On September 13, 2007, I was shot eight times during a firefight in Iraq while serving as a Navy SEAL. One bullet left a devastating wound to my face. I nearly lost my life, and what followed were dozens of surgeries, years of recovery, and the challenge of rebuilding my life after combat.

I was fortunate to have an incredible support network of family, friends, fellow warriors, and organizations that helped me navigate the road ahead, but not every veteran has that same support. After 21 years of military service, I know firsthand what our men and women in uniform sacrifice for this country and how important it is to have people in your corner when you come home.

Every Veterans Day, Americans come together to honor the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform. We wave flags, attend ceremonies, shake hands, and say two simple words: “Thank you.”

Our veterans fought to defend the American Dream. We should do everything in our power to ensure they have the opportunity to achieve their own.

For generations, Americans have answered the call to serve. They have left behind families, careers, education, and opportunities to defend a nation built on the promise that every individual should have the freedom to pursue a better life.

For too many veterans, coming home means navigating complicated government systems just to access the benefits they’ve already earned. That includes healthcare, education, disability compensation, housing assistance, and other resources available through their service.

Too often, veterans don’t even know what benefits are available. Others become overwhelmed by the complexity. Some simply give up.

And perhaps most troubling, some veterans pay private companies thousands of dollars to help them access benefits they have already earned.

Since leaving the military, I’ve spent much of my life helping veterans overcome adversity, rediscover their purpose, and build meaningful lives after service.

One message I consistently share is this: Fight for every disability benefit you have earned. Then fight just as hard to become the new 100% version of yourself.

Veterans are more than their injuries, disability ratings, or military service. They are entrepreneurs, teachers, parents, innovators, business leaders, and community builders. They are Americans with dreams, ambitions, and tremendous potential.

Education benefits can open doors to new careers. Disability compensation can provide stability. Healthcare supports recovery. Housing benefits can help families purchase their first homes.

These benefits aren’t the American Dream itself. They are part of the foundation that allows veterans to pursue it.

That belief is why I helped build TurboVets alongside fellow veterans and technology innovators. Our mission is to use technology and artificial intelligence to make it easier for veterans and their families to understand and access their earned benefits for free.

No veteran should have to surrender a portion of their disability compensation simply because they need help navigating the process. They paid with birthdays missed, anniversaries spent overseas, deployments away from their children, and sacrifices most Americans will never fully understand. Some paid with their health. Others paid with their lives.

We are all about veterans helping veterans, a principle deeply embedded in military culture. In combat, you never leave a teammate behind. You look after the person to your left and right. Their success and survival matter as much as your own.

Those of us who have successfully transitioned from military to civilian life have a responsibility to reach back and help those coming behind us. We should share knowledge, open doors, create opportunities, and ensure the next generation of veterans has the resources to thrive.

This Veterans Day, I encourage every American to do more than thank a veteran. And if you’re a veteran who has found success, help another veteran find theirs.

Because honoring our veterans shouldn’t be limited to one day in November. It should be reflected in the opportunities we create every day.

I spent 21 years defending the American Dream. Now I want to spend the next chapter of my life helping those who defended it achieve their own.

They served, they sacrificed, and they earned their benefits. They should never have to pay twice.

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Jason Redman is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, bestselling author, and Chief Business Development Officer of TurboVets.

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They Defended the American Dream. Now Help Them Achieve It.