had to get out.

“Because of the war at the time, we were on stop-loss where nobody gets out. I had to wait almost 11 months longer than I had planned. Unfortunately, my last day in the Marine Corps also turned out to be the last day for my family.

“I knew it was rocky. I was juggling three balls. I was a husband, a father and a Marine. And I was having trouble juggling all three. I didn’t want to part with any of them. But the one I was most willing to part with was the Marine Corps. I had decided to put that aside and concentrate on being a father and a husband.

“But sometimes it just doesn’t work out. It was amicable, though. My ex-wife and I are still friends. I still call my son. He’s 17 and going to be a senior in high school. We talk. We chat online, in text messages. But I haven’t seen him in a couple of years. That’s the real hard part.”

— Robert Ortiz

Related:

• Jobs scarce after ‘ratting out’ corrupt cops
• Decision to act ‘was the end of my career’
• Tough to stay positive amid personal struggles

The post Marine’s plan to focus on his family falls apart appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“He was everybody’s best friend. It was one of the hardest things I have been through, mostly because it was so unexpected,” said Derek, a 2003 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown. “I never knew the details, other than reading it was a case of mistaken identity.”

Shaken by the shooting, Derek felt like running away. “And the Marine Corps was happy to have me,” he said.

Less than a month after the funeral, Derek was being sworn in. Within a year, he was stationed in Iraq.

“It changed my life profoundly,” Derek said. “But through this terrible loss, my life gained meaning, purpose and direction.”

Military trauma

A third-generation Marine, following in his father’s footsteps, Derek rose to the rank of sergeant. He served a year-long deployment to Iraq’s Anbar Province and another aboard the U.S.S. Essex in a humanitarian and training capacity with countries across Southeast Asia.

Derek completed his service in 2008. But the experience proved hard to shake.

“Looking back on my time in Iraq, I feel very guilty knowing that I contributed to the devastation and destruction in that country over the past 14 years. It hasn’t sat well with me,” he said.

“I thought my contribution to that war would have helped an oppressed people. But I think the country is in far worse shape than it was before we entered.”

Derek fought additional personal battles after his time in Iraq, mostly post-traumatic stress and depression.

He said that one of the hardest things, especially for veterans, is asking for help.

“It’s stigmatized and viewed as being weak, which is incredibly wrong. It’s shockingly normal. One in four Americans will experience some sort of mental illness, post-traumatic stress being one of them,” Derek said.

“Dealing with it is just a matter of whether you have a community around you with the proper resources. Thankfully, I had that when I needed it. It was up to me to reach out.”

Nonprofit world

Despite enjoying teaching and originally planning to pursue that as a career, Derek was introduced to the veteran nonprofit world through some volunteer work while attending graduate school at City College of New York. It opened his eyes to the unmet needs of returning veterans, and it sparked his desire to serve that community.

Derek is making a difference now as veterans’ health officer for the New York State Health Foundation.

“My role is pretty incredible. I get to invest in organizations that are dedicated to improving the health of veterans across New York,” he said. “I’m helping expand some of the services that were vital to my transition out of the service, so it is one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.”

Derek finds time to volunteer with Puppies Behind Bars. The organization trains prison inmates to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and explosive detection canines for law enforcement.

He also is a competitive runner, and participated in the United Airlines NYC Half-Marathon on March 19. The event benefited Tuesday’s Children, formed in the aftermath of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, as a response and recovery organization that supports youth, families and communities impacted by terrorism and traumatic loss.

Watch Derek run

Derek was never a running enthusiast. But after his time in Iraq, it became a way for him to temporarily escape his problems related to PTSD and depression.

“Before long, I was running nearly 50 miles a week. I have since run four full marathons and quite a few smaller races,” said Derek, who raised more than $1,500 in finishing the NYC Half-Marathon in a little over two hours.

“I love to travel and explore new places, so running became a way for me to get acclimated to new environments. It really is the best way to get to know a new place, which is one of the ways I got adjusted to living in New York City.”

Giving back to Tuesday’s Children has not only allowed Derek to support the organization’s mission, “but also help in my healing process by continuing to serve others — something instilled in me as a young Marine.”

The post Making a difference for veterans with health issues appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’m in ROTC in high school and I plan to join the military right after I graduate. I’ve already started talking with the recruiter and everything. I just have to wait until I’m 18 to sign the papers. I’m going into the Marines.”

Why did you choose this path?
“I like the structure and guidance that it gives you. There’s always someone telling you what to do, so you never have to just stand there and try to figure it out on your own. Right now, I guess I’m better at being told what to do rather than thinking on the spot of what I’m supposed to do.”

Do you feel prepared for military life?
“It doesn’t intimidate me. First of all, females can’t go to war, not just yet. They’re trying it and seeing how it works out, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. War is pretty intimidating, but the whole concept of war doesn’t scare me unless they’re telling me I’m going out there. Then I’d probably be scared. I don’t have a deep desire to go and kill people.”

— Teddy Yebra

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