A Different Type of Service in a New Uniform

Calo’s presence immediately pours out steady calmness and a relentless belief in others. It is the quiet confidence of a man who has lived through the extremes of military life, personal loss, and recovery.

Time after time, he has chosen to turn his lessons into guidance for himself and his fellow brothers and sisters still searching for their footing after service.

Take it from Veteran Kenneth Patrician who now smiles boldly alongside Calo (pictured).

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in The Bronx, New York, Calo joined the U.S. Army in 1975, beginning a remarkable 25-year journey of leadership, service, and transformation. 

Over the course of his military career, he became a ranger and rose from squad leader to battalion command sergeant major, serving in missions that shaped our nation’s history such as Urgent Fury (Grenada, 1983), Just Cause (Panama, 1989), Desert Storm (Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, 1990), and multiple humanitarian and counter-drug operations across Latin America.

Throughout it all, he carried one principle that still defines him: “Mission first, people always.”

Reflecting on his military service, he shares, “Taking care of my soldiers was non-negotiable. Their welfare was my mission.” 

That same ethos guides his work now as a Certified Peer Specialist for the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC), Mental Health Clinic, and Domiciliary.

The Domiciliary, located on the Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center campus, is designed to provide state of the art, high quality rehabilitation and treatment services for Veterans with identified addiction or substance use disorders. 

When Calo left the military service in 2000, he did not walk into immediate stability. 

Like many Veterans transitioning to civilian life, he faced uncertainty and frustration. His civilian career began as a dispatcher, safety manager, and warehouse supervisor before finding his way to VA in 2010 as a medical support assistant.

“I always remembered an experience I had years ago when I was seeking assistant and I was brushed off. I told myself that if I ever had the chance, I’d do the opposite, I’d help Veterans, not turn them away.”

That promise became his priority. Fast forward to 2015, Calo became a Florida state certified peer specialist, driven by his conviction that Veterans need someone who truly understands the journey; someone who once lived the struggle, fought the inner battles, and ultimately came out on the stronger side.

“Many Veterans come in believing we do not have a voice,” he shares. “We believe the providers make all final decisions, and we just must accept it. I tell them, that is not true. VA doctors work for us, and we must learn to advocate for ourselves.”

That message of empowerment has become his signature. He often provides rides to appointments, ensures warm hand-offs to Veterans Service Officers, and even purchases challenge coins out of his own pocket to celebrate each Veteran who completes a recovery program. 

“The coin is not just a token,” he shares. “It is a symbol that stands for I did it. I am moving forward, to support building confidence through connection.”

Calo’s efforts go beyond the walls of the clinic. He assists with the clothing closet at the Domiciliary, ensuring Veterans in need have access to essentials like shoes and apparel. 

He goes beyond giving the literal shirt off his back. He is also known for taking Veterans on community outings, not for leisure, but for reintegration. 

“It is not just a picnic,” Calo said with a smile. “It’s about showing them that they can go out, have fun, and live without drugs or alcohol. It’s about rediscovering joy and belonging.”

Behind every action is a belief in resilience through community. Calo knows firsthand that the path to recovery often begins with trust and it is earned through consistency, compassion, and presence. 

Standing once in those shoes, he shares, “When a Veteran is skeptical, I tell them to follow me, and I show them what to do to improve their lives.”

For Calo, service never ended, he simply changed uniforms. His motto, carried from his U.S. Army Ranger days, remains unchanged: “Can Do.” When someone says something is impossible, he asks, “Did you try?”

That question, simple but profound, captures the essence of peer support. It is about showing up, lifting up, and never giving up on a fellow Veteran.

His mentorship turns setbacks into lessons, his advocacy turns silence into self-advocacy, and his faith turns despair into hope.

“If it was not for God,” he admits, “I would have given up a long time ago. But He kept me here for a reason.”

That reason, he shares is to guide our brothers and sisters’ home.

For more information on the Domiciliary, visit: https://www.va.gov/homeless/dchv.asp.