Command & Signal

From the Front Lines to the Home Front: My Mission Continues

I spent 21 years in the United States Marine Corps learning one thing above all else: You never leave a person behind.

My journey began in 2003 when I enlisted as a Mortarman (0341), and over the next two decades, I lived the life of a grunt before retiring as an Infantry Company First Sergeant (8999). I’ve carried a pack and led Marines through the ranks in the storied battalions of 3/4, 3/5, 3/7, and 2/4. Whether I was a young corporal with 3d Bn, 4th Marines, a squad leader with 3d Bn, 5th Marines, a platoon sergeant with 3d Bn, 7th Marines, or eventually a Company First Sergeant with 2d Bn, 4th Marines, my entire career was built on the ground alongside my brothers and sisters-in-arms. I’ve walked the same paths and faced the same grit that defines our veteran community, and I bring that shared history to every claim I handle.

Experience You Can Lean On

When I talk about understanding the "toll of service," it isn't from a textbook—it's from being right there in the middle of it.

• Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom): While with 3/4 in Al Qa’im, I served as a gunner and vehicle commander in a Personal Security Detail (PSD) convoy. I know the weight of the gear and the constant vigilance required for life on the move in a high-threat environment.

• Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom): While serving with 3/5 in Sangin, I was the Fire Direction Center (FDC) Chief for a mortar section. My team processed over 60 live-fire missions in support of combat operations, providing the "steel rain" that protected our brothers and sisters on the ground.

• Baghdad (Operation Inherent Resolve): I served as a Platoon Sergeant with 3/7 and later as a Watch Officer inside the Embassy's Tactical Operations Center (TOC), managing the big picture of security and operations during a critical time.

A New Kind of Battle

After three knee surgeries, my body told me it was time to hang up the uniform, but my heart wasn’t done serving. I knew the struggles veterans faced when transitioning because I was living them. I was actually accepted into the VA’s WARTAC program, but the timing didn't align with my retirement date. Rather than giving up, I took a leap of faith with a SkillBridge internship through VetComm.us.

I realized very quickly that the VA claims process is its own kind of battlefield. Many veterans are fighting it alone, frustrated and overwhelmed. I decided to change that. I went from an intern to the Claims Department Director at VetComm within a year, eventually serving as the Director of Military Transition in charge of the SkillBridge Program. During that time, I also helped implement the Freedom Fighters Fund (F3USA.org), a non-profit built to provide a safety net for those who are transitioning from the military.

Why You Can Trust Me

Today, I am the Claims Department Manager at VetLink.us and am currently pending accreditation to become a VA Claim Agent.

When we work together, you aren't just a "file" or a "claim number" to me. You are a brother or sister-in-arms. I’ve stood in the boots you’re wearing. Whether I was leading a platoon or managing a company, my focus has always been on the person to my left and right. My goal now is to bring that same Marine Corps discipline to your VA claim, ensuring the bureaucracy doesn't stand in the way of the benefits you earned.

I look forward to serving you.

Brian D. Sharp

1stSgt, USMC (Ret)