It was June 16, 2021, and a Toyota RAV4 had struck the side of a Ford F-250, leaving the Toyota crumbled, and the driver with an amputated left arm and other serious injuries, according to the Travis Air Force Base website.

The three technical sergeants from different units were all headed back to Travis Air Force Base when they each came across the scene of a horrific vehicle crash in Dixon, California

According to the website:

The driver was trapped in his car with the engine in his lap, many broken bones and his body was severely crushed into the steering wheel.

Tech Sgt. Adam McDonough, 60th Maintenance Squadron electrical and environment systems section chief, ran over and started providing aid to the man. He was unresponsive and initially, McDonough assumed he was dead.

While assisting the other driver in the Ford, a series of cries came from the Toyota as the car began going up in flames.

Tech. Sgt. Kelly Manibusan, 60th Healthcare Operations Squadron executive officer and medical technician, began tending to the flames engulfing the Toyota.

“Once I got out of my car another person and I were quick to pull the pin on an extinguisher and put out the flames,” said Manibusan. “I did as much aid as I could, but he didn’t respond to me because of a language barrier,”

Manibusan had been driving home after leaving work later than usual that day.

Meanwhile, another Travis airman heading home from work, Tech. Sgt. Paola Fay, 60th Surgical Operations Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of echocardiography and certified respiratory therapist for the heart, lung and vascular center, arrived at the crash scene.

Fay spoke Spanish and was able to break the language barrier and continue aid for the injured victim.

“I asked his name, explained he had been in a crash, put him in position so his airways would be clear,” Fay said.

“Then I just stayed with him and tried to keep him from losing consciousness,”

The man sustained severe injuries making each movement fraught.

McDonough and Fay assisted each other while removing a sheet of glass from the crashed vehicle.

Meanwhile, Manibusan directed attention to the Ford’s driver in effort to provide aid until first responders arrived on scene.

Fay and Manibusan witnessed levels of high stress in hospitals and McDonough had experience of being on a recovery team.

After 20 minutes of the three airmen providing aid and support, first responders arrived at the scene of the accident.

The Ford’s driver was taken to the hospital in a cervical spine collar, after the jaws of life removed him from the vehicle.

“Training kicked in for all three of us-every piece mattered, no matter how small,” said Manibusan.

“While one of us was tending to a driver, another one of us tended to the fire, and another one of us tended to the other driver,”

According to California Highway Patrol Public Affairs, both drivers survived the crash with serious injuries.

“As I left the scene, I began weeping,” said McDonough. “I cried in my wife’s arms when I got home, the next Sunday was Father’s Day and all I could think about was how that man was not going to be able to hold his kids or toss them in the air like I do with my young daughter. Thankfully, he’s alive,”

According to the Travis Air Force Base website the three airmen encouraged people who may find themselves in their shoes in the future to trust their training and instincts.

“I didn’t know until recently that he had survived until running into Sgt. Fay,” said Manibusan. “Now that I know that he survived…it’s a miracle, and it definitely teaches you to appreciate life a bit more,”

The three airmen were all recognized within their units for helping the crash victims, 2nd Lt. Amelia J. Chromy, a base spokeswoman, told Military Times in an email on Wednesday.

“As the award process takes time, it is possible that the Airmen may receive an award in the future,” she said. “Travis Airmen are always ready whether on or off duty, and as one of the Airmen is quoted in the story, ‘I didn’t get out of my car and tend to the driver for recognition.’”

On July 13, VA and the PenFed Foundation brought 80 women veteran entrepreneurs from 29 different states to participate in a six-month accelerator program to help guide and prepare them in federal and commercial marketplaces, according to a statement from the VA.

Participants are “VA center for Verification and evaluation verified, with three to five years in business and have past performance as a prime or subcontractor,” the statement said.

The six-month program was created to support women veteran entrepreneurs and bring empowerment to those seeking to grow their business. The program provides training and resources to start and grow businesses.

“It’s important we provide an environment where women entrepreneurs can receive strategic and deliberate education, empowerment, engagement and access to enhance their businesses,” said VA Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Executive Director Sharon Ridley.

“Through entrepreneurship, women veterans have an opportunity to leverage their military and leadership skills to increase and create economic opportunities,” Ridley continued.

Classes are available with a focus on relationship building, product/market analysis, business development and growth preparation.

Coaching from industry leaders such as AstraZeneca and Halfaker and Associates and OptumServe will be available to participants, as well as small groups for participation.

The program closes with a pitch competition. One participant with a winning pitch will be awarded a PenFed Foundation grant to use toward their own business.

“We have shared a goal: to empower women Veterans and create access to capital and systems to support them,” PenFed Foundation President and retired Army Gen. John W. Nicholson, Jr. said.

“We believe in creating a business ecosystem that establishes service in the U.S. military as the most reliable pathway to a successful entrepreneurship,” said Nicholson.

Learn more about VA’s mission to empower and educate Women Veteran Entrepreneurs for success and economic opportunities at Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

On Tuesday, Amazon pledged to hire 100,000 US veterans and veterans’ spouses by the year 2024.

Over 40,000 veterans and military spouses are currently employed by Amazon, from operations to Alexa to sustainability to Amazon Web Services (AWS), company offiicials say.

“Amazon is focused on recruiting and developing military talent with training programs specifically designed to help veterans transition into roles in the private sector,” said John Quintas, Amazon’s director of Global Military Affairs.

Vice president at the US Chamber of Commerce, Eric Eversole, spoke highly on behalf of the company’s goal, according to a statement from Amazon.

“Amazon recognizes the diverse backgrounds and experiences veterans and military spouses bring and how they strengthen the workforce, through their commitment to provide upskilling and employment opportunities in high demand careers, Amazon is equalizing opportunity for veterans and military spouses,” said Eversole.

The company will continue to offer opportunities to help transitioning veterans and their spouses to find a career within their preferred interest. “This includes access to company-funder skills training in high-demand areas, such as cloud computing, through initiatives like the Amazon Technical Apprenticeship Program and AWS re/Start,” a statement from amazon said.

Free exclusive opportunities will be available for military members to gain new technical skills to move into higher paying jobs. Programs include Career Choice and Amazon Technical Academy.

Amazon’s goal is to hire 16,000 military spouses.

Military Spouse programs are available for military spouses to apply for jobs that best fit their skills. Amazon is also offering classes, and a mentorship program.

“Amazon truly, truly, values what military spouses bring to the work force.” Beth Conlin, program manager of Military Spouse Programs at Amazon told Military Times.

An affinity group known as Warriors@amazon, with a community of over 10,000 former service members spouses and allies across the company is also available for those looking for fellowship and support.

Amazon has more than 35,000 positions in the US open. To apply and learn more about career opportunities visit Amazon.Jobs.