Julie Muster Bryson

I attribute my success to the discipline and purpose the Army gave me after a childhood spent in group homes and foster care. Serving 11 years on active duty taught me I was capable of great accomplishments. It gave me the courage to try, even with fears of failure, plus the confidence to help others, especially veterans. Mastering the Army's challenges showed me that despite people saying 'you're too girly, you'll never make it,' I could succeed through determination. That 'I'll show you' mentality from basic training became my foundation for everything, from earning my master's degree with a 4.0 GPA to building Boots 2 Benefits. My drive comes from stopping the generational legacy of addiction and trauma. I'm determined to ensure my sons and the veterans I serve break free from cycles that hold people back, creating a legacy of service and success instead.

I would have to say the best career advice I ever received was to ignore the naysayers. Throughout my life - from basic training to building my businesses - there were always people saying I couldn't do it. But I learned to tune out that noise and instead listen for God's guidance in my life. When you focus on helping others rather than proving people wrong, everything changes. My mission became about serving fellow veterans who were struggling with the same VA system that challenged me. When you help others, you help yourself - it gives your work inspirational meaning beyond personal success. The naysayers become irrelevant when you walk in your purpose. God's plan for my life was bigger than their doubts, and focusing on serving others kept me on the right path even when the critics were loud.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to lead with passion—when you truly care about helping others, especially veterans, it doesn't feel like work. You're not just filing claims; you're changing lives, bringing peace of mind to those who’ve served and their families.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is that many veterans leave the military without the tools, knowledge, or encouragement to transition into civilian life. During their service, leadership rarely encourages service members to report injuries. They will often feel overwhelmed or discouraged by the VA system. Unfortunately, it goes deeper than that. The military culture doesn't support service members going to sick call and reporting injuries while they're serving. Then they're discharged without being prepared for the loss of structure, teamwork, and camaraderie that defined their military experience. The military changes you fundamentally and foundationally. You develop confidence, military bearing, and a direct communication style. Then you find yourself suddenly surrounded by family and friends who say 'you're different' and don't understand the person you've become. They see your confidence and military bearing in a negative light. So veterans are dealing with a triple challenge: they didn't document injuries while serving, they're struggling with the loss of military structure and brotherhood, AND they're feeling misunderstood by the very people who should be supporting them. Many veterans feel completely isolated and overwhelmed. The desire to support my military brothers and sisters is why I founded Boots 2 Benefits and the IGY6.2 Movement—to provide not just tactical claims guidance, but to restore that sense of military brotherhood and understanding that veterans desperately need.

The values most important to me are faith, service, integrity, and empowerment—with everything grounded in my relationship with the Lord and my commitment to raising my children to be productive in their community. My faith guides every decision I make, both personally and professionally. In fact, I feel so passionately about allowing your children to embrace their own individuality even while teaching them that since they've been given much, they must give back to those less fortunate, those who are the underdog and need help. I actually wrote a book - "Back to School Success: The Academic Parent's Guide, from an Army mom who raised three gentlemen with good grades." It reflects my belief that we can guide our children to excellence while respecting their individuality and teaching them to serve others. That same philosophy drives my professional work. I've done pro bono work for decades because I believe no veteran should be left behind due to financial hardship or lack of knowledge. That belief inspired me to create Boots 2 Benefits and the IGY6.2 Movement. Through everything I do, from my upcoming book, Operation FUBAR, to raising my sons, my goal is to lift others up and make sure no one faces their challenges alone. When you walk in your calling and strive to serve others with purpose, the work becomes more than just a career, it's your passion.