Ep. 70 Three Decades of Service: Richard Elias, Duty Beyond Duty

In this episode of Duty Beyond Duty, host Manny Guzman sits down with an old high school friend and fellow U.S. Army veteran, retired Army Major Richard Elias.

Richard shares his incredible journey of more than 30 years of military service, from starting as an enlisted 14J Early Warning Systems Operator to becoming an NCO, instructor, paratrooper, and eventually a commissioned Air Defense Artillery officer.

His career took him around the world with assignments and deployments involving Haiti, Iraq, Qatar, Afghanistan, and the UAE, along with service in legendary units including the 10th Mountain Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and 101st Airborne Division.

Richard opens up about leadership, deployment experiences, the transition from enlisted soldier to officer, retirement, and finding purpose after the uniform. Today, his next mission is taking shape as he explores the creation of a nonprofit focused on combating veteran suicide and supporting those who served.

Two Chicago high school friends. Two Army veterans. Decades of service. One conversation about leadership, brotherhood, purpose, and what comes next when the mission changes.

This is Duty Beyond Duty.

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