Founder Story

My name is Eric Wences, Founder of Guidon Austin. I was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and proudly served five years in the United States Marine Corps Infantry, including a deployment to Afghanistan. My time in the Marine Corps shaped the way I view leadership, service, and responsibility to others. The idea that you never leave someone behind isn’t just something we say it’s something that stays with you long after you take the uniform off.

When I transitioned out of the military, I experienced many of the same challenges that veterans across the country face. Navigating the VA system, understanding disability claims, filing appeals, and figuring out how to properly use education benefits can be overwhelming. Like many veterans, I spent years learning the process the hard way dealing with denials, submitting appeals, gathering evidence, and trying to understand a system that often feels complicated and difficult to navigate.

Over time, through persistence and the support of other veterans who had already walked the path before me, I was finally able to receive the benefits I had earned through my service. That experience changed my perspective. I realized how important it is to have someone in your corner who understands the system and can help guide you through it.

I began helping other veterans and their families navigate their own claims, benefits, and transition challenges. What started as simply helping friends and fellow veterans quickly grew into something bigger. After returning to Austin following nearly ten years away, I saw a clear need in the community for a place where veterans could connect, learn, and support one another while navigating the VA system and other challenges of civilian life.

That realization led to the creation of Guidon Austin.

Guidon Austin was built around the idea of a rally point a place where veterans, service members, and their families can come together to find guidance, share knowledge, and support one another. Our goal is to simplify complex systems, connect veterans with the resources they’ve earned, and ensure no one has to face these challenges alone.

At its core, this mission isn’t just professional for me it’s deeply personal. I’ve lived the process, I understand the frustrations, and I know how much of a difference it can make when someone takes the time to help guide you through it.

I try to live by a simple ethos:

  • Embrace both the small and large goals of the work.

  • Be proud of the influence you have on others.

  • Carry the light and help guide the way.

  • Stay true to yourself, even when it’s difficult, and always remain authentic.

Guidon Austin exists because of the belief that the same principle we lived by in service still matters at home:

No veteran should ever feel like they have to fight alone.

Director & Board Member

My name is Eathan Z. T. Racer, Director and Board Member of Guidon Austin. I proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 2016 to 2021 as an Infantry Rifleman and FAST Company Security Forces Marine, with deployments to Bahrain, Spain, and Afghanistan.

When my time in the military came to an end and I transitioned back into civilian life, I quickly realized that the journey home was not as simple as many people imagine. Like many veterans, I had to learn how to navigate the VA system, understand disability ratings, make sense of education benefits, and figure out how to rebuild a stable life for myself and my family. The process was confusing at times and often frustrating, and it became clear to me that far too many veterans are left trying to figure these things out alone.

Through my own experiences, I began to understand how important shared knowledge and community truly are. In the Marine Corps, we never left anyone behind. That same mindset should exist when we return home. Veterans should not have to fight through complicated systems or face life’s challenges without support, guidance, and people who understand what they’ve been through.

That belief is what led me to become involved with Guidon Austin. As a Director and Board Member, my focus is on helping ensure that veterans and their families have access to clear information, strong advocacy, and a supportive community when navigating VA benefits, education opportunities, and long-term stability. The work we do is about more than forms and paperwork. It is about helping veterans regain their footing, reconnect with purpose, and build a better future for themselves and their families.

This mission is deeply personal to me. As a husband and father, I understand that when a veteran struggles, the impact reaches far beyond the individual. Families carry that burden as well. Helping veterans secure the benefits and opportunities they have earned is about restoring stability, dignity, and confidence not just for the veteran, but for the entire family.

I believe in leading through service and example. The values that guided me in the Marine Corps continue to shape the way I approach this work today. At Guidon Austin, my goal is to stand alongside other veterans, share knowledge, and help build a stronger support network so no one has to face these challenges alone.

I live by a simple ethos:

  • Lead from the front.

  • Stand firm in integrity.

  • Build something that outlives you.

  • Be the steady hand and guiding light for those still finding their way.