Sentinel Mark Robbins: Special Operator First Class, US Navy SEAL
People are inspired by many things. The events of 9/11 inspired Mark, like so many other young men and women, to join the US Navy right out of high school. His goal was to become a Navy SEAL.
Mark attained his goal, and as a Navy SEAL he completed two combat deployments to Iraq during his seven years of service. On his last deployment, he sustained a gunshot wound to the head from a bullet that went over his rifle through his right eye and out the back of his head, inches behind his right ear. The injury left him blind in his right eye.
During his first few years of recovery, mobility, endurance, awareness, and memory were significantly affected, but Mark was determined to enter a new career path in law enforcement. He did not want to let his injury define him or hold him back. Mark recalls, “I was done being hurt and just wanted to get on making a new life.”
Mark began working at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and shortly thereafter completed the Police Academy. Sentinels of Freedom was there to provide Mark housing and living support during this transition to allow him to focus on the Police Academy and emb
ark on his new career. Rejoining a community and establishing family roots was so important to Mark, his wife Jessica, and their two young sons. With the help of the mentors Sentinels of Freedom introduced to him, Mark was able to do just that. “They were and are always there for me. They are such an important part of my transition and success,” Mark admits.
Since beginning employment, he has been to several law enforcement/investigations related qualification courses. Mark is continuing his career at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office as a detective in the Criminal Investigations Division. He is assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team as an Assistant Team Leader and is a member of the community safety team.
Mark’s journey proves that with a little guidance from Sentinels of Freedom, a wounded veteran’s journey is not over after they leave the military.
You can make a difference in the lives of a wounded veteran like Mark, visit www.sentinelsoffreedom.org to find out how!
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