Vocational Goal
Complete the education and training necessary to find suitable employment that will not exacerbate my service connected disabilities.
Personal Context
I avoided using these services for years. I didn't even get fully rated for my service-connected disabilities until a year ago. After suffering from extreme PTSD, depression, and anxiety, I am finally applying for the benefits that I'm entitled to, though I previously felt guilty for using them.
Training Plan Rationale
I believe that the below education and training plan is the most optimal plan for me to find the suitable employment that won't exacerbate my service-connected disabilities.
While my initial education training was in economics, I cannot practice economics or similar job duties without exacerbating my service connected disabilities. I have been unemployed for years now while trying to pursue a career in economics and need new training and education to find suitable employment that will not exacerbate my service connected disabilities.
The employment that will be most suitable for me is self-employment. I need education and training in order to pursue self-employment because without that training I cannot do the job without exacerbating my service-connected disabilities.
The education and training below is the cheapest and fastest possible plan for me to gain suitable employment that will not exacerbate my service-connected disabilities. If I do not do this education and training plan, my service-connected disabilities will be exacerbated. It is imperative that I get this education and training so I can gain suitable employment that will not exacerbate my service-connected disabilities.
VR&E Eligibility & Entitlement
Under 38 USC § 3102 and 38 CFR § 21.53, I am entitled to vocational rehabilitation services. My service-connected disabilities constitute a Serious Employment Handicap (SEH) as defined under 38 CFR § 21.1, preventing me from securing and maintaining suitable employment without specialized training and adaptive equipment outlined in this plan.
1. AI Programming Bootcamp
Fullstack Academy AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp
2. Video Editing & Drone Videography Bootcamp
Miracamp Video Editing Bootcamp
3. Image Editing Bootcamp
AGI Photoshop Bootcamp
4. Cartography/Mapping (GIS) Bootcamp
Michigan State University - Professional GIS Certificate
5. Language Immersion Programs
- Spanish - Fluenz Language University
- Mandarin Chinese - Beijing Language & Culture University
- Korean - Seoul Intensive Program
- Japanese - Private Intensive Tutoring
- Russian - Private Intensive Program
- French - Inalco + Private Tutoring
Complete Equipment & Resources List
All items required across the five training programs
Computing & Display
| Item | Program | Price |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 16" M5 Max (Space Black) | Shared (All Programs) | $7,848.98 |
| Incase Edge Hardshell Case for 16" MacBook Pro | AI Programming | $49.95 |
| USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter | AI Programming | $69.00 |
| CalDigit TS5 Thunderbolt Dock (qty 2) | Shared (All Programs) | $1,599.80 |
| LaCie 2TB Mobile SSD Secure USB-C Drive | AI Programming | $249.95 |
| AirPods Pro 3 | AI Programming | $249.00 |
| Studio Display XDR (Nano-texture glass, Tilt- and height-adjustable stand) | Image Editing | $3,599.00 |
| Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 | Image Editing | $3,499.00 |
| Wacom Flex Arm Retro Fit Kit | Image Editing | $180.00 |
Video & Cinema Equipment
| Item | Program | Price |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine Premium Combo | Video/Drone | $4,799.00 |
| DJI RS 4 Pro Combo | Video/Drone | $1,099.00 |
| Professional Video Tripod System (Sachtler) | Video/Drone | $2,500.00 |
| Gimbal Head | Video/Drone | $800.00 |
Lighting Equipment
| Item | Program | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Aputure LS 600x Pro (bi-color) | Video/Drone | $1,899.00 |
| Aputure 300d II | Video/Drone | $599.00 |
| Aputure MC Pro RGB Panel Kit (4-pack) | Video/Drone | $399.00 |
| Additional LED panels and modifiers | Video/Drone | $500.00 |
Audio Equipment
| Item | Program | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser MKH 416 Shotgun Mic | Video/Drone | $999.00 |
| RØDE Wireless Pro System | Video/Drone | $399.00 |
| RØDE NT1000 Condenser | Video/Drone | $269.00 |
| Audio recorder (Zoom F6) | Video/Drone | $699.00 |
| Professional headphones for pronunciation | Languages | $400.00 |
Color Calibration & Accessories
| Item | Program | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Calibrite ColorChecker Display Plus HL | Image Editing | $339.00 |
| X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Photo 2 | Image Editing | $99.00 |
| SpyderX Pro | Image Editing | $206.00 |
Software & Cloud Services
| Item | Program | Price |
|---|---|---|
| AWS initial learning credits | AI Programming | $500.00 |
| DaVinci Resolve Studio (perpetual license) | Video/Drone | $295.00 |
| Final Cut Pro (perpetual license) | Video/Drone | $299.99 |
| Capture One Pro (perpetual license) | Image Editing | $299.00 |
| Global Mapper Pro | GIS | $549.00 |
| Additional GIS extensions | GIS | $2,000.00 |
| Pingo AI (Lifetime license) | Languages | $299.00 |
| Pimsleur Complete Language Courses (6 languages) | Languages | $1,725.00 |
Training Programs
| Program | Institution | Price |
|---|---|---|
| AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp | Fullstack Academy | $10,000.00 |
| Video Editing Bootcamp | Miracamp | $2,700.00 |
| Photoshop Bootcamp | AGI Training | $2,000.00 |
| Professional GIS Certificate | Michigan State University | $4,000.00 |
| Spanish - Immersion Bootcamp (4 weeks in Mexico City) | Fluenz Language University | $26,000.00 |
| Spanish - 15-hour Zoom package | Fluenz Language University | $1,600.00 |
| Mandarin Chinese - Full immersion program | Beijing Language & Culture University | $6,000.00 |
| Mandarin Chinese - Private tutoring | Private | $3,000.00 |
| Korean - 52-week immersion program | Seoul Intensive Program | $8,000.00 |
| Japanese - Private tutoring (150 hours) | Private | $15,000.00 |
| Russian - Private tutoring (150 hours) | Private | $15,000.00 |
| French - Intensive course | Inalco | $3,000.00 |
| French - Private tutoring | Private | $7,000.00 |
Study Materials & Resources
| Item | Program | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Professional spatial datasets | GIS | $1,500.00 |
| Reference materials and textbooks | GIS | $500.00 |
| Textbooks, dictionaries, resources (6 languages × $300) | Languages | $1,800.00 |
| Chinese character input tablet | Languages | $200.00 |
Trent Brown
Education
United States Military Academy, West Point, New York
May 2013Bachelor of Science in Economics
- Men's Soccer (Division I): Leadership Group (3 years), John McHugh Selfless Service Award (2010), MVP (2011)
Experience
Co-Founder & General Partner, WPMC
New York, NY
- Built and managed a first-check venture capital fund that invested over $3 million in 12 technology startups.
- Helped companies grow from zero to one with two startups gaining $100+ million valuations.
Co-Founder & CEO, Pleeb
New York, NY
- Raised over $217,500 to build a crowdfunding platform for startups and pivoted into a design and development agency due to poor fundraising conditions.
- Created and served a pipeline of clients that generated over $285,000 in revenue in 11 months.
Technology Sales Associate, Corporate & Investment Bank, J.P. Morgan
New York, NY
- Grew largest client book in 6 months, exceeded annual quota by 18% by securing 2 new enterprise clients worth over $10 million, while maintaining 24 existing relationships.
- Led cross-functional teams of internal and external stakeholders to streamline client onboarding process, improving customer satisfaction by 30% and reducing churn by 5%.
Captain, U.S. Army
Fort Bragg, NC & Washington D.C.
- Led teams of 30+ soldiers to exceed supply readiness targets by 26% by building the first Contingency Stock Warehouse at Fort Bragg supplying units for last minute operations worldwide.
- Co-led the transportation logistics for 58th Presidential Inauguration, negotiated and implemented the first comprehensive vehicle tracking software contract for the inauguration and inaugural events.