I am humbled to be a tiny representation of every Veteran as my family has answered the call to serve. My uncles fought courageously in WWII as part of the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team and another uncle was portrayed in the Korean War film Pork Chop Hill. My father volunteered to serve in the famed Army Reserve’s 100-442 Infantry Regiment to later serve in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division. My father served alongside an uncle, brother, and cousins. This tradition carried forward with my generation – a cousin became a Navy fighter pilot, another a Soldier and others upheld the legacy as Military Spouses. My wife’s family endured wartime internment. Her grandfather was relocated from Hawai‘i to the Gila River Relocation Center to be reunited with his family. My ‘Ohana has shaped my identity and values instilling my deep respect for loyalty, duty, service, and sacrifice to our Nation.
Originally from Hawai‘i, Jason Kuroiwa, SHRM-SCP, is the Principal of Kuro Mentors, LLC, a certified SBA Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, transforming organizational design and productivity. As an executive advisor, he serves on the boards of the Japanese American Veterans Association, the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, and the supervisory committee for the Sea West Coast Guard Federal Credit Union. His strategic insight earned him an appointment on the U.S. Department of Labor Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach. Jason has bridged public, private, and nonprofit sectors, owning a recreational diving instructor business in Hawai‘i while serving in elite units such as the 82nd Airborne Division, 25th Infantry Division, and 3d Cavalry. His roles as Diplomatic Liaison Officer in Saudi Arabia and Senior HR Trainer at the U.S. Army National Training Center helped shape our future warfighters. His leadership for innovative startup was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.
