ABC7 Salutes veteran social worker dedicated to helping other veterans

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES -- After 20 years in the Marine Corps, and multiple deployments overseas, Adam Castillo said he suddenly realized when he retired from the military in 2014 that he couldn't find a job.

"I left the Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant, you know, leading Marines as a chief instructor was my last duty," Castillo said. "It was humbling. It was an experience I wasn't ready for."

The married father of four from South Gate said it led him into a deep, dark place, but other veterans helped pull him out.

Castillo now wants to do the same for veterans struggling with homelessness, mental illness or addiction. He's now a case worker at the veteran's resource center in downtown L.A.'s Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, helping local vets and even his fellow colleagues get through some of the toughest times in their lives.

"Just because he's a Marine, I trust him," said Iraq War veteran Elliott McKenzie. "And that level of trust allows us to lean on each other when times are hard or when we have personal issues that we can't talk to other people about."

At the same time, Castillo is also halfway through getting his master's degree in social work at USC.

"In all of our social work programs we have about 200 student veterans. About one-third are involved in the military social work program," said Mark Todd, USC vice provost for academic operations. "They're the perfect ones for serving their colleagues. You know, they've served beside them in combat."

More than being a veteran, Castillo believes studying the culture of veterans will help him counsel more men and women who often walk in here feeling lost, but walk out with guidance and hope.

"This is where I want to be," Castillo said. "I'm fulfilling my purpose right now, and helping veterans is the population I want to work with."

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