Marine Veteran Grateful for Stability During Transition
Marine Master Sgt. Jesus Castañeda is transitioning out of the military after 21 years. His retirement date is expected in January 2024.
Starting over after the military can be disconcerting and stressful for service members. Jesus is grateful to have been accepted into Operation Homefront’s Transitional Homes for Veterans (THV) program.
In September, Jesus, his wife, Sandra, and four of their five children, ages 19 to 8, moved into a THV home in Crowley, Texas. The home in a suburb of Fort Worth was made possible through the generosity of Pillsbury.
Through the program, veterans who are within three years of discharge can live rent-free in a house for two to three years as they build savings, reduce debt, and become established in careers and the community. They also receive financial counseling.
“Inside the military, even with all the moving, we lived on base, we had military housing, we knew who would be paying for it,” Jesus said. “Getting that financial advice to help learn how to pay for everything outside of the military will be a great help.”
From the time he was in high school and joined JROTC, Jesus knew he wanted to join the military. He chose the Marines after meeting a recruiter, with whom he is still close. The recruiter was like him—a first-generation American born to Mexican immigrant parents.
“Here in America, I would not be treated like an American, and when I would go to Mexico I wasn’t accepted there,” he said. “When I wore the uniform, I felt the belonging, and I got respect.”
He had also wanted to protect the country that became his parents’ home.
He joined in 2001. After he enlisted, he married Sandra, his high school sweetheart, and the two embarked on the adventure of being a military family. Jesus deployed to Iraq twice and Afghanistan once.
The family’s last duty station before leaving the military was in Okinawa, Japan, before heading to California, where he would begin the transition at Camp Pendleton.
Jesus and Sandra knew they wanted to settle in Crowley because they had family and a good support network in the area, and they were looking for a house to rent.
“Words can’t express how grateful we are.” – Jesus Castañeda, Marine veteran
Sandra heard about Operation Homefront during a seminar about transitioning. The family applied for housing from Operation Homefront, and while waiting, they moved into Jesus’ parents’ house. It was a tight fit.
Being able to move into the four-bedroom, three-bathroom THV home has been a relief. Jesus and Sandra can now take the time to look for their forever home in the area without rushing, something they saw happen to other transitioning service members, and not always with good results.
“Having that support from Operation Homefront gives me the security to have the time to do the research to become settled,” Jesus said. “We don’t have to rush into anything.”
Jesus is also a part of a fellowship program to help veterans find jobs that are suitable to their unique set of skills. He is currently a fellow at GM Financial.
“Words can’t express how grateful we are for both Operation Homefront and the Pillsbury company for the incredible opportunity they have offered,” Jesus said. “Their partnership has impacted our present situation and will help plant the seeds for our future.”
Operation Homefront currently has 38 houses in its THV program, and 21 families have graduated since the program began in 2018.
