Erik Shaw

Erik Shaw (Born Erik Alan Shaw in Panama City Florida) is a Veteran-rights advocate,spokesmen and Author, formally out of Pittsburgh, PA.
Shaw was a well known veteran-rights personality in Pittsburgh, PA from 2008-2010 while working with multiple non-profit organizations that specialize in veterans issues, and more specifically post-military career issues that veterans often have upon completion of their military service.
Shaw was Born in 1979 to Ed and Linda Shaw, both of Pittsburgh, PA. Shaw's parents were both members of the US Air Force during this time and in 1980 they left Florida for their hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Shaw has 1 sister.
Shaw was raised in Imperial, PA and went to school in the West Allegheny school district until 1993 when his family moved to the city of Pittsburgh where Shaw's father is currently a police officer.
In 1993, Shaw went to a catholic school (Incarnation Academy) and claims he "never bought into the system and spent the year in the hallway". The school has since closed. Shaw's classmates included Luke Ravenstahl, the current mayor of Pittsburgh.
He attended Perry Traditional Academy from 1994 until graduation in 1998. He says these 4 years were the toughest of his life and other than a diploma got "nothing" from attending this school. He claims he will never support the school in any capacity for any reason in the future. He maintains very few relationships from this time period.
In the year 2000, Shaw joined the United States Army. He joined with military occupational specialty 14R and upon completion of basic training was sent to Ft Bliss, TX to train as a Bradley Line Backer Crew member.
From 2001-2003 Shaw was stationed with 4/3 ADA battery in the 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One) and attained the rank of Specialist (E-4).
From 2003-2004 he was stationed in Korea with 5/5 ADA in the 2nd Infantry Division. While in Korea he met his wife, Kristen, who was also a member of the United States Army. They currently have 1 child. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2003.
From 2004-2006 Shaw was stationed at Ft Carson, Colorado and spent time with the 4th Infantry Division; upon the deactivation of C 1/44 ADA Battery volunteered to join the Army's elite [http://3rd%20Armored%20Cavalry%20Division 3rd Armored Cavalry Division].
In 2005 he was deployed to Iraq as a Dismounted Team leader. The regiment and his platoon were in charge of a 40 mile area in the South Baghdad region. The fighting was intense and the platoon was hit by over 40+ Improvised Explosive Devices during this time.One of these IED resulted in the death of one of Shaws Platoon members and the serious injury of 3 others. The Regiment was sent to northern Iraq in June 2005 and in July, Shaw's platoon was sent to Tal Afar, Iraq to improve security for upcoming elections and eliminate the threat of Al-Qaeda in this insurgent stronghold. The infamous Iraqi Al-Qaeda leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was using Tal Afar as a base in which they could launch attacks throughout Iraq.
The Regiment and Shaw's platoon were involved in the methodical raid of Tal Afar called "Operation Restoring Rights". Shaw would serve on his unit's sniper team as a "in-house" trained spotter and was also a Bradley Fighting Vehicle Commander. This mission would be the first positive mission for the military while in Iraq and would later be called by President George W Bush as the "turning point" for Iraq. The Regiment would be awarded The Presidential Unit citation for their heroic actions in Tal Afar.
Post-military, Shaw moved from Colorado to Washington D.C. where he became active in Veteran issues. From his own experience having difficulties finding a job, he started to make others aware of this widespread problem, and linked up with a non-profit organization out of Atlanta, GA, Hire Heroes USA. Shaw volunteered to assist this organization from 2007 to 2010. In 2007, Shaw was part of feature in Forbes Magazine that highlighted post-military issues. Shaw now says he has "retired" from assisting non-profit organizations, but does endorse The Fisher House and The Wounded Warrior Project. Shaw says he doesn't like the "wounded" label many of the magazines has given him. Shaw insists he was "deathly sick for a little while there, but not wounded". Shaw was directly hit by an IED while commanding his Bradley Fighting Vehicle in 2005 in South Baghdad and was exposed to multiple enemy engagements with his platoon during OIF 3; he was ultimately medically evacuated from Iraq in January 2006.
In 2008, Shaw moved back to Pittsburgh and accepted a position with the University Of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). While in Pittsburgh Shaw became more active with Veteran hiring efforts and worked with UPMC on various initiatives to hire disabled and combat veterans. In 2008 Shaw was featured in multiple national and local publications, and was interviewed multiple times by various media outlets in an attempt to make more people aware of the difficulties that veterans face when their military careers are over. He gave multiple speeches around the Pittsburgh area that "drove the point home" and really made a difference in the Pittsburgh area. A speech Shaw gave on Veterans Day in 2008 became an internet phenomenon, and has been featured by radio host, Betty Kilbride, on her radio program "All Fired up" in Washington DC and was even copyrighted on Shaw's behalf by a Vietnam Veterans Support Group based out of Delaware. Shaw claims to this day he always knows when the speech is "on the move" because his Facebook page explodes with friend requests! Shaw says that speech is his best work and his greatest moment as a writer. "The Speech", as Shaw calls it, has reportedly been featured on Veterans Day and Memorial Day around the United States on various media outlets. He says he even signed an autograph or 2 after some of his appearances, and was blown away that people thought that highly of "The Speech".
In 2009, Shaw was invited to speak at a program to announce UPMC's commitment to the US Army Reserves Employment Partnership program. Shaw spoke at the ceremony and met with US Army Reserve Commanding General, Jack Stultz. Shaw and General Stultz were subsequently featured in GI Jobs Magazine, a national publication that assists in Veteran hiring efforts.
Shaw stayed active in Pittsburgh and worked with the VA,UPMC and other organizations until the Spring of 2010 when he started working as an adviser for the US Army Reserves.During his time in Pittsburgh and his time as a key note speaker he created opportunities for hundreds of veterans nationwide but also in the Western Pennsylvania region. Shaws efforts in raising awareness changed how a Billion dollar company went about hiring Veterans and as noted in during a Press conference in 2009 "UPMC is unmatched in it's dedication to veterans". The ability to identify a problem and fix it in a fast and cost effective manner was Shaw's strong suit in helping veterans and it was used to place wounded and disabled Veterans in situations in which they could lead normal lives and begin to heal.
In the Spring of 2010, Shaw started working full time as an adviser and moved to Colorado Springs, where he says he will write an autobiography (Brave Rifles) about his time in the US Military and his post military trials and tribulations . The book is on schedule for a Fall 2011 release in selected markets and nationwide availability in 2012.
Shaw currently works with his fellow Cavalry Troopers to organize an annual reunion in reminiscent of The Doolittle Raiders annual traditional toast. The event, Cavfest, is held at start of every summer and will continue to honor all the fallen soldiers of the 3RD ACR until all the members of Predator Battery, the Regimental leadership, and invited veterans of the 3RD ACR and OIF 1-6 have all passed on.
Shaw is an avid collector of WWII memorabilia and has made efforts to meet with WWII vets any time he gets the opportunity and also works to preserve their legacy's.

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