From Military Service to Business Success: Ricardo’s Story

“I love Brownsburg.  While it is growing, it still has a small town feel.”  Ricardo Seucharan is pleased to say how much he and his family enjoy living in this Hendricks County community.  Ricardo and his wife Jana have lived in Brownsburg since 2010.  Jana works as a school teacher with the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township.  They also have two children; their daughter Kali and son Jaxton.   

Originally from the Caribbean island of Trinidad, just off the coast of Venezuela, Ricardo moved to south Florida when he was twelve years old and lived there for several years.  His first job in Florida was working as a manager for BrandsMart USA, an electronics and appliance store. 

As is true with so many Americans wanting to serve their country at a critical time, the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 compelled Ricardo to enlist in the Army.  The first stop in his military career was Fort Leonard Wood, in the Missouri Ozarks, where he went through Basic Combat Training (BCT).  From there it was on to Fort Benning, Georgia for Airborne School, which included parachute jump training.  Airborne School requires its recruits to complete five successful skydiving exercises.  From Georgia it was overseas to Vicenza, Italy; home base for the 173rd Airborne Brigade.  And from Italy, Ricardo traveled to Afghanistan to serve as a Combat Engineer with the 173rd Combat Support Company (CSC).

Ricardo spent thirteen months serving the United States Army in Afghanistan.  His rank was an E4 Specialist, and his unit was a mobile construction company focused primarily on building roads in the Afghanistan desert.  The roads were necessary for transporting materials, supplies, weapons, etc., between military bases.  As a gunner riding atop a Humvee, a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, Ricardo was responsible for guarding the general area as those roads were being constructed.

And what about the weather in Afghanistan?  Surprisingly he described it as being not unlike the hot, humid weather we often experience here in central Indiana.  However, a major difference was that the terrain in the desert was incredibly dusty.  “With every step you took, the dust would billow up all around you.  We called it moon dust.”  The solution to the “moon dust” problem was to spray the area with water, not to the point of becoming muddy of course, but to dampen it just enough to keep the tiny particles of dirt from rising.

As to how the Army was treated by the locals, he described the people of Afghanistan as being mostly nice to their unit as the company carried out its duties.  Overall, Ricardo said his time serving in Afghanistan was a great experience! 

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In total, Mr. Seucharan spent four years (2003 to 2007) in the military; three years of active duty, and one year of reserve duty in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  One month before leaving the military his step father passed away.  With his military career coming to a close, he made the decision to leave the Army and devote his time to helping his mother after the death of her husband. 

In 2007 he met his future wife Jana in Florida, and they married in 2009.  In 2010 he accepted a job with Republic Airlines as an Aircraft Dispatcher in Indianapolis, and that same year they moved to Brownsburg.  Ricardo worked for Republic Airlines for five years and then joined Skyview Ariel Imaging in 2015, creating drone videos for construction companies to assist in the monitoring and progress of various building projects.  He has also used his drone photography expertise working with the Town of Brownsburg Parks.

Man holding a wooden relief map of Heritage Lake in Indiana, wearing a red 'RED FRIDAY' t-shirt and a cap, in a workshop setting.

After six years, in 2021, Ricardo started his own business, O2 Creations, a laser cutting signage company offering products that include: hat patches, stickers, plaques and wooden multi layered lake maps.  He also designed a trophy for the American Legion Riders, a nationwide patriotic organization that raises money for many charities including children’s hospitals and veterans homes. 

Ricardo’s business, which he operates out of his home, overlapped with his work at Skyview Ariel Imaging until 2025 when he turned his attention to O2 Creations full time.  The business name comes from the O2 sensor in cars that measures the amount of unburned oxygen in the exhaust. 

As you might guess by the business name, Ricardo does indeed describe himself as a car guy.  “I love cars and motorcycles.”  He also enjoys modifying older vehicles, particularly 1960s and 70s muscle cars.

After nearly twenty years Ricardo still stays in touch with many of the men he served with in Afghanistan.  Reflecting on the most satisfying thing about his time with the United States Army and serving overseas, he said it would have to be the brotherhood and camaraderie that naturally occurs in military life.  This involves working together to achieve a common goal, and being committed to helping one another, especially in the most difficult circumstances.

Author

  • Bill Harter is a part time freelance writer and photographer.  He has always enjoyed taking photos of tourist spots and historic sites, both close to home, and around Indiana and surrounding states.

    Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Bill has lived on the west side of Indianapolis since 1986, and moved to Brownsburg in 2024. He enjoys traveling, attending the State Fair, and visiting history themed festivals such as The Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, and Mississinewa 1812. He also is happy to stay in touch with old friends, meeting often for dinner, and visiting family.

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