Honoring a Life of Service – and Many Roles: Jessica Saunders’ Journey
A Calling Shaped by Service
For Jessica Saunders, service didn’t stop when she hung up her Marine Corps uniform—it transformed. Today, she carries many titles: Marine veteran, military spouse, military caregiver, mom, and, thanks in part to the support she received from Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) and Hiring Our Heroes (HOH), healthcare case management analyst.
Jessica joined the Marine Corps right out of high school and served for nine years, including assignments with a Navy unit on humanitarian missions.
“We provided free medical care to people who didn’t have access to it,” Jessica shared. “The people were so thankful for the help we provided and would share their appreciation with hugs when I didn’t speak their language. It was an awesome and fun experience.”
It was these experiences that sparked her passion for healthcare.
A Family’s Service, A Caregiver’s Role
Service remained central to Jessica’s life—but it took on a new form as her family navigated the lasting impacts of military service.
“We both served in the Marines,” she explained. “My husband, Quintell, served in Iraq on the Mortuary Affairs team. They would go out on helicopters to search for and recover service members who died in combat and bring them back.”
His experience during the first wave of Operation Iraqi Freedom placed Jessica in the vital role of military caregiver after his service. At separation, medical retirement wasn’t on their radar, and the VA disability system, often complex for many veterans, was difficult to navigate without guidance.
Empowered by Wounded Warrior Project
Through Wounded Warrior Project’s no-cost programs supporting veterans and their families, the Saunders family gained critical guidance navigating the VA system and gathering documentation. They were able to pursue the benefits Quintell had earned. Ten years after leaving the service, he received a VA disability rating commensurate with his injuries. WWP also encouraged them to seek a retroactive medical retirement, which was approved in 2023, bringing stability and critical resources to their family.
During those years, the family moved frequently while managing Quintell’s service-related disabilities and a long path to benefits.
“I worked many different jobs because we moved around a lot,” Jessica explained. “I tried to stay in healthcare and went back to school for a while. But I was never at a job for more than two years. Wounded Warrior Project provided consistent, reliable support during all these transitions.”
A Turning Point
With medical retirement finalized and life at home more predictable, Jessica felt ready to build a long-term career. WWP connected her with a career coach who encouraged her to explore Hiring Our Heroes’ resources. WWP works with HOH to prepare and connect warriors with meaningful career opportunities and offers its own program called Warriors to Work, providing high-touch career services to prepare warriors for meaningful employment as they transition to civilian life. Through HOH, she received resume support, help building her LinkedIn presence, access to job boards, and interview preparation.
“I found the CVS case management analyst position on the HOH Job Board and applied,” Jessica said. “And I heard back about an interview within a week.”
Professional Milestone Unlocked
Jessica used HOH interview preparation to build confidence across five interviews. Her hard work paid off: she landed a remote case management analyst role in 2024 and continues to grow professionally while balancing her many roles.
Jessica’s story shows how determination, paired with the right support, turns uncertainty into opportunity. With WWP and HOH alongside her, she didn’t just translate her skills; she elevated them into a meaningful career.
