Dr. Tyshawn Jenkins has seen his share of uphill battles, especially while growing up in a tough neighborhood. He joined the Air National Guard with two primary objectives in mind – to give back to this nation and to unlock doors for himself, both personally and professionally.

“I wanted the opportunity to be able to get on a plane, to go overseas, and to be able to see the world as well as to save the country,” Tyshawn said.

Like many other service members, coming back from military deployments with invisible wounds was one of the most challenging things he had to face.

Fortunately, he realized he didn’t have to face the challenges alone. A network of fellow veterans buoyed Tyshawn through the last decade and helped him find purpose in sharing his battles, as well as feel confident in his accomplishments.