More than two-thirds of U.S. veterans consider finding a job the greatest challenge in transitioning to civilian life, and their frustrations are well documented. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) aims to help. Through its Salute You Scholarship, ACE provides hundreds of military men and women with free access to exams and prep materials to become an ACE Certified professional and start a career in the fitness industry - a career that naturally aligns with their physical careers in the military. Recently, ACE expanded its Salute You Scholarship program, providing 1,000 Salute You scholarships, to help more retired or honorably discharged veterans to successfully transition into a career field that allows them to continue leading.
Through certification, ACE has given many military heroes a new lease on life - like Peter Sarll and Brandon Corrales, whose stories are briefly spotlighted below:
Peter Sarll, 229th scholarship recipient and now a fully qualified trainer employed at 24-Hour Fitness, left a military career as a firefighter and search and rescue swimmer and now works with a variety of clients, including those with Parkinson's Disease, cerebral palsy and others with a variety of injuries and physical challenges.
Brandon Corrales was medically retired from the Army after combat wounds from flames engulfed his entire body. He left with a Purple Heart, but wracked with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Exercise and bodybuilding helped Brandon overcome physical and psychological wounds, and now he's turned it into a career - now Brandon is a personal trainer.
ACE also supports military servicemen and women and their families by providing a 20 percent discount for active duty, veterans, and eligible spouses and dependents, and participants in post 9/11 G.I. Bill and Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA), both programs provide financial assistance to current and aspiring ACE professionals and help them get started on pursing a quality certification from their new career.
To learn more about how ACE shows its appreciation to active duty servicemen and women, veterans, retirees and military spouses, visit www.acefitness.org/military.