Entrepreneur program gives WTU Soldier fresh start

By Ben Sherman, Fort Sill CannoneerMarch 7, 2013

Wounded warrior
Wounded warrior Spc. Gregory Smith (right) displays his certificate of achievement for completing the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program at Oklahoma State University. On the left is Muhammad Ali, information referral coordinator at the Fort Sill Soldi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla.-- Spc. Gregory Smith thought the world was going his way. He was a food inspector, a 68 Romeo, stationed at Camp Zama, Japan. He had been in the Army for eight years and really liked his job.

Then, at age 43, he had a stroke.

Everything changed

"That really finished my Army game," said Smith. "They did a CAT scan and an MRI scan on my brain and determined that I had suffered what doctors called 'brain atrophy.' It has messed up my ability to remember things.

"It was very heartbreaking when I heard that."

Last year Smith was transferred back to Fort Sill, where he went through basic training in 2004. Now he's back here, but in the Warrior Transition Unit.

"My treatment here at Fort Sill has been very good. They really do take care of the Soldiers here. I feel they do an outstanding job."

While he was going through medical treatments, Smith began to think of what the future would hold for him after the Army. And, while he was contemplating that fact, he happened to meet Muhammad Ali, the information referral coordinator at the Soldier and Family Assistance Center.

Ali's job is to help wounded warriors with their various needs as they transition out of the Army. One of the programs he handles is getting them in touch with educational and employment opportunities.

"One program I found out about last fall was the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) at Oklahoma State University. They mailed us information and applications about their program that helps veterans who want to start their own business," said Ali. "When I saw it, I was kind of envious, because I wasn't eligible, but I helped Smith get into the program at the last minute.

"I gave the information to at least 10 other Soldiers, and Smith was the only one who followed through with the whole process," he said.

The School of Entrepreneurship at OSU sponsors the program. It is designed to help veterans who are either service disabled or who have distinguished themselves in their military service, and who are interested in starting a business venture as a means of financial independence, or have a business that they would like to grow profitably. This definition fit Smith's needs.

Perfect fit

"I already have a business that I started when I was in Japan. My company name is Big Paid Productions, and it is a concert promotion and production management company," Smith said. "So receiving this training will help me move forward with my company.

"The Veterans Entrepreneurship Program is an intensive program and is completely free. Once you are accepted, you spend six weeks doing online training. There were more than 44 other veterans in the program and each week some of the students would submit a business plan online, either about a business they wanted to start or one they already had going.

"The other students in the class would read their business plan and critique their ventures to help them avoid mistakes and further their goals. I had to participate in the critique process to receive credit in the program. It was great to have those resources, but it did get intense at times," Smith added.

"Then we went to the OSU campus for eight days of intensive training. All of the participants in the program were veterans. If you are in the WTU, and they know you are getting out in the near future, as I am, they will accept you even though you haven't been separated from the Army.

Valuable resources

"I'm just thrilled that I was selected. The program gave me 24 continuing education units for the work I did. That is an awesome benefit for me to receive. This is definitely a valuable program," he said.

There is another valuable resource Smith is receiving from the VEP program in the form of a mentor for 10 months.

"My mentor is a musician out of the Tulsa area who has been playing drums for over 30 years. He is going to put me in touch with people who own venues and theaters. So this is going to fit together very well with my concert promotions company," Smith said.

"This course taught us that you should never give up. Maybe the first endeavor you come up with doesn't work out and you fail. In fact there is a strong possibility that you will fail. A lot of companies that start out don't make it. But you just have to keep trying. You have to take the first step. Follow your dreams." Smith said.

Veterans Entrepreneurship Program information

For Soldiers and recent veterans who are interested in the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program, here are the eligibility criteria:

- Soldiers who have separated from, or are in the administrative process of separation from active duty service, and

- Are identified as disabled by the Department of Defense or Veterans Affairs based on a "service connected" disability, or

- Have "distinguished service" for exemplary military service, and

-Can demonstrate a strong interest in entrepreneurship and commitment to small business ownership.

The next enrollment period starts in August and the deadline for enrollment is Oct. 1.

For more information call Ali at the Fort Sill SFAC at 558-4989, contact the Riata Center for Entrepreneurship at 405-744-7552 or email at vep@okstate.edu. Applications for the VEP program are available online at http://entrepreneurship.okstate.edu/vep.