My name is Randall Surles. I am a Veteran who served over 30 years in the U.S. Army.

I came up with Successful Soldier to inform active duty service men and women, as well as Veterans, about all their benefits.

During my time in the military, I used a hell of a lot of my benefits, including tuition assistance (I eventually received my Master’s degree before I retired) and Soldier for Life training before I retired to set me up for employment after I separated.

However, I didn’t have a mentor throughout my career that I could turn to, and there were a number of things that I wasn’t aware of and wasn’t able to take advantage of due to scheduling conflicts or timing. These are things that I could have arranged had I known earlier.

Additionally, during my separation process and after my retirement, I discovered a lot of programs that helped me, but just as many that I didn’t use because I didn’t have all the information I needed.

I want the information I post in Successful Sodlier to be the mentor for you that I didn’t have.

In this blog, I will post all of the information I wish I’d had before joining and separating, and hopefully, you can take advantage of all the benefits that you have earned.

Good luck, and thank you for your service!