I have lived under very different flags in my lifetime. I was born in the former Soviet Union, where freedom was restricted and tightly controlled. Even as a young child, I experienced what life looked like when liberty was something people dreamed about rather than lived every day. When I was six years old, my family immigrated to Israel, where I grew up and discovered the meaning of service to something greater than myself.
For the next 24 years, Israel became my home. I proudly served for a decade in the Israel Defense Forces, where I learned that duty, sacrifice, and commitment are more than words—they are values that define a life of purpose. Those years taught me that the security and freedom of a nation are never guaranteed. They are earned and protected by ordinary men and women willing to put others before themselves.
In 2015, I fulfilled a dream I had carried since I was a teenager and immigrated to the United States. America had always represented hope to me—a nation founded on liberty, opportunity, and the belief that people can build a better future through hard work and service. Today, I have the incredible privilege of serving this country twice: as a member of the United States Air Force and as a police officer in New Jersey.
The United States is far more than the place where I live. It is my home. Having lived under very different systems of government, I understand how rare and precious America’s freedoms truly are. Freedom is not simply a word in the Constitution or a principle we celebrate on holidays. It is the ability to speak openly, pursue opportunity, worship freely, and determine your own future. It is something millions of Americans have inherited because generations before them were willing to defend it with extraordinary courage—and, in far too many cases, with their lives.
That is why I believe so deeply in the mission of Travis Manion Foundation. The men and women who serve our nation, and the families who stand beside them, deserve more than our gratitude. They deserve our continued investment, our support, and our promise that their sacrifices will never be forgotten. Organizations like Travis Manion Foundation ensure that the legacy of those who served lives on by inspiring future generations to lead with character, courage, and selfless service.
My journey has taken me across continents and through different chapters of history, but it has led me to one profound truth: freedom is never free. It survives only when people are willing to protect it and when a grateful nation chooses to honor those who answered that call. Supporting our veterans and service members is not simply an act of appreciation—it is an investment in the very values that make America the greatest nation in the world.
Serving this country is the greatest honor of my life, and supporting those who have worn, and continue to wear, the uniform is one of the most meaningful ways I can give back to the nation that gave me a home.
With much gratitude and respect,
Ben Adam
Airman. Officer. Patriot. Husband. Father.