Biography
Branden Kunath serves as the National Programs Director for Mighty Oaks Foundations, Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs. Mighty Oaks Foundation is dedicated to helping America’s military warriors and their families suffering from the “unseen wounds” of combat such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Branden is responsible for the majority of the operational and logistical requirements pertaining to Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs. Branden is a medically retired United States Marine Staff Sergeant who served as an Infantry Machine Gunner and as an Infantry Unit Leader during his 15 years of active duty service. He served with Marine Corps Security Forces Europe (Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team) stationed in Rota Spain 1st Battalion 1st Marine Regiment Company C, 2nd Battalion 1st Marine Regiment Company E, and Weapons Company based out of Camp Pendleton. He also served as a Marine Combat Instructor at the School of Infantry West, instructing basic trained Marines to achieve a Military Occupation Specialty of 0331 Infantry Machine Gunner. During this time, he also instructed at Advanced Infantry Battalion West – Infantry Machine Gun Leaders Course. Branden has had the opportunity to gain a large amount of experience conducting missions all over the world while being stationed in Rota, Spain. Soon after transitioning to Camp Pendleton, he quickly found himself deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan multiple times. Branden conducted combat missions in Iraq at Umm Qasr, Fallujah, Sahl Sinjar, Haditha and many others. He also conducted combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan as a Heavy Weapons Platoon Sergeant and as Operations Chief Embedded Training Advisory Team to the 25th Kandak (Battalion) Afghanistan Army. Branden was combat meritoriously promoted to the rank for Staff Sergeant for actions while being deployed to Iraq. After being assigned to the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Camp Pendleton, Branden found himself arriving to a Fight Club session in December 2013. After graduating and dedicating his life to Christ, he had noticed he was not alone in his fight, he quickly realized where his newfound purpose was. He now lives to share his passion of what Christ has done not only in him but also in his wife Jeanette and children’s lives in order to reach others battling the effects of combat trauma, so that they might find hope and a new purpose in life.
