DEBRIEF: TURN YOUR NEGATIVES INTO POSITIVES

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Another episode is on the books.

"Tests don't measure heart, mind and work ethic, so don't ever let anyone tell you No or that it can't be done" -retired Marine Corps Major General, Board Member, Professor and current Director of Military and Veteran Affairs at the City of San Antonio , JUAN G AYALA

Let's dive in!

DEBRIEF

1. Growing up in El Paso, Texas during Vietnam

• General Juan Ayala was the oldest of 9 children and a first generation American with parents who were immigrants from Mexico
• He grew up in El Paso, Texas working with his father who owned restaurant and was known for having one of the best menudos in town which is a cultural staple in the Mexican American community
• Many of his father's customers were joining Vietnam at the time and the impression they left on General Ayala when they returned from the Marine Corps such as being disciplined is why he made it his goal in the fourth grade to join them
• General Ayala's father insisted that he go to college first before joining the Marine Corps and that is exactly what he did getting his undergraduate degree at University of Texas El Paso

2. Navigating Roadblocks with Discipline and Work Ethic

• He did face some systemic challenges being a minority such as getting picked on and instead of allowing that to become a roadblock, he found a way to navigate it through it
• His upbringing instilled in him a work ethic and discipline that enabled him to persevere through those roadblocks
• General Ayala recalls a couple of moments where he was struggling with the SATs and he came to the revelation that it does not measure your heart, mind and effort

3. Serving 36+ Years in the United States Marine Corps

• General Ayala had a remarkable career in the Marine Corps achieving one of the highest ranks in the flag officer category; especially being of Hispanic descent with there only being a handful of them
• He commanded all 24 Marine Corps Installations which are Cities in themselves ensuring that the bases all had up to date infrastructure and services to continue maintaining warfigher readiness
• He did multiple joint tours and 4+ combat tours to include serving as an advisor to the Iraqi
• General Ayala said he is a representation of the nameless and faceless Marines that supported him directly or indirectly which is what led to his success in achieving one of the highest ranks in the service
• Relationship Building and being Personable/Approachable are one of the key factors that led to his success in the service and after it

4. Serving as Interim CEO of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Director of Military and Veteran Affairs

• Veterans are some of the most entrepreneurial and business minded leaders that America is very fortunate to have
• At the onset of the Pandemic, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was significantly impacted and many of the Small Businesses were being wiped out
• The City of San Antonio gave General Ayala who was now retired and working for them as the Director of the Military and Veteran Affairs, the temporary assignment of CEO to mitigate the economic impacts to those businesses
• He applied his military experiences and leadership skills by freeing up necessary resources to maintain the operation of the chamber along with ensuring the businesses had support in order to withstand the crisis
• He currently serves as the Director of Military and Veteran Affairs for the City of San Antonio which is known as Military City USA
• General Ayala leads efforts as a liaison between the city, DoD and relevant military veteran stakeholders
• One of his goals is to drive support for Military Spouses such as creating a Fellowship Program

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A SPECIAL THANK YOU

• Lekeisha Mosley
• Enrique A.
• Joe M Palacios Jr
• Diana Hazel Rodriguez
• Hiram Figueroa Jr
• Carlos Cardenas, USMC, CAE
• dAvId J. Valencia, MBA, MS, CFCM, ASM
• Barry Darryl Peel

DID YOU KNOW?

The United States Marine Corps was formed by Captain Samuel Nicholas by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress on 10 November 1775, to raise two battalions of Marines to augment naval forces in the Revolutionary War. The recruiting headquarters was set up in the Tun Tavern on Water Street in Philadelphia, which is considered to be the birthplace of the Marines. Samuel Nicholas is known as the "father of the Marine Corps" and was the first Commandant of the Corps in which there have only been 39 to date.

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John 15:13