About
Services for Success was founded by Melissa Hughes “The Military Maven”. She is a former Navy Recruiter who repurposed her knowledge to provide education to under served youth in Philadelphia to prepare them for successful recruitment in to the United States Military.
The inspiration to launch this organization came from witnessing a willing applicant fail the Military Enlisted Screening test. The applicant was not prepared physically or mentally to pass and be accepted due to her low-income environment. This struck a chord for Melissa and Services for Success was created.
The Services for Success Organization (S4S) creates opportunities for low income individuals to become eligible to join any branch of the Active Duty and Reserved Armed Forces. S4S achieves this by providing free or low cost ASVAB and GED tutoring, life skills/ developmental training and exercise classes.
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Melissa Hughes “The Military Maven” is founder and executive director of Services for Success; a tutoring and consulting firm that helps youth prepare for military enlistment. Melissa was born to a teenage single mother in the 80’s and raised in north Philadelphia. She went on to grow up with a step father and two half-brothers in a house filled with love. Melissa wanted to escalate her life and be exposed to more than just her neighborhood so, she joined the U.S. Navy after graduating high school.
Through the Navy Melissa had the opportunity to travel to over 12 different countries like Japan, China, Greece, Italy and Dubai (to name a few) for free. She was also able to attain three college degrees by using her Post 911 GI Bill and purchase her first home under her VA home loan benefit. Her fondness of the Navy (and military as a whole), along with its Veterans is what drew Melissa to attend USC’s Military Social Work Graduate Program. It was while attending this regarded program Melissa’s skills and knowledge took her towards the discipline of Human Resources. Empowered with her new founded passion Melissa took her talents and became a recruiter for the Navy.
It was while serving as a Navy Recruiter Melissa discovered the lack of readiness and preparation many applications in low income neighborhoods had. Melissa wanted to do something about this issue; and with her 14 years of military experience working in the Navy as a Recruiter, Command Career Counselor, and Air Traffic Controller she started Services for Success.
Melissa has been responsible for over 80 sailors’ combat preparation, enlisted over 27 sailors in the Navy in 1 year and assembled 5 military training courses for command readiness. In her current position as a Veteran Service Representative, at the Department of Veteran Affairs, she makes benefit eligibility determinations and evaluates Veteran evidence for submitted disability claims.
Melissa likes to read, work out, and spend time with her four children in her Pennsylvania home. Her favorite quote is “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are” by Theodore Roosevelt and, Melissa adds “and trust God to do the rest!” Because that’s exactly what she did when forming Services for Success and encourages each of her clients to do as they prepare to join the Armed Forces.
Education Background
Bachelor of Science Degree in Education
Master of Art Degree in Human Resources
Professional Human Resource Certification