STOP THE BLEED® Instructors and United States Veterans Justin Gardiner and Gilbert Agaran were recently spotlighted by the Stars and Stripes publication.
Justin Gardiner’s Spotlight:
Veteran Justin Gardiner enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2006. He served as an infantryman with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. While on deployment to Afghanistan, Gardiner was wounded in action. He earned the Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart Medal for his service and sacrifice.
“I joined the Army in 2006 as an Infantryman and was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. I deployed with the “Sky Soldiers” to Afghanistan where I was subsequently wounded in action, receiving the Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart Medal. This is what inspired me to get involved with the Stop the Bleed campaign. Having witnessed firsthand the importance of recognizing and stopping life threatening bleeding and the benefits of tactical casualty care, I knew it was important to help spread that awareness and teach others the same techniques and life saving measures I learned while serving.”
Gardiner was inspired to join the Stop the Bleed® program after his experiences in combat underscored the critical importance of recognizing and stopping life-threatening bleeding. His firsthand exposure to tactical casualty care motivated him to share those lifesaving skills with civilians. Gardiner is now committed to teaching the same techniques he learned in the military to help others be prepared in emergencies.
Gardiner has taught Stop the Bleed®, Active Violence Response, and Officer Safety Courses for the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers (CACEO) for several years. He was also the recipient of the first-ever Instructor of the Year Award from CACEO.
Gilbert Agaran’s Spotlight:
Veteran Gilbert Agaran served as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman. He separated from active duty in January of 2002 and is now a licensed Stop the Bleed® Coalition instructor. During is military experience, he acted in high-pressure environments where immediate medical response was critical.
“During my time as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, I served alongside Marines and sailors in environments where immediate medical response often made the difference between life and death. That experience taught me the critical importance of staying calm under pressure and acting quickly to control severe bleeding. When I transitioned into civilian life, I knew I wanted to carry that mission forward—teaching others lifesaving skills through the STOP THE BLEED® campaign felt like a natural way to continue serving and empowering communities to be ready when seconds matter.”
Military medical experience inspired him to continue his commitment to lifesaving care after transitioning to civilian life. Agaran chose to carry forward that mission by teaching with the Stop the Bleed® campaign. He is passionate about empowering communities with skills that save lives when seconds matter.
Agaran is dedicated to making Stop the Bleed® training widely available beyond classroom settings. He actively contributes to community preparedness and resilience through collaborative efforts with local agencies. As part of his commitment to healthcare and readiness, Agaran has expanded Stop the Bleed® training in the western Tidewater region of Virginia to include Suffolk, Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.
Agaran has trained hundreds of individuals, including teachers, staff and everyday citizens. In addition, his work has built strong partnerships with local health departments and emergency response teams to increase training accessibility and community impact.
