Lead Employment Specialist
“For me, helping others is very personal. I want to give in the same way I have received. I have lived experience, so helping others overcome what I also struggled with brings me joy and a sense of accomplishment.”
Bradley Peraino, Lead Employment Specialist
What is your name? My name is Bradley Peraino.
What is your position with VOAMI? Lead Employment Specialist
What brought you to VOAMI? I came to VOAMI due to my desire to help fellow veterans, especially those who mirrored my own employment and housing insecurity issues.
How long have you worked with VOAMI? I have been employed at VOAMI for over 2 years.
What is your biggest takeaway from your job? Pride! Helping veterans is a selfish venture. It makes me feel good! I am proud to tell people what I do for a living.
What does it mean to you to be helping others? For me, helping others is very personal. I want to give in the same way I have received. I have lived experience, so helping others overcome what I also struggled with brings me joy and a sense of accomplishment.
What is your biggest challenge? My biggest challenge, thus far, has been understanding that I cannot help everyone. I can’t fix everything! I have had to learn that, sometimes, things are just going to go wrong, and how we react to the problem is just as important as trying to fix it.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given? The best piece of advice I have been given is, “Never ask someone to do a task that you, yourself, can accomplish.”
What is your favorite color? My favorite color/s is Camouflage. It represents the various dimensions of “Me”, whilst allowing for privacy/concealment.
Where is your ideal vacation spot? My ideal vacation is being surrounded by two thing, my family and nature; both of which bring me closer to God.
What is your favorite book? My favorite book is “The Holy Bible” (For entertainment purposes: the “Left Behind” series).
What fills your time outside of work? Family takes up most of my time, outside of work. However, I do enjoy writing poetry and spending time in nature.
Who is your hero? Why? My hero is my wife, Sara. She saved my life with love, patience, and kindness; far more than most women are expected to possess.
Did you serve in the military? Yes, I served in the Military.
What Branch did you serve in? I served in the U.S. Army.
How long did you serve? I served almost 5 years, before being medically discharged due to service-connected injuries.
What was your rank? I was a Specialist (E-4) upon my discharge.
What was your job in the military? In the Army, I was a 96U (Unmanned Areial Vehicle Operator). I flew drones, namely the RQ-5A Hunter UAV.
