Local veteran helping other veterans succeed

Richard Rubi was born in Queens, New York, after enlisting in the Marines. Rubi was stationed around the world from Japan, Australia, Iraq, and different parts of the United States.

He ended his 14 years of service right here in Yuma, Ariz. His transition to civilian life didn’t come with ease.

“I came across hard times after the military,” said Rubi. With the help of Right Turn For Yuma Veterans, a non-profit that provides housing for veterans fresh out of the military, Rubi was able to get back on his feet.

“It got me a roof over my head and a place to live. Being here actually helped me re-group and let me focus on what I needed to do to better myself,” Rubi said.

In achieving his goal in getting an associate degree, Richard wanted to make those possibilities available to veterans. He has been working with Right Turn For Yuma Veterans to help other vets who are transitioning into civilian lifestyles.

“We are here to help them out with any of the resources that would help them get ahead, that is what we are here for,” Rubi said.

Working and living in housing with other veterans reminds him of what it means to be a veteran.

“There is just a unique bond that veterans have within each other, within themselves, that you could almost communicate without speaking and I think it is reciprocated, we didn’t do it for any kind of glory,” Rubi said.

Being a veteran and being thanked for being one has become all too programmed and should still carry meaning and understanding, Rubi said.

“It seems like people have been programmed to say that every time they see a veteran before you say it, I think, you should understand why you are saying it,” he said.