Empower a Veteran's Mission: Moldova Presidential Bid
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Veni, Vidi, Vici: Call of Duty for U.S. military veterans
Call of Duty:
For those of us who had the privilege to serve in the U.S. military, no explanation is necessary. For our “civies” counterparts – or for those who have not yet tasted the American dream as it was originally designed to be shared in the “Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave” – this is a call to serve the communities, to bloom where you are planted, and to dare to do things that will build and encourage others to become great leaders in the communities where you were raised. In my case, a half-orphan, my military and diplomatic career is a product of foreign exchange program (Republic of Turkey vs Republic of Moldova), dedicated service of Peace Corps volunteers who invested years of their life in building Moldova’s youth to think outside the box and infuse true democracy values in everything that is designed.
In 2000, I won the "youth version" of Presidential elections of Moldova, and although it was a “test-drive”, a formidable and phenomenal game plan put forth by the team of dedicated Peace Corps volunteers from all Moldova regions and under the auspices of the U.S. Embassy Moldova, the focus was always the same -- on serving those who thought I won the competitions in the Moldova's finest forest and camping grounds.
We can say the desire to serve and achieve more on diplomatic level were fostered by my Peace Corps friends and directors who gave me the U.S. constitution as a present and taught me English when my own English teacher was slaughtered when I was in 6th grade. Left without an English teacher, I still found a way to master at least 5 languages (with diplomatic level fluency in at least 2) and understand about 8 or 9, depending on derivatives.
United States Air Force Medical Corps
(in lieu of Médecins Sans Frontières)
As someone who purposefully chose a career in Military Emergency Medicine – to help the wounded – either in the warzone, or following a catastrophe, my military commanders always assigned me to search and rescue teams with specialized training in chemical, biological, and nuclear defense mechanisms. Following the military service, we, as veterans, are called to continue to serve in our communities and every one of us is to some degree responsible for some of many of our peers committing suicide – in vain. One such example was the story of fighter pilot Sandra “Cans” Chapman, who committed suicide in August 2023 because she was tired of not being understood by society after suffering for 10 years from Lyme disease. As someone who worked in both pediatrics and flight medicine, clearing many pilots and missileers for duty, such stories reveal what we know from basic military training day one: we fail together, or we win together (to borrow from Korean military motto, “Kapchi Kapshida,” the Korean words for “We go together!” [in everything]). Many thanks to US Air Force leaders who shaped me into who I am today, and special thanks to Nicole Malachowski, Miriam Krieger, Hila Levy, and Kelsey Monaghan-Bergson for leadership, grit, and dedication to “mission first, people always” mentality.
Veteran Advocacy
Airman for Life concept is not a philosophy, it is “acta non verba” modus operandi. We all know what programs work, and what don’t. The fabric of military culture, the camaraderie you form since the first days in basic training can neither be described, nor can it be forfeited. There are many great announcements about good intentions of companies, influencers, etcetera about how they are committed “to helping veterans” – we all know the cost/benefit rationale that goes into that, and we know who is genuine and who is not – it is well documented in the lyrics of Dr Dre in Eminem’s “I need a doctor”; after all, living for many weeks in a room with 50 bunkbeds is as genuine as it can get…Through this “civic duty adventure”, I also hope to demonstrate that the issue of homelessness among veterans is self-inflicted and does not need to exist if there are coalitions built to address the problem. Where are the coalitions though? There are tons of consultants, well-wishers, and companies who “support veterans on paper only”. Again, there is more “much ado about nothing” and less “acta non verba” in this realm, but the solutions are so easy to find – practically ready to borrow from the likes of Veterati.com or Airbnb.com as models to test-drive and connect homeless veterans with host families. Uber did not exist until Uber existed. It doesn’t matter how far I will progress in this odyssey, what matters is that the journey benefits veterans who need encouragement and empowerment. As such, I will open my own house to test-drive the idea and invite 12 homeless veterans from SOF (preferably Navy Seals since I have more mentors in this group) to stay several months in my house in Virginia (while I run for office across Atlantic) and write papers for newly minted SOF Special Project.
My house is at 43621 Dunhill Cup Square, Ashburn, Virginia, 20147. As many other veterans, I am open book and my military records, as well as hundreds of commanders I served with, and the patients I treated can vouch for my integrity, honorable service, and dedication to mission.
For those CEOs of companies who, from 2019 until now, under the disguise of “fog of war” of the pandemic and cacophony so prevalent in the Veteran Affairs Dept, attempted to steal my house while I served the country overseas with my entire family, the day to answer for your actions has come. Unlike in the Metallica’s song “The day that never comes”, the day where U.S. military veterans are right to demand answers just how it is possible to have commercial entities that unashamedly try to take away house, career, salary, health, by using the very freedom and protections that we veterans (and active duty members) have fought for many years, many times at the expense of health, limb, family, or even life.
Conversely, those veterans who face any such nonsense from the civilian sector – and do not build coalitions the way TTPs demand, need to realize that this is self-inflicted and needs to change. There are just too many great lawyers who are veterans, and a good model is the Veterans Clinic at Harvard Law School, where I met many dedicated professionals passionate about helping veterans. There is just one problem – veterans need to voice those concerns and reach out for help.
Special thanks to the team who inspires veterans to serve in their communities:
For those who want to help me on this journey, the link is:
Gofundme Link:
My campaign requires funds to meet the criteria set forth in the regulations; private funds cannot be used for some elements (which is something that can prevent candidates from participating, and should be addressed by international watchdogs responsible for transparency). I chose the amount 373K as it mimics Moldova’s international phone code -- +373.
Since this is an extremely packed race -- with too many "unknown unknowns" at this point, the budget will be decided based on what my team of advisors will find out (I welcome former HillVets and U.S. Congress veterans and interns who helped me during my fellowship / leadership program, Veterans in Leadership Council, and Veterans in Global Leadership colleagues to participate, and those of you who know my character).
All the unused funds will be given, in coordination with the Peace Corps volunteers (in Moldova or Washington, DC) I have worked with for many years, to those children who need them the most, as well as to orphans who are limited even further (I was a half-orphan growing up, so I know the implications).
This can also be outsourced to my best battle-buddy at Deloitte Washington DC - Jared Burgess, former Marine Raider and Green Beret, who sets the example of what a U.S. military veteran should be like, sacrificing the positions when necessary and demonstrating the resilience in both military and civilian jobs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/burgessjw1/
Soundtrack for the intro letter:
(MAWAR BODAS by Alexandra Dovgani)
Philosophy and Modus Operandi during the Campaign
from my years of training Karate-Do Shotokan-Fudokan:
“The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants. ” ― Gichin Funakoshi (Special thanks to Anton Ignat, Japan Karate Association in Moldova and Nishiyami Family who ensured Karate is brought to Moldova), as well as my Sansei who trained me to win the National Championship in Karate in Moldova by utmost dedication to Karate principles (the way of an empty fist) and serving the communities:
School in hometown:
Karate Association in Moldova (Anton Ignat, Sansei)
Credits:
Special thanks for the inspiration -
– via exemplary career and/or discussions:
Natalia Morari – at the first glance, the most talented and fearless contendant; attacks against who inspired me to run, if nothing else, to draw fire away from her – and absurd attacks on her character from fools and senseless bystanders who have neither courage nor brains to get in the arena to fight for what is right. Starting today, they can name me instead “a candidate with zero chances”, and we’ll meet them in the arena.
Kasey Jones, the best strategist in PR and LinkedIn, and fearless leader who invested her career in helping others achieve their goals –
Thunderbirds and Blue Angels pilots;
Elroy, Cujo, as well as and Mace and Malachowski, and Blue Angels Executive Officer – Jon Fay, for their inspiring stories and mentoring chats:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhAPFWt46Bg (Cdr Jon Fay)
Vice President Mike Pence:
for giving me the best advice and sharing how our families history are similar during our last meeting.
Special thanks to hundreds of teachers, professors, doctors, and fighter pilots who trained me how to think, how to execute in no-fail missions, and how to focus on resilience:
https://www.hasardlee.com/ (Art of Clear Thinking)
331 Training Squadron, Wolfpack!!!
Bust most of all, thank you to the men and women of the U.S. Air Force – who made my career the best career one can dream about -- and it all started with the 331 Training Squadron, Wolfpack,
331st, there ain't anything else to say — Wolfpack, Lead the Way!
Organizer
Oleg Oleinic
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC