Sep 21, 2020
“A lot of my resilience comes from others – it doesn’t come from within.”
Gunnery Sgt. Ralph DeQuebec enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2002 at 19 years old. During his third combat deployment in Afghanistan in 2012, he was critically injured from a blast of an improvised explosive device, losing both of his legs above the knee. He received a Purple Heart for his actions in combat.
During his four years of recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he discovered the sport of para-ice hockey. He would go on to win a gold medal in the 2018 Paralympic Games in South Korea.
This week, Ralph joins FourBlock founder Mike Abrams to share his incredible story of resiliency. Ralph discusses personal details of his third deployment, injury, and years-long recovery process; opens up about overcoming tremendous loss and adversity; and explains how getting involved in ice sled hockey helped pull him out of the darkest time in his life, gave him a new sense of purpose and showed him that he could love life again.
Ralph is currently the Captain of the Colorado Sled Hockey Warrior Avalanche and the co-founder of We Are All One Story. He is also training for the 2022 Paralympic Games in Bejing.
To learn more about We Are All One Story, visit https://weareallonestory.net/.
ABOUT US
Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.
General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.
But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.
FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.
Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, FourBlock founder, director of the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration, and author of two military transition books. He’ll be representing the military transition perspective.
Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey will be representing the civilian perspective of this issue.
Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/
Over 77% of FourBlock alumni stay at their first jobs over 12 months. Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.
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