Long before John Martin became a Master Sergeant in the Army, or the new Veterans Services Officer (VSO) for Natick and Dover, he was a 19-year-old kid in Nashville working in a factory. The money was good, and the work wasn’t overly taxing, but Martin knew one thing for certain: He didn’t want to do it for the rest of his life.

Driven by a desire to grow up and find a path that would challenge him both physically and mentally, he walked into the local recruiting offices. He found the Marine Corps and Navy offices empty that day, so he stepped into the only staffed office. Decision made—looks like Martin was going to be all that he could be in the Army. By his own admission, he was a bit of a “smart-alek” at the time—sarcastic and in need of some discipline. He told the recruiter he wanted the toughest job they had.

Recruiters pointed him toward “unassigned special forces.” When Martin asked what that meant, they asked if he’d seen the movie The Green Berets. He had, and that was all the motivation he needed. After passing his aptitude tests, Martin officially enlisted. The first time he saw snow was during basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, in December 1983—two feet of it. This is the Army? Yeah, this is the Army, soldier.

It’s all about the communication

Martin’s early military career was a trial by fire. After basic training he was sent to Georgia where he learned Morse code and RATT Rig communication—systems that provided permanent paper records via radio waves, a staple of the Vietnam era. He eventually made it through Airborne school at Fort Benning in Georgia, followed by the grueling qualification course for Special Forces at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

“Luckily I passed. I got through it. That was probably what really challenged me physically and mentally. But I was never deployed during combat with an A-Team.” However, he was later deployed during combat operations under Operation Enduring Freedom, serving in Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and Qatar.

Close to the end of his first four years in the service, a Vietnam-veteran Colonel brought his unit together for some “tough love,” telling those who weren’t planning for a career in the military that they “need to get out, because we don’t want you here.” Martin took that advice and he and his wife eventually settled down in Massachusetts because his wife, a Waltham native, was homesick.

The “retirement” didn’t last. Martin returned to the Army, making it a career that spanned over 20 years. After serving in recruiting for four years, a different position opened up that would allow him to transfer many of his skills. Martin’s interest was piqued by a job in retention at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. He secured the post and considers his work there something of a training ground for what he is doing today. Martin was tasked with taking care of other soldiers. “I had a high leadership role, with a lot of soldiers under me, and I made sure they were good to go as much as I could.”

Martin, who eventually earned the rank of Master Sergeant, finished his career at Fort Devens in Massachusetts, retiring in 2018.

Finding his calling in civilian life

Transitioning to civilian life, Martin already knew that his best work happened when he was taking care of other soldiers. After a stint as a recruiter for MassBay Community College, he moved into the role of Veterans Coordinator at the Wellesley campus.

“I thought it was the best job in the world,” he says. “I would greet every veteran into the college, help them with their education schedules, and mentor the younger ones. It was absolutely great.”

After he left MassBay in 2025, Martin dabbled with the concept of true retirement, but it didn’t stick. When the VSO position in Natick opened, he jumped at the chance. Though Martin is currently “covered up with work” while completing his VA and Chapter 115 certifications, he says he is invigorated by the mission.

Goals for Natick and Dover

Martin is stepping into a role with a significant legacy, following Paul Carew’s 16 years of service

Right now, Martin is completing his online training so he can get certified to use the VA system. He is also completing his Chapter 115 training, which will bring him up to speed on all the current financial benefits available to eligible veterans. Once those i’s are dotted and t’s crossed, he will be optimally primed to ensure that every veteran in the community knows who he is and what he can do for them.

Martin notes, “This town is blessed with several veterans organizations. Most towns don’t have that. Some don’t have any.” To that end, a goal of his is to make sure younger veterans know not only about the services he can provide as Natick’s VSO, but to let them know that there are veterans organizations in town where they will be welcomed.

Veterans organizations in Natick include the DAV (Disabled American Veterans), which meets in the Natick Community-Senior Center, as does the American Legion; the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), which  has its own building on West Central Street.; and AMVETS, which has its own building on Superior Drive, overlooking Lake Cochituate.

Another of Martin’s goals is to meet every single veteran, if possible, in Natick, to let them know who he is and what he can do for them, and make sure all know what services are available to them. A recent coffee hour was well attended, and Martin is looking to make that a regular thing, with outside speakers to present topics, for example, such as money management.

Also cemetery stewardship is a big part of his job. With about 4,000 veterans graves in Natick, Martin is grateful that there are already experienced volunteers who make sure flags are in place on graves ahead of big holidays.

How to connect

John Martin’s office is located at the Community-Senior Center, at 117 E. Central St. He encourages any veteran or family member who cannot visit during standard hours to reach out via email or phone to schedule a time that works for them.

From the factory floor to Special Forces, Martin brings a career of service and a “vet-first” philosophy to his new full-time role in Natick and Dover. Whether it is navigating federal VA claims, accessing Chapter 115 benefits, or simply finding a community of peers, Martin’s message to the veterans of Natick and Dover is simple: He is here to help.

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