American Heroes Network: Recent Episodes
Gary Ray
It has been said that we are only a generation away from forgetting our history. Disabled American Veterans struggle every day to overcome life-changing sacrifices. Their stories provides a vital part of history that has contributed to our American tradition. American Heroes Network provides a way for individuals, corporations and small businesses to support our Heroes by helping our veterans and their families rebuild their lives. They help aim our veterans, looking for jobs, in the right direction, help provide homes for our troops, assisting individuals and their families who have been severely injured while serving in the U.S. military and providing scholarships for families of our Fallen Heroes. This will be a weekly hour long show joined by our military heroes and people and organizations that make a difference.
Aleethia Foundation: Aleethia provides “Friday Night Dinners” which were originally started in October 2003 when the injured began arriving at the military medical centers. These dinners are an integral part of the healing process and also reintroduce the warrior and the family members to life outside the hospital. Aleethia brings the injured service members to a safe and accepting environment and shows them that life is still good, that they do not need to stay in their hospital rooms agonizing over what they have lost or how their lives have changed. Most of the dinners are paid for by contributions from individuals. Some corporations and organizations will sponsor the entire or partial costs of a “Friday Night Dinner.” A dinner can cost from $4,000 to $8,000 per week based upon number of attendees and venue.
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors offers compassionate care and resources to all those grieving the loss of a military loved one. TAPS has assisted over 85,000 surviving family members, casualty officers and caregivers.
Our goal is to help restore financial stability and self-sufficiency to post-9/11 veterans and military families by giving them “a hand up.” We strive to reach families at the earliest stage of intervention to prevent further financial distress and suffering, especially for the combat injured and their families.
American Heroes Network was founded January, 2013. AHN is run by disabled veterans, active military, veterans and volunteers and because of their hard work, commitment and professionalism along with the power of our broadcasters we now have listeners in all 50 states and more than 98 countries.
PROJECT IM ME serves as a vessel to assist those in need of overcoming Alcoholism, Addiction, PTSD, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Depression, and Anxiety, Men's violence against Women, Mourning and Support for Veterans.
To protect and defend the integrity and promise of the GI Bill and other federal education programs for veterans and servicemembers.
Team Veteran Foundation’s (TVF) mission is to open and prototype a Wellness Clinic that focuses on Integrated Medicine therapies for Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). These clinics will be open 7 days a week including holidays. Treatments or therapies such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), psychotherapy, meditation, yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic, equine therapy, service animals, guide dogs, and aromatherapy, to name a few. The VA will not pay for most of these alternative treatments because they are outside their agenda.
Racing4Vets helps service disabled U.S. military veterans get directly involved in motorsports careers and amateur competition by leveraging the power of the motorsports community.
Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) is a privately funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post – 9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have sustained injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents out of every dollar has gone directly to our program services for Veterans. HFOT builds these homes where the Veteran chooses to live, and continues its relationship with the Veterans after home delivery to assist them with rebuilding their lives.
Create Awareness Programs for service men and women that have survived war and long deployments from their families. Some that were able-Bodied Warriors now have the challenge of adjusting to being permanently disabled Veterans. IHOOT provides a means for families to reconnect and reestablish healthy relationships, regardless of when they served.
VAMBOA Mission:
Ensuring the development, growth and prosperity of Veteran Business Owners, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOB) and Military Business Owners of all sizes worldwide. We do so by connecting our members with private corporations and government agencies. We provide networking, collaboration, mentoring, education, certification and advocacy. VAMBOA’s “Vet Owned” seal symbolizes the talent, dedication, leadership and courage of these special Americans who currently serve or have served in our nation’s Armed Forces.
America’s Mighty Warriors is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit corporation who honors our troops, the fallen and their families with programs that improve quality of life, resiliency and recovery. Funds donated allow us to offer programs that help those who served and families of the fallen through HBOT, Gold Star Respite and more.
Founded in 2007, the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) is the voice of all military women – past, present and future. We are a member-driven community network advocating for the individual and collective needs of service women. SWAN is guided by the priorities of our members, who include thousands of women and men, service members and civilians alike. We are committed to seeing that all service women receive the opportunities, protections, benefits and respect they deserve. Our goal is to ensure all service women have access to the information, tools and support they need to reach their personal and professional goals during and following their years of service.
The mission of New Hope Village 4 Veterans is to assist and provide opportunities for Homeless and or Disable Veteran families toward regaining stability in their lives by offering transitional or permanent apartments and social services. Our skilled professionals come equipped with love and compassion, which they believe is a minimal reward in exchange for the services our men and women gave already to our country
Puppies Behind Bars (PBB) trains prison inmates to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and explosive-detection canines for law enforcement. Puppies enter prison at the age of 8 weeks and live with their inmate puppy-raisers for approximately 24 months. As the puppies mature into well-loved, well-behaved dogs, their raisers learn what it means to contribute to society rather than take from it. PBB programs bring the love and healing of dogs to hundreds of individuals every year. The dogs bring hope and pride to their raisers, and independence and security to those they serve.
Military Veteran Project is a volunteer-driven charity on a mission to prevent military suicide through research and treatment.
Tools4Troops provides free hand and power tools to veterans and serving members of the 5 branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. We believe tools enable veterans to improve their world and access wider employment opportunities.
All BVA programs and Services are available to any blinded veteran in need, regardless of how or when they lost their sight, or whether they are a BVA member. BVA has over 50 regional groups that make up our membership including the Puerto Rico regional group. Regional groups host many events in addition to the national office programs listed below
We are patriotic citizens committed to serving our wounded, injured and ill combat veterans. We support Veterans and their Families by building relationships and identifying and supporting immediate needs and interests. We are dedicated to promoting public awareness of the many sacrifices made by our Armed Forces.
Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) is a privately funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post – 9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have sustained injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents out of every dollar has gone directly to our program services for Veterans. HFOT builds these homes where the Veteran chooses to live, and continues its relationship with the Veterans after home delivery to assist them with rebuilding their lives.
Veterans Mental Health Advisory Councils have the unique and challenging task of building, maintaining, promoting, and facilitating recovery-oriented practice, serving as Recovery Champions and consultants to other Veterans, their families, and all levels of the mental health care system. The purpose of the Council shall be to provide a forum for members to express their views and opinions, without fear of reprisal, regarding VA mental health services, and to assure that all Veterans have access to the highest quality of these services available to them, both at the Department of Veterans Affairs and within the community, enabling them to achieve their greatest degree of independence.
Started sending packages in 1967 during TET to Co.A,5th Bn.7th Cav.1st air cav.div. In Viet Nam Then The first Gulf war for Marines in Iraq Started ASWL when my son was called up to serve,for second gulf war in 2003 And all groups wanted money or control.so I started my own for everyone to show support
Trilogy Integrated Resources created a concept that uses the Internet as a virtual information depot to coordinate the various components of health and social services at the local level. This concept, which they named the Network of Care, provides critical information to everyone in the community simply, quickly and accurately.
We are a 50l(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that provides displaced and homeless veterans with the social services needed to totally reintegrate them back into society. Such services are food, shelter, clothing, referrals for training in vocational, educational and job placement goals, community service referrals, individual and group counseling and other such services and facilities designed to meet their physical, social and psychological needs and to promote their health, security, happiness and usefulness in society.
Located in Ocala Florida near Dunnellon Michelle does professional trail rides lessons training of most disciplines and Equine Therapy. She has been riding and volunteering with the Marion County Sheriff's Office mounted unit for 10 years earning her the rank of sergeant.
To protect and defend the integrity and promise of the GI Bill and other federal education programs for veterans and servicemembers.
The Veterans Mental Health Advisory Council has the unique and challenging task of building, maintaining, promoting, and facilitating recovery-oriented practices; serving as Recovery Champions and consultants to other Veterans, their families, and all levels of the mental health care system; provide a forum for members to express their views and opinions, without fear of reprisal, regarding VA mental health services, and to assure that all Veterans have access to the highest quality of these services available to them, both at the Department of Veterans Affairs and within the community, enabling them to achieve their greatest degree of independence.
Battle-Buddy Info is an online directory of resources for Active Duty and Veteran Military Personnel and their Caregivers. We list military focused non-profits and resources that provide direct assistance to veterans and active duty personnel, in a user-friendly format We work hard to maintain relevant information and resources, not only from non-profit organizations or government sources, but from peer support networks, Caregiver Blogs, books of interest as well as general topics related to issues the men and women who serve our nation face returning to civilian life. Our website is designed to make that process easier. Eligibility for assistance can be determined from our site (i.e. branch of service, focus of service, regional or national, etc.). Users can link directly to an organization's application form without having to navigate through pages of content often donor-centric in design. We are the Resource for Resources!
Vets2Success is a Non-profit program that creates programs for veterans to rehabilitate to their communities through food an brew programs. This organizations purpose is to inspire, mentor, educate, and change the lives of homeless and displaced veterans and impact the communities in which they live. This program was created after the loss of the founder’s younger brother to veteran suicide, as well as the founder’s personal battle with readjusting back into his local community. With food and brew as his guiding passion he shows veterans a path they to can share and have a new purpose in life through something they love.
Welcome Home to the USA, is a holistic, comprehensive, case-managed approach to veteran (and family) reintegration. Utilizing civilian and military resources, Welcome Home to the USA provides a masterminded, soup to nuts transition that addresses ALL of the veteran's needs/issues and not just the 2-3 that are currently provided through existing well-meaning organizations
We provide immediate assistance to Veterans in need in order to help situations (based on life matters that have become out of control) that have taken a turn for the worse. Through our hands-on, Pay-it-Forward approach, we help facilitate positive solutions before it's too late. We work hard for our Veterans, but in order to make an even bigger impact, we need your help - because sometimes, it takes a tribe to help the individual. Please, take action below.
As a positive and visible fixture in the adaptive sports industry, Higher Ground programs give individuals with disabilities the opportunity to experience recreation and the outdoors without limitations.
The Institute has assembled a multidisciplinary team of social scientists, applied research and evaluation methodologists, subject matter experts, and world-class institutional partners spanning the Syracuse University campus and beyond.
We believe there is a lot of misinformation about entrepreneurship out there in the veteran community. Many say it’s too risky, that you need a lot of money to buy/start a business, that you don’t have the business background to succeed, and a host of other falsehoods. Instead, we believe that those who commit to risking their lives for the benefit of others understand how to assess risk like no other group in society. Since the essence of running a business is all about managing risk, we believe that most veterans are well prepared for the challenge.
Focusing on designing and leading strategic partnerships with federal, state, and community-based organizations, funders and staff to effectively plan, develop, and deliver improved supportive services for veteran families located nationwide.
Their goal is to recognize, honor and assist our lady veterans and to insure that their patriotism , sacrifices and bravery are acknowledged as part of this nation's history.
The IHOOT foundation is proud to have provided free accommodations for thousands of military and veteran families to help them reconnect and reestablish healthy family relationships, especially following war and long deployments.
The Milwaukee Homeless Veteran Initiative provides the services that homeless and at-risk veterans need to reach and maintain their highest level of independence
Abraham Lincoln created the Department of Veterans Affairs with the most noble of missions: To care for him who shall borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan. Every day, more soldiers leave the battlefield headed for home – men and women who sacrificed their bodies and, in some cases, their minds defending the dignity, honor and safety of those at home.
Veterans Mental Health Advisory Councils have the unique and challenging task of building, maintaining, promoting, and facilitating recovery-oriented practice, serving as Recovery Champions and consultants to other Veterans, their families, and all levels of the mental health care system. The purpose of the Council shall be to provide a forum for members to express their views and opinions, without fear of reprisal, regarding VA mental health services, and to assure that all Veterans have access to the highest quality of these services available to them, both at the Department of Veterans Affairs and within the community, enabling them to achieve their greatest degree of independence.
Veterans Education Success provides:
• Free Help for Veterans: Free legal services, advice, and college and career counseling to veterans, servicemembers, and their survivors and families who faced college fraud or abuse in using their GI Bill.
• Policy and Advocacy: Assistance to federal policymakers to improve quality in higher education and protect the integrity of the GI Bill and other student aid.
• Research: Non-partisan research on issues of concern to student veterans, including veteran student outcomes and student debt levels.
• Whistleblowers: Free assistance to college whistleblowers exposing fraud, and free assistance to federal and state law enforcement consumer fraud.
Pets for Vets® provides a second chance for both our returning Veterans and deserving shelter animals. The bonds of friendship formed between man and animal have the power to ease the suffering of our Veterans as they transition back to civilian life.
David Gevry has taken his experience, drive for change, and work ethic to create a global change in both agriculture and vertical integration systems to lead key players in global efforts from basic labor to political policy change. Experience in small business to fortune 50 company operations on a local and global market working within the 6-sigma realm of management with focuses in forensic accounting processes and efficiency implementation. He has compiled a team of global Veteran leaders, from your back yard. Many you don’t know, they are the unsung heroes that served their country both in combat boots and work boots before and after service. Some,you have heard of if you have not been under a rock or a third world country. They are also Global industry leaders, just more known for their actions, both in and out of uniform.
Warriors' Ascent was created in 2014 by two Iraq combat veterans who returned home and realized they needed additional resources to cope with the moral injuries they suffered on the battlefield. Unable to find a solution that provided long-term results, they set about to create their own. Seeking cutting edge holistic medical practices based on scientific research, they developed the Academy of Healing and began inviting other Warriors to join them on the journey to recovery.
The Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation Inc. (WWIA) serves our nation's combat-wounded Purple Heart recipients by providing world-class outdoor sporting activities as a means to recognize and honor their sacrifice, encourage independence and connections with communities, and promote healing and wellness through camaraderie and a shared passion for the outdoors.
Wounded Paw project is dispelling the belief that shelter dogs are not practical candidates as Service Dogs. This notion is based upon the idea that by breeding, one can control temperament, wellness, and longevity. Data does not support the idea that upbringing and race/color influences level of performance or - more importantly - constructive contributor to society. Shelter Dogs exemplify the military creed of “Service before Self” are not practical candidates as Service Dogs. This notion is based upon the idea that by breeding, one can control temperament, wellness, and longevity. Data does not support the idea that upbringing and race/color influences level of performance or - more importantly - constructive contributor to society. Shelter Dogs exemplify the military creed of “Service before Self”
Since 9/11/2001 specifically, we have had an increase in violent mass casualty situations and have been told to harden our security defenses. With attacks all over the US and World, including concert venues, casinos, schools, movie theaters, churches, and the like. Steve Wynn hardened his Casino Hotels, while others dismissed his and other government entities direct warnings that it wasn't a matter of if, but when.
A solution to homelessness To assist homeless and at-risk Veterans strive for normalcy in life by providing food, clothing, shelter, and other basic human needs.
Warrior Angels Foundation supports through The Millennium Health Centers, a personalized assessment and treatment protocol, which pinpoints - and, more importantly, treats - the underlying condition for U.S. Military Service Members and Veterans who have sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) while in the line of duty.
H.E.R.O.E.S. Care is a collaborative effort among well established non-governmental organizations (NGOs) designed to provide complete and proactive support for members of all branches of the military and their families through pre-deployment, deployment, family reintegration and post-deployment.
The program consists of a network of tens of thousands of trained caregivers and thousands of professional mental health care and service providers working together to provide an unprecedented system of support for military members and their families.
The Florida Veterans Foundation team is one of the hardest working veteran advocate teams in the state of Florida. We are composed of a volunteer Chairman and Board of Directors.
The majority of the Foundation Directors are retired, military disabled veterans who donate over 40 hours per week of their time to assist and help guide Florida’s veterans through a myriad of issues veterans face today. Whether it’s access to healthcare, education, jobs, VA benefits or the like, our Directors are here to help.
H.E.R.O.E.S. Care is a collaborative effort among well established non-governmental organizations (NGOs) designed to provide complete and proactive support for members of all branches of the military and their families through pre-deployment, deployment, family reintegration and post-deployment. The program consists of a network of tens of thousands of trained caregivers and thousands of professional mental health care and service providers working together to provide an unprecedented system of support for military members and their families.
To build and sustain the morale and well being of the military community, past and present, with the assurance that the American public supports and appreciates their selfless service and daily sacrifices.
Col. Kelly has over 30 years of active military service. She graduated cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Simultaneously, she completed the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program as a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Signal Corps. She began her military service as a platoon leader and company commander in the 2nd Infantry Division (Republic of Korea) in 1983. She later transferred to the Aviation Branch and completed rotary wing flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where she finished as the Distinguished Military Graduate for her class. She was trained to fly the Huey (UH-1), Blackhawk (UH-60), and Kiowa (OH-58) helicopters. Over her 30 years of service, Colonel (Retired) Kelley served on active duty in five Army divisions and was deployed to Panama, Somalia, and the Middle East in support of contingency and combat operations.
The mission of Final Salute Inc. is to provide homeless women Veterans with safe and suitable housing. They were established to identify and meet the unique needs of homeless women Veterans.
Established in 1991, Veterans Support Foundation was founded by and for veterans. We are committed to serving the unaddressed needs of today’s veterans and their families.
Through our Center for Sovereignty & Security, Freedom Alliance protects America’s sovereignty, strengthens our national security and preserves constitutional government.
Freedom Alliance challenges the United Nations and other global institutions which try to undermine the health of our Republic. We advocate for a strong national security and a military that is prepared to meet the challenges of an increasingly dangerous world. We are committed to restoring American pride and prestige at home and around the world.
The National Veteran Business Development Council is the only third party Veteran Owned Business Certification program in the United States and is organized as a 501c3 not for profit foundation.
The NVBDC was created for the purpose of providing a credible and reliable certifying authority that would ensure that valid documentation exists of a business' Veteran ownership and control.
Wounded Warriors Family Support is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured or killed during combat operations.
The Starfish Foundation was founded in 1998 as the Starfish Center in Madison, Wisconsin with the mission of promoting individual empowerment, wholeness and personal growth in a safe, inclusive community.
Creating jobs by growing Veteran Owned Business opportunities through collaboration not duplication.
The first ever Disability Chamber of Commerce of Texas WILL bridge the gap between Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services, employers, and families wanting to assist their disabled loved ones whether they are enrolled in the TWC-VRS system or not. The DCC aims to bring together national resources, proven and promising practices, and technical assistance in a central place.
Operation Phantom Support provides direct help to our Service men, women, and veterans by accepting donations to our Phantom Corps. These donations provide the charity with funding to operate our programs
The mission of Grow for Vets USA is to help save the more than 50 Veterans who die each day from suicide and prescription drug overdose. Grow for Vets provides Veteran heroes with safe alternatives to deadly prescription drugs. We connect Veterans with the knowledge and resources necessary to obtain or grow their own cannabis for the treatment of their medical conditions.
The Veterans Suicide Prevention Channel has been created to try to save the lives of America’s veterans, and promote good health and understanding to their family members and supporters. Our channel will achieve these goals by producing and broadcasting shows that contain healing subject matters and information, educating, entertaining and providing resource information that will benefit America’s veterans, their family members and supporters wherever they may live nationwide and internationally. Introducing Free BENEFIT SERVICE
Nearly 80% of Americans with significant disabilities can’t find jobs. Source America’s mission is to create employment opportunities and choices for this exceptional workforce so that they, too, can realize the American Dream.
Our mission is to take care of the ones who took care of us. We are here to help Veterans in need as well as their family members, whether someone is in need of food, shelter, clothes, and/or something as simple as an outing, we will be there. We will strive to give as much as we can to all who served, as they gave all of themselves to us.
22 U.S. Veterans are committing suicide every day. And that’s just the official number. We believe the number is 24-25 Veterans a day. That's more than 9,000 former service members each year lost to suicide. The National Veterans Foundation is dedicated to eliminating veteran suicides through vet-to-vet crisis counseling and other assistance to successfully reintegrate back to civilian life.
Women In International Security (WIIS) is the premier organization in the world dedicated to advancing the leadership and professional development of women in the field of international peace and security. WIIS (pronounced “wise”) sponsors leadership training, mentoring, and networking programs as well as substantive events focused on current policy problems. WIIS also supports research projects and policy engagement initiatives on critical international security issues, including the nexus between gender and security.
Serving Together is EveryMind’s commitment to veterans, active duty military, and their families. It is an integrated program, connecting veterans who have served our country with the resources they have earned. EveryMind has supported veterans in the National Capital Region for nearly sixty years. We are the trusted partner in connecting individuals with empowering programs and reputable resources.
Wounded Paw project is dispelling the belief that shelter dogs are not practical candidates as Service Dogs. This notion is based upon the idea that by breeding, one can control temperament, wellness, and longevity. Data does not support the idea that upbringing and race/color influences level of performance or - more importantly - constructive contributor to society. Shelter Dogs exemplify the military creed of “Service before Self” are not practical candidates as Service Dogs. This notion is based upon the idea that by breeding, one can control temperament, wellness, and longevity. Data does not support the idea that upbringing and race/color influences level of performance or - more importantly - constructive contributor to society. Shelter Dogs exemplify the military creed of “Service before Self”
On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense. The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated on Saturday, May 20, 1950. The theme for that day was “Teamed for Defense”, which expressed the unification of all military forces under one government department. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the day was designed to expand public understanding of what type of job was performed and the role of the military in civilian life.
The Bird’s Eye View Project will bring high-level awareness to the EXTREME needs of Veterans and First-Responders By incorporating EXTREME Sports, EXTREME Stunts, and EXTREME stories
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind is a mission driven community resource for the blind and visually impaired community of greater Washington. With vision health screenings, independent living skills training, and employment services, CLB provides customized services for improving the well-being and independence of the community it serves.
Driven by a desire to give back to America’s post 9/11 veterans, Baity and his wife Amanda founded Semper K9 in 2014. The nonprofit seeks to heal the wounds of war by training service dogs to provide physical and emotional support to U.S. Armed Forces veterans and their families.
Naavets.org vision is to serve as a comprehensive nonprofit organization that values the honorable and selfless service of our nation’s service members and disabled veterans.
A world where military women are widely recognized for the leadership and strength they provide for the defense of the nation. A premiere networking, professional and personal development community providing a respected source of support and insight for women military officers and veterans throughout all stages of their personal and professional development where they openly:
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Honestly share their life experiences and challenges, without fear of judgment
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Laugh, learn, and find inspiration in other women's stories
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Seek and offer mentorship
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Value and embrace how they live and lead as women
CombatPTSD.org was started out of an intense passion for serving veterans. PTSD and suicide are two of the most challenging issues facing our military and veterans today. Because of the cost on military members and their families, we decided it was time. Time to find a new approach
Vets Helping Vets HQ train volunteers to become advocated by teaching them to assist Veterans in receiving their benefits that may be available to them.
They help Veterans in person or via phone or internet from all around the world that served in the U.S. Military by preparing them to meet their VSO (Veteran Service Officer) to file their claim(s).
They assist Veterans and their families during financial emergencies.
They organize the memorial services for our fallen comrades to help support the family.
And they strive to fulfill our Veterans’ needs to holding the idea that no project is too small or too large.
The mission of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. is to provide leadership, education, training, consultation, and support services in comprehensive crisis intervention and disaster behavioral health services to the emergency response professions, other organizations, and communities worldwide.
Founded in 2013, the Us for Warriors Foundation is a 501C3 non-profit working group of dedicated, uncompensated doers who have banded together to help warriors, past and present, live stronger lives. More commonly referred to as Us4Warriors, they pursue impactful efforts by filling in the gaps to support needs among a diverse military and veteran’s community. Whether it is foundation programs, projects, events and services or collaborations with insightful partners in the community, Us4Warriors engages a strong, large volunteer force to accomplish goals in support of the critical mission of helping others.
Founded in 2008, Project Hero is a groundbreaking national non-profit organization dedicated to helping Veterans and First Responders affected by PTSD, TBI and injury achieve rehabilitation, recovery and resilience in their daily lives and increasing awareness to combat the national mental health emergency posed by PTSD and TBI.
Since 2001, over 6,600 U.S. service members have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. This number does not include the thousands more who have lost their lives due to sudden illness, accident, homicide or those that have taken their own lives due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. At the same time, more than 3,600 young military widows face their worst nightmare when they receive that dreadful knock on the door by two military in uniform notifying them of their spouse’s death.
To expedite and assist in the rehabilitation of veterans by maintaining employment services; sponsoring educational opportunities; financial assistance due to undue hardship, housing, recreation, personal problems, hospitalization and veterans benefits; To act as a liaison agent between the veteran and the government;
The Rosie Network’s mission is strengthening military families through entrepreneurial programs and support services, empowering military spouses, transitioning service members and veteran entrepreneurs toward financial stability and self-sufficiency.
Remembering America's Heroes (RAH) provides education to youth and the community so they can understand and appreciate the value of freedom and its cost. For the past twenty years, R.A.H. was originally known for Milwaukie High School's Annual Living History Day, which for 15 years was the biggest and most comprehensive school program honoring Veterans in the United States. Since 2001 we have taken the Living History Day concept to 40 different schools in Oregon and consulted to many more all over the U.S.
VVSD has served all veterans since 1981 and is dedicated to “Leave No One Behind.” With five locations throughout San Diego County, VVSD is the only program of its kind in the United States and is nationally recognized as the leader in serving homeless military veterans. Each year VVSD provides services to more than 2,000 military veterans throughout the County of San Diego.
“Helping Wounded Warriors and Veterans Get the Help and Benefits they deserve.” Preparing the Wounded Warrior for the Transition into civilian life. Bridging the gap of the Who, What, Where, and How to get the benefits you deserve
America’s Mighty Warriors mission is to honor the sacrifices of our troops, the fallen and their families by providing programs that improve quality of life, resiliency and recovery.
To work towards saving and improving the lives of America’s veterans, their family members and supporters by creating a national broadcast channel that will air healing, educational, entertaining and resource information shows intended to benefit America’s veterans nationwide in order to prevent suicides and promote mental, emotional and physical healing.
Mission: Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes clinically based Canine Connection Therapy to help wounded Warriors reconnect with life, their families, their communities, and each other.
Mission: is “to provide world class, community-based, holistic care to the warrior and his or her support group.” Our purpose is “to meet our veterans where they are in their journey, and assist them in the way they need.” Currently, our focus is in our own backyard of Fayette and Coweta counties; however, we will not turn away any warrior, regardless of his or her physical location.support foundation
Mission: To bring a permanent end to the Veteran suicide epidemic by empowering Veterans and their families suffering from the life threatening medical condition of TBI, CTE and PTS with resources, support and services. One of the cornerstone services of Team Veteran Foundation Wellness Clinics will be the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) chambers for the treatment of the physical brain injuries suffered during Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
Warrior Summit Coalition is the source for all programs supporting veterans and active military across the nation, where collaboration happens through community programs, initiatives and events
The mission of “Hope’s Collection” is to identify and supply resources that will support projects that will provide “Substantial and Sustainable Social and Economic Growth” in the fields of: Health & Wellness, Performing and Fine Arts, Family Issues, Development & Housing, Technology / Energy / Communications, Faith Based Leadership, Education, Food & Nutrition
The Warrior Thunder Foundation was born from the simple idea to help our injured military. With one in three of our service men and women coming home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury, close to one million applying for disability with the Veterans Administration, almost 2000 who are missing limbs, and many more coming home with far more devastating injuries than ever before, we knew it was time to step up and do something to help these men and women who have selflessly sacrificed so much.
Silver Star shining for sacrifice, honoring combat wounded, ill and dying members of our Armed Forces, and bringing remembrance to those so deserving of our thanks. We will never forget ... WELCOME HOME!
To Support veterans and serving members of the (5) branches of the U.S. Armed Forces with hand and power 'tools' either gifted or loaned at no cost to the recipient(s); scope includes but is not limited to safety instructions, product manuals, and specialized training where applicable.
Founded in 2007, our unique kayak fishing program allows the participants a chance to decompress from the stresses associated with combat and the physical rigors of rehabilitation. Warriors enjoy these benefits while on guided fishing trips held in local communities around the country.
It’s the Mission of Veterans Resort of Colorado to create an unparalleled experience of a lifetime for Veterans and their families by delivering exceptional service in an atmosphere of relaxation, fresh air and judgment free environment.
We must not only vow to never forget these military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, but we must never forget the children of our fallen heroes. These children and their surviving parent have paid a very high price for our freedom and they continue to sacrifice as they live each day without their hero.
With over 8000 veteran suicides every year why does this continue? National call centers are important but, is it working? Yes and No You are contemplating suicide and go to a veteran organization for help and they give you a phone number to call and send you on your way We need to get to the root of this crises. Today’s show will provide proven methods that can help save a life
Staff Sgt. Charles Eggleston MOPH National Suicide Prevention Officer
Dr. Mark Russell, retired Navy Commander and Suicide Prevention
Military.com's free membership connects servicemembers, military families and veterans to all the benefits of service — government benefits, scholarships, discounts, lifelong friends, mentors, great stories of military life or missions, and much more. Military.com started in 1999 to revolutionize the way the 30 million Americans with military affinity stay connected and informed. Today, their the largest military and veteran membership organization — 10 million members strong.
MilitaryConnection.com is one of the most comprehensive online directories of resources and information for military, veterans and their loved ones. There are thousands of pages, with something for everyone. We are honored to serve the needs of Veterans and active duty military.
Boulder Crest Retreat is the nation's first privately-funded rural wellness center dedicated exclusively to our nation's combat veterans and their families. We are committed to improving the physical, emotional, spiritual and economic wellbeing of this remarkable community of heroes, and ensuring they have the opportunity to succeed in their new mission - a life of passion, purpose and service - here at home.
The service dog programs of America’s VetDogs® were created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with disabilities, allowing them to once again live with pride and self-reliance.
Our Military Kids was created to provide support and recognition to military children. This may include children ages 3 years through the 12th grade of deployed National Guard and Reserve service members, along with children of Wounded and Fallen Warriors from all branches of service. The grants to children pay for fees associated with athletic, fine arts, and tutoring programs. Our Military Kids’ grants keep military children engaged in activities of their choosing, helping to relieve the stress of separation from a parent by providing a positive distraction, minimizing emotional destabilization, building self-esteem, and enabling academic achievement.
OMF Cares is dedicated to helping you, whether you are a Veteran or a company committed to improving your knowledge of or outreach to Veterans and their families, achieve success. We provide pathways to your success through programs and partnerships that help you gain employment, improve your financial stability, strengthen your personal and professional relationships and train up your organizations.
Although relatively new as an agency, MCVET has already received a great deal of attention from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. On May 7, 1997, HUD declared that MCVET was the 'National Model' for seamless services to homeless veterans.
During a visit to the Naval Aviation Museum, President George H.W. Bush discussed the positive impact baseball had on morale during WWII. His comments initiated the development of military baseball in the modern era. Over two decades later, they are the only team in history to wear camouflage uniforms with historical references representing all branches of the military and first responders.
We believe, “The Cooking for Veterans Mental and Physical Health Show”, is the first show of its kind. There has never been a show produced and broadcast that will teach cooking for all aspects of health both mental and physical as this show intends to do
Every day, across America, the OH family consisting of dedicated employees, passionate volunteers and caring corporate/individual donors and partner organizations, provides valued programs designed to build strong, stable, and secure military families as we seek to honor their patriotism and service to our country.
Founded by Veterans for Veterans, Purple Heart Homes, together with the community, is committed to ensuring quality of life housing solutions for disabled American Veterans of all eras.
Three Tennessee Veteran affiliations working as one volunteer unit to serve those who served in the Military
We ask people to stand up for heroes so that we can find, fund, and shape innovative programs that help our impacted veterans, service members and their families thrive.
If your loved one has seen war, he or she has PTSD at some level, and you who love your vet will also be deeply and profoundly affected. PTSD can affect ANYONE, not just veterans. In the U.S. alone it affects millions, along with all those who live with them and care about them. “LOVE OUR VETS” is devoted to addressing the unique needs of that special nucleus of friends and family surrounding the PTSD survivor. You may not have PTSD, but if you are living with someone who does, you are suffering from it as well.
Founded in 1962, The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the nation’s oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military children. For 54 years, we’ve been providing access to affordable education for the children of Marine and Navy Corpsman attending post-high school, under-graduate and career technical education programs. In that time, we have provided more than 35,000 scholarships worth nearly $100 million.
We must not only vow to never forget these military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, but we must never forget the children of our fallen heroes. These children and their surviving parent have paid a very high price for our freedom and they continue to sacrifice as they live each day without their hero.
Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet© – An ALL Volunteer national organization assisting and supporting our active duty deploying service members, wounded warriors, veterans, and their beloved companion animals or assistance service canines through various assistance programs.
When Veteran’s Administration Health Care issues about Veteran’s dying from wait times, burst onto the national news, opportunist immediately smelled blood in the air. The golden elephant is showing weakness. Too large for any single predator to take down, it brought many longtime enemies and competitors together to achieve a common cause and an unholy alliance between lions, wolves and Hyenas would be quietly made.
Code of Support Foundation (COSF) provides essential and critical one-on-one assistance to struggling service members, veterans and their families (SMVF) who have the most complex needs. We are dedicated to leveraging the nation’s full spectrum of resources to ensure all members of our military, veterans and their families receive the support services they need and through their collective sacrifice have earned.
to provide transition assistance to honorably discharged men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces by professionally outfitting them in business attire needed to enter the civilian workforce – at zero cost to the Veteran. SWF is a ‘mobile concierge suiting service’ working with grass roots non-profits, government agencies, and national and local Veterans’ Service Organizations in order to connect Veterans and their families with an additional tool to allow for a successful transition into the civilian workforce.
We are patriotic citizens committed to serving our wounded, injured and ill combat veterans. We support Veterans and their families by building relationships and identifying and supporting immediate needs and interests. We are dedicated to promoting public awareness of the many sacrifices made by our Armed Forces.
Supporting efforts to raise money for equipment to give our Severely Injured Veterans more mobility, to address all their issues, and guide them thru connecting to the proper rehab programs designed specifically for their needs. Raise money to help put those with severe Brain Injuries/TBI into proper programs designed for their specific type of brain injuries.
The Rocky Mountain Veterans Village Foundation (RMVVF) and the Veterans Recreation & Rehabilitation Center (VRRC), a non-profit organization, is a One Stop Hub referral and action resource for our Veterans to access their earned VA entitlements and to receive advocacy leading to a resolution to their issues.
NACV was conceived and organized in 1968 focusing on the issues and needs of combat veterans of the Vietnam era to develop, implement and support comprehensive programs to assist those veterans to successfully return to civilian life as productive, contributing and responsible citizens. The original name was National Association of Collegiate Veterans and later became “Concerned” Veterans
STOP VETERAN SUICIDE br American Military Family provides emergency financial assistance, mental health intervention and therapy, and peer support to United States Military Veterans, Troops and their Families who are battling the effects of Post Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury in order to inspire, empower and improve the quality of life of those Veterans who answered their nation's call.
Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to provide homeless veterans and other veterans in need with comprehensive services that will enable them to rejoin their communities as productive citizens.
It is the goal of Operation Adopt A Soldier to raise and maintain awareness to the American people of day-to-day sacrifices that our military men and women and their families make to protect our freedoms.
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind is a mission driven community resource for the blind and visually impaired community of greater Washington. With vision health screenings, independent living skills training, and employment services, CLB provides customized services for improving the well being and independence of the community it serves.
Mindful Warriors was started as a means to advocate for veteran issues, help them overcome their adversities, and to facilitate the management of Veteran Outreach Programs. Our motto is Continuing the Mission, So Others May Live.
Honor Courage Commitment, Inc. focuses on 3 pillars to position veterans into becoming leaders in the private sector who will ultimately create more jobs and programs to support the 240,000 - 300,000 veterans who transition out of the military every year.
22 Kill is a global movement bridging the gap between warriors and like-minded individuals to build a community of support and understanding.
Project Sanctuary helps military families THRIVE through an evidenced-based program built on compassionate advocacy, providing resiliency and reintegration tools, and reestablishing HOPE.
The Travis Manion Foundation assists our nation’s veterans & families of the fallen by empowering them to take the next step in their personal journeys and inspire the next generation of leaders.
A documentary about two World War II Veterans reuniting for the first time in 70 years after their inaugural voyage on Navy ship LST-218
Battle-Buddy Info is an online Directory of Military Resources for Active Duty, Veterans and their Caregivers. We list military focused non-profits and resources that provide direct assistance to veterans and active duty personnel, in a user-friendly format. We work hard to maintain relevant information and resources.
The NACVSO will work collaboratively with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other nationally chartered veterans organizations to assure that veterans and their dependents receive the entitlements they deserve for the sacrifices they endured.
Created in 2011 to combat the growing epidemic of homelessness among American Veterans, Support Homeless Veterans (SHV) is devoted to bringing quality of life to these forgotten heroes. We are committed to promoting purpose driven lives among our nation's finest men and women, while increasing the awareness and involvement of our communities.
The Reel American Heroes Foundation is a 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that works with both military hospitals and military bases to provide recreational therapy to our nation's wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Disabled and Combat Veterans.
Combat Vets Helping Combat Vets provides assistance to military members and their families by helping them to overcome their struggles from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other psychological issues, in addition to transitioning to civilian life.
The Warrior Scuba Project is a program that is in direct response to the growing number injured veterans that are either looking for a way to stretch their abilities or as a way to re-connect with their military team and teammates while experiencing the healing properties of scuba.
Vets4Energy is a group of volunteer veterans who continue to serve America as advocates for energy policies to sustain our national security.
StandWatch is a nonprofit organization that will provide medical care and family support services to veterans and their families in places where the VA has little or no presence. Our mobile medical units will travel to rural areas and treat immediate and emergent problems that cannot wait.
The Veterans Suicide Prevention Channel has been created to try to save the lives of America’s veterans, and promote good health and understanding to their family members and supporters. Our channel will achieve these goals by producing and broadcasting shows that contain healing subject matters and information, educating, entertaining and providing resource information that will benefit America’s veterans, their family members and supporters wherever they may live nationwide and internationally
Raising Cane Farms will employ veterans, providing good jobs and opportunities to work on the land in a culture of collegial support and encouragement.
To Support veterans and serving members of the (5) branches of the U.S. Armed Forces with hand and power 'tools' either gifted or loaned at no cost to the recipient(s); scope includes but is not limited to safety instructions, product manuals, and specialized training where applicable.
Veterans Inc. is New England’s leading provider of support services to veterans and their families. A 501(c)3 nonprofit, the organization’s single-minded mission is to be there for our veterans in their time of need. Incorporated in 1990, Veterans Inc. has helped more than 60,000 veterans in need and today operates offices and programs in all six New England states. The support services include housing, counseling, employment & training services, family programs, benefits counseling and advocacy, transportation, temporary financial assistance, food services, health and wellness, and women and childcare services. To learn more information on Veterans Inc., visit www.veteransinc.org. They were there when we needed them…We must be there now that they need us.
The Veteran Burial Benefits Program with the VA is a limited program which does not cover all of the costs associated with a veterans burial or cremation. The program only covers some, but not all, of the veterans funeral expenses. After reviewing this subject matter with a number of veterans our findings showed that there is a great deal of confusion surrounding what the veteran is entitled to by way of veteran burial benefits.
This organization was created to assist families who upon the death of their loved one who has served our country, the opportunity to have augmented military honors when the family deems that the legislated two man flag fold is not enough. Unfortunately if a veteran is not a former prisoner of war (POW), Medal of Honor recipient (MOH), or killed in action (KIA), they will only receive the legislated two man teams.
Healing Horses & Armed Forces is a nonprofit organization created for veterans, service members and their families that utilizes the human, equine connection for the purpose of improving the quality of life after and during service to our country.
Task Force Dagger Foundation is dedicated to providing immediate assistance to wounded, ill, or injured Soldiers and their families, and the families of casualties from the United States Army Special Operations Command.
Liberty Farms will train veterans and their families and provide all the equipment and support they need to become farmers in a small space (750-5500 sq ft), even in an urban environment, to help them heal and to provide a good, solid income for themselves and their families and we will do this free of charge to the veterans we help. The concept is called Horticultural therapy (HT).
The Veterans Suicide Prevention Channel will become a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week national broadcast channel designed by veterans and psychiatric professionals specifically for veterans, their family members and supporters. The channel is designed to stop the alarming suicide rate of America’s veterans and to promote well-being amongst veterans and their family members.The channel will offer shows created to inform, heal, refer and entertain.
Military sexual trauma (MST) is the term that the Department of Veterans Affairs uses to refer to sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that occurred while the Veteran was in the military. It includes any sexual activity where someone is involved against his or her will – he or she may have been pressured into sexual activities (for example, with threats of negative consequences for refusing to be sexually cooperative or with implied faster promotions or better treatment in exchange for sex), may have been unable to consent to sexual activities (for example, when intoxicated), or may have been physically forced into sexual activities.
Help Our Wounded helps hundreds of American families with everything from words of encouragement to putting them in touch with the right people to recommending resources to bridging the gap during financial crisis.
Wounded Warriors frequently return home after serving our Nation different than when they left - life in general and their personal and professional lives have changed dramatically. WWIA strives to show these Heroes that they can still experience and accomplish milestones in their life in similar fashion - no matter their current circumstances. WWIA encourages American Heroes to get back In Action - all while forging and strengthening heartfelt, strong relationships with WWIA Associates and local American Sportsmen - showing a truly grateful and supportive Nation.
Advocates for Veterans and their family members educate how to get to their next life's journeyTM. This includes, but is not limited to, a new career upon transitioning out of the military, either, retirement, ETS, medical or to empower the Veteran with information to successfully transition.
Jason Hall was marked an A-list screenwriter the moment DreamWorks and Warner Bros joined forces after Steven Spielberg agreed to direct Bradley Cooper in American Sniper, based on the life of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.
Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment.
Sons of the Flag is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting military, first responder, and civilian burn survivors by providing funding for innovative research, technology and education. We bring together passionate community leaders, pioneering physicians, experienced military service members, dedicated first responders and purposeful civilians to complete our mission. Sons of the Flag is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting military, first responder, and civilian burn survivors by providing funding for innovative research, technology and education. We bring together passionate community leaders, pioneering physicians, experienced military service members, dedicated first responders and purposeful civilians to complete our mission.
1st guest: Dusty Trimmer Author Combat Infantryman and Veteran’s Advocate
2nd guest:Dan Gordon, Author Writer, Director and Executive Producer
Andrew suffered multiple TBI’s serving as an explosive breacher and being in and around countless explosions on numerous deployments. His trials and tribulations have been a true awakening to what life is like with a brain injury, the state of military healthcare, and the shameful behavior and treatment that many of our WARRIORS endure.
There are more than 460,000 American veterans that have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many more suffer from anxiety, depression, and emotional isolation. For these brave men and women, every day is a struggle, Even worse, 22 veterans every day take their lives, that's 1 every 65 minutes. It doesn’t have to be that way. There is no miracle cure for the hidden wounds of war. But there are treatments that help.
Operation Renewed Hope Founation's mission is to provide quality housing and supportive services to our Nation’s homeless Veterans. They provide a range of services assisting Veterans and breaking their cycle of homelessness or preventing Veterans from becoming homeless along with many other services..
Providing financial resources and referrals to wounded heroes, their families, and to survivors of fallen service members with the primary goal of mitigating certain financial challenges that they may face which impacts their resiliency to their level of normalcy and self-sufficiency in pursuing a productive, fulfilling life.
USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore has ten locations and a deploy-able Mobile USO that provide signature USO services to the nearly 300,000 military members and their families living in the region and the 150,000 who travel through our local airports.
Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Their mission is to provide homeless veterans and other veterans in need with comprehensive services that will enable them to rejoin their communities as productive citizens.
The issue of veterans suicide has languished in the background for far too long. America’s pets have a national broadcast channel but America’s vets do not. It’s time to change. We can do it by creating an amazing channel for veterans. We can do it if we all work together.
The importance of the POW/MIA flag lies in its continued visibility, a constant reminder of the plight of America’s POW/MIAs.
Honoring Our Fallen, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive support to the Families of all Fallen Heroes within 24 hours of notification by local, state or federal officials. We work with appropriate government agencies and community members to provide comprehensive assistance during their greatest time of need. This assistance includes linking Families with the resources they need to cope with life after loss
Create Awareness. American Heroes Network Breakfast Club is providing not only assistance to our Veterans and Active Military, but they're doing it in a way that's honoring our military by bringing awareness, education, fun, excitement and most importantly hope to the gray reality that exists for the hundreds of thousands of troops that are home and coming home that are facing these challenges. AHN Radio and the American Heroes Breakfast Club provides excitement, camaraderie, good will and faith that instills the desire for people to give back to our American Heroes.
After almost losing his life to suicide, he realized how precious it was. He then moved on to just learning how to survive in life, but that wasn't enough for him. He figured there had to be more than just surviving. That is when he took control of his life, and learned how to turn every negative aspect in his life into a positive.
As VA’s only freestanding rehabilitation center among its medical centers, SORCC is a national resource for Veterans and we provide specialized programs for underserved Veteran populations such as homeless, chronically mentally ill, and substance abuse and offer quality residential (inpatient)treatment in psychiatry, addictions, medicine, bio-psychosocial, physical and vocational rehabilitation.
Andrew suffered multiple TBI’s serving as an explosive breacher and being in and around countless explosions on numerous deployments. His trials and tribulations have been a true awakening to what life is like with a brain injury, the state of military healthcare, and the shameful behavior and treatment that many of our WARRIORS endure.
Soldiers' Angels provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their families, and a growing veteran population. Thousands of Soldiers' Angels Angel volunteers assist veterans, wounded, deployed personnel, and their families in a variety of unique and effective ways.
Since 1975 nearly three times as many veterans have committed suicide than were killed in the war. The divorce rate amongst Vietnam veterans is above 90 percent. Between 40 and 60 percent of Vietnam combatants have persistent problems related to the war. The end result is that many have ended up behind bars of prisons here in the Land of The Free.
Women In International Security (WIIS) is the premier organization in the world dedicated to advancing the leadership and professional development of women in the field of international peace and security. WIIS (pronounced “wise”) sponsors leadership training, mentoring, and networking programs as well as substantive events focused on current policy problems. WIIS also supports research projects and policy engagement initiatives on critical international security issues, including the nexus between gender and security.
Mission Warrior Transition's mission is to provide support to our Warriors, Veterans and their Families during their transition from military to civilian status. Goal To provide our Veterans with world class training/guidance to plan, fund, start and maintain their own business. We want to provide our Veterans with the best tools for them to create their own future. Our hope is for these new Veteran Business owners to hire or inspire other Veterans.
Southern Oregon Veterans Benefit assist veterans with education & employment barriers. Our goal is helping veterans become successful in completing their college education with grants from S.O.V.B. funding. Also we assist veterans with funds to obtain the tools they need to obtain employment or continue working at their current job. S.O.V.B. finances have assisted hundreds of veterans since 1996.
We'll be talking with some outstanding organizations that are truly helping our veterans and their families. Folds of Honor, Warriors For Freedom. We will also be talking about PGA of America’s charitable foundation called PGA HOPE. This is a program designed to introduce golf to military veterans, Wounded Warriors and Veterans with Disabilities in an effort to enhance their mental, social, physical and emotional well-being. We will also cover the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act that was signed and made effective in February 2015 by President Obama. Help stop 22 Veteran Suicides a day.
To explore the Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) to examine its history, virtue, utility, and function. Also review the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act.
With veteran suicide at a high rate, we, Warriors for Freedom Foundation a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, have committed to raising awareness to this issue. September 1, 2014 we launched a “Remembering the 22″ campaign in honor of the 22 confirmed veterans who commit suicide each day due to untreated combat related stressors and injuries. On September 21, we had 50 people, military and civilian alike, walk 22 miles through the OKC metro to raise awareness.
Create Awareness Programs for service men and women that have survived war and long deployments from their families. Some that were able-Bodied Warriors now have the challenge of adjusting to being permanently disabled Veterans. IHOOT provides a means for families to reconnect and reestablish healthy relationships, regardless of when they served.
VeteransPlus programs were designed by Veterans and are delivered by Veterans to provide practical financial solutions geared to real life circumstances of current and former military personnel brbr The Yellow Ribbon Registry Network (YRRN) is devoted to assisting post 9/11 American military heroes and their families.
Wings for Warriors is a volunteer driven 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designed to help ensure that our combat wounded Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans returning home, or transitioning into the realm of their disabilities are getting the adequate healthcare and financial benefits that they deserve, and should expect from their local communities this type of support and outreach. We owe them that!
As the nation’s newest, truly American Human Rights organization, we RAISE OUR VOICES as Americans, proudly standing on guard and ever willing to expose Human Rights and/or Civil Rights violations or abuses that harm our active Servicemen & Veterans IN ANY WAY.
The Goal is to muster a group of dedicated Community Members, Volunteers, Veterans and Alumni whose primary mission is to offer resources and support to obtain and sustain housing, food and shelter for our returning Veterans.
Forces trauma out of the shadows and implores us to see it for what it is: America’s biggest public health threat.
Operation Troop Aid (OTA) is to provide care packages for our deployed U.S. Service members with the revenue generated through professional concert promotions and public financial generosity.
Vet2Tech helps transitioning veterans, National Guard members and Reservists find employment in manufacturing and technical service careers. With a network of more than 1,000 hiring companies willing to hire veterans, Vet2Tech’s goal is to fill open positions with qualified, well-trained veterans.
Veterans, in particular, are at increased risk for stress during the holidays for many reasons
Mr.Edward Killeen told of being in the USS Tennessee's crow's nest early that morning, December 7, 1941, when PING PING PING, metal hitting metal, you know. I wondered, What is going on? When we realized we were being attacked by the Japanese, I was commanded to sound the bugle and wake-up two thousand men sleeping below. It was a miracle I survived, Mr. Killeen had said. Miracle, indeed. This gentleman is still standing after surviving not only the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but also the Battle of the Coral Sea, as a bazooka man on Saipan Island and as one of the proud US Marines on Iwo Jima.
Heroes to Heroes Foundation, a non-denominational 501(c)(3) organization, provides a spiritual healing, suicide prevention, and peer support program for veterans who suffer from Moral Injury and PTSD.
To enhance the quality of life for post-9/11 service members, their families, and families of the fallen who have sustained physical and psychological wounds in the line of duty
Interview the group Drowning Pool brbr There are many unrewarded acts of heroism that need to be brought to light, Sgt. Mark Kalinowski a USMC veteran and a survivor of the Haditha Hospital Ambush, 7 May 2005 is just one of these stories.
To transform, expand and partner, continuing to provide therapeutic and empowering resources to our nation's Warriors.
Harbor Site Foundation's goal is to give veterans in Law Enforcement and their families a place to go in order to get the most current information on benefits afforded to them as well as providing an accessible support network they can utilize in a completely confidential manner.
Puller Chronicles is the first volume of Meriwether Ball's book series. She reveals the heroic ancestral faith and the mysteries and secrets within the life and family of Lt.Gen Lewis B. Puller - the greatest U.S. Marine who ever lived.
Tara Crooks, called “The Oprah of the Armed Forces” by CBS’ Katie Couric, has been a featured military family life expert in Military Times, Stars & Stripes, USAA Magazine, Military.com, and Army.com, just to name a few media outlets. It is her capacity as co-founder of Army Wife Network and producer of Army Wife Talk Radio, “the original internet talk radio program for Army wives,” that has brought her recognition internationally
Through personal intervention for those in crisis and delivery of AFM programs and workshops, we are building stronger communities where individuals and families are finding the encouragement to face the challenges of life with the resources to adapt and heal
Women Veterans Need to Understand their Benefits Which Include understanding Outreach Opportunities
Adrien M. Neely President and Director Eagle’s Rest of Georgia, Inc. (“Eagle’s Rest”) is a Georgia non-profit corporation founded to provide a sanctuary and retreat for Military Chaplains and their spouses. Chaplain (ordained, non-military) Atlanta International Airport
The Interfaith Chaplaincy program provides multifaceted ministry in the world’s busiest airport, providing a sanctuary for returning military, passengers, visitors, airport employees of all faiths for prayer and meditation. Chaplain services include: prayer, counseling, meal assistance, travel assistance, Military Honor Guard Escort, and grief crisis assistance, etc.
Emory University Hospital Mid-Town Hospital Chaplain (on-call) Responded to all Code situations and made routine visits to patients, their family members, and Hospital Staff as requested.
Supervisor of Counseling Center In Touch Ministries, Inc. (with Dr. Charles Stanley) Provided individual counseling by phone and in-person as needed. Answered Dr. Stanley’s calls and letters, often from other pastors.
Founder and President Grace Mountain Ministries Provided one-on-one counseling with pastors and their wives.
Founder and President New Creation Counseling Services, Inc. Provided marriage & family counseling, and crisis intervention services. Responsible for fund-raising, PR, and training & supervision of Volunteers.
2nd Half Hour Chris Morrissey Owner American Heroes Apparel Owner and President of Proforma Big Dog Branding, a nationally recognized, award winning promotional marketing company. As a third generation owner of the family business started in 1955, Chris has guided the company into the modern marketing world by adding print, exhibition and mobile marketing services to the company’s full line of capabilities and offerings. Most recently, Chris served as a Legislative Chairperson for the Promotional Products Association International and was a PPAI Gold Pyramid Award winner in 2013. Prior to joining the family business in 1998, Chris spent 8 years in the corporate criminal investigations world and led multiple teams in the investigation of large theft rings and corporate embezzlement cases
Major Ed was our 1st guest to be interviewed on the American Heroes Network Radio 1/15/2013 on our 1st program brbr We welcome Major Ed back brbr In a matter of seconds, under a broiling Iraqi noon sun on Aug. 17, 2004, Major Ed Pulido of Edmond, Okla., saw his life take a 180-degree turn. He was thrust into first battling for his own survival and then dealing with how to rebuild himself.
1st Guest Peter Forbes National Commander and Australian Commander for the Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. and The Veterans Coalition 2nd Guest Tom Voss Veteran Trek Peter Forbes served with the Australian Army in the Republic of South Vietnam with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Old Faithful) on their second tour during 1971 he was a combat medic with Charlie Company, 7Platoon. • During the mid 80’s he was searching for a Veterans Organization that had as its main direction the welfare of Veterans and their families and to embrace the brotherhood of all Veterans. “People Who Care” • In 1989 he decided to become involved with the Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc., a dedicated Veterans brotherhood organization. Their Motto: “People Who Care” Today his credentials speak for themselves.. He is the National Commander and Australian Commander for the Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. and The Veterans Coalition. President – Veterans Fund of the United States. 501C3 A Life Member of Clan Forbes Society brbr 2nd Guest Tom Voss • President and Co-Founder of Veterans Trek, Inc. Tom served on active duty in the United States Army for three years, from 2003 to 2006. After initial infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Tom was ordered to Fort Lewis Washington to serve with the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, an element of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, one of the Army’s first Stryker Infantry Brigades. • In May of 2013, Tom teamed up with Anthony Anderson to create Veterans Trek, Inc. Tom and Anthony developed, organized and executed a 2,700-mile trek from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Los Angeles, California. While trekking across the country Tom and Anthony fostered community awareness on veterans’ issues through formal media outlets, conducted peer-to-peer support for veterans’ and their families in all seven states, and raised over $100,000 for Dryhootch of America, Inc. Tom is devoted to helping veterans and their families overcome the struggles of returning from war. He currently volunteers his time by acting as a veteran consultant on the “Save the Solders Home” project by serving on the Community Advisory Council and local work group. He is also involved with educating medical students on the veteran experience at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and currently sits on the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center Consumer Council on mental health.
Recipient of 3-Purple Hearts for combat wounds in Vietnam. There are only a few 3-time Purple Heart recipients living today in the entire USA. brbr Military: Team leader of an infantry group in Vietnam and lead his team on several combat missions. Recipient of 3-Purple Hearts for combat wounds in Vietnam. There are only a few 3-time Purple Heart recipients living today in the entire USA. He served with the First Cavalry Division [Airmobile] and received the Air Medal for combat flight missions. Awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge for combat engagements. Retired from the U.S. Army due to extensive combat wounds. National Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart organization 2000-01. Over 20 years as a public speaking and health care management consultant. Licensed health care administrator and hospital administrator. Convention speeches, company retreats, and training lectures specialist. Consulting and speaking on leadership and management performance topics since 1980. Interim executive for companies that need a short-term administrator, executive director, RVP, or executive. Specializing in reviving and redirecting organizations that have slipped away from generally accepted management principles.
Specialties: Retreat organizer and facilitator for companies and organizations; Speaker at banquets and/or company dinners; Facilitator at business training sessions. Managing companies or businesses on an interim basis as the organization seeks a full-time executive. Author of published leadership articles.
Bob is a former US Army Special Forces officer and Vietnam Veteran who is the recipient of 2 Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star brbr Robert Gerometta brbr Bob began his 40-year business career with the State of New York where he was instrumental in developing the State’s computerized drivers licensing system. Bob was the Commissioner of the Department of Information and Records for the City of New York. As Commissioner.
After leaving New York City, Mr. Gerometta served as president of Information Design, Inc., a computer systems and management consulting firm. He later moved on to act as Managing Director of Computer Systems. He moved to Chicago in 1986, where he became head of Client Computer Systems Analysis and Design for the Midwest region of the Martin Segal Company, a premier Taft-Hartley benefits consulting firm. From 1993 to 1998, he was a managing partner in OBA Midwest, Ltd. a premier health claim and pension transaction processing company. From 1998 to 2005, he was Chief Executive Officer of MonetaPro, LLC, and Internet-based asset management software developer.
Bob is a former US Army Special Forces officer and Vietnam Veteran who is the recipient of 2 Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star
Bob is an avid “gear head” and racing fan, having built, wrenched, and driven a variety of sports, drag racing and circle track cars. He has authored articles in Hot Rod Magazine and Car Craft, and currently he a contributor to Muscle Car Review. He also co-authored Oldsmobile In Action,. He currently owns a 2003 Mustang Cobra convertible, an Audi S4 and a pristine 1968 Ram Air 442.
Bob's duties as the CEO for Wild About Cars and website operations manager for the Automotive History Preservation Society - a Michigan-based not for profit.
How the lethal cocktail of anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, analgesic drugs killed my son brbr Stan White Father of Marine Corporal Andrew White brbr Stan White is a retired high school principal. He is the father of Marine Corporal Andrew White, who was a healthy 23-year-old, gung-ho Marine returning from a nine-month tour in Iraq, who, like so many of his brothers in arms, suffered from the seemingly normal stresses of war—insomnia, nightmares and restlessness. The young corporal turned to the military’s mental health system for help. Within a few short months, White became unrecognizable to his family. Eleven months after beginning his first cocktail of mind-altering drugs, he died in his sleep from what the medical examiner ruled an “accidental overdose of medication.” Since taking his first multi-drug cocktail to the date of his death, White had been prescribed no less than nineteen different drugs with many at ever-increasing dosages, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-anxiety, pain killers and antibiotics. The prescribed drugs Methadone, Oxycodone, Paxil and Seroquel were found in his system at the time of death. Stan and his wife, Shirley, blame the “lethal cocktail” of psychiatric drugs for the death of their son. “We don’t think they should be given to troops in the field,” Stan White said. “It’s worth asking whether they should be given to anybody anytime, civilian or military.” The Whites are advocating more alternatives for soldiers and have testified before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Veterans Museum and what we offer to the public and area Veterans.
brbr Mayor John Masiarczyk: Veterans Museum and what we offer to the public and area Veterans.
State Representative David Santiago District 27 Florida GI Bill, Education, Debt Collection Practices
brbr 1st Guest: Mayor John Masiarczyk Mayor of Deltona Fla. & 2nd Guest State Representative David Santiago District 27 brbr For four decades, Mayor John has been a respected figure in Deltona public life. As a civic and business leader, as a mentor and benefactor, as their first mayor, as a museum founder and curator of Deltona’s history – growing up in Detroit and later moving to Florida with his parents as a teen. A couple of years later as the Vietnam War was escalating John sensed opportunity in the United States Navy and he enlisted. The Navy stationed him in Sanford, Florida, Mayor John has come far in life and in his service to Deltona. He wanted to return to the job of Mayor of the City of Deltona because he truly believes civic involvement is the responsibility of each of us and he knows the value of participation and knowledge gained through experience.
State Representative David Santiago District 27 • Married 21 years to Emma, 3 children Kristina, Gabriela and David, and also a grand dad of Matthew. • Resident of District 27 since 1991 • Deltona City Commissioner (2003-2007) • Financial Manager specializing in helping our men and women of the military with their financial needs. • US Army Veteran • Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012 • Florida House of Representatives Majority Deputy Whip 2012-2014 He Supported the bill that made Florida the Welcome Home” state in the nation for veterans, military personnel and their families. He is also on the Veteran & Military Affairs Sub committee
Bart Billings, PH.D. Was a guest on HBO’s Vice News, ABC’s Night Line and US News And World Report. He has been in national & international documentaries, TV news shows and extensive radio shows discussing Combat Stress. He has given testimony to Congressional and at State Legislative Hearings on the need for better Mental Health Treatment Programs for military personnel and their families.
brbr Bart P. Billings, Ph.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist PSY 7656 Licensed Marriage, Family Counselor MG 4888
WASHINGTON-The Department of Veterans Affairs has begun ousting dozens of brain-damaged veterans from special therapeutic group homes, setting off a scramble for housing and care. brbr Hannah Fairman Health Policy Analyst on WWP's Policy Team brbr Congressional Inaction Threatens Program for Brain-Damaged Vets VA Begins Ousting Vets from Special Therapeutic Group Homes July 11, 2014 10:26 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON-The Department of Veterans Affairs has begun ousting dozens of brain-damaged veterans from special therapeutic group homes, setting off a scramble for housing and care. In recent weeks, VA case workers have warned 53 veterans they'll have to leave the privately run homes by Sept. 15, according to the agency. Ten have already been discharged from the care facilities and sent to nursing homes, state veterans homes or to live with family members. Dozens of other veterans are now in a state of limbo about whether they'll be able to remain in the rehab facilities for more than a few months. The VA says it has no choice but to discharge the residents. Despite pressure from veterans, their families and service organizations, Congress hasn't extended the legal authority for the rehabilitation program, which expires Oct. 6. The failure to extend this successful pilot [program] would close a door to recently injured individuals who need these services and risk having to transfer wounded veterans to more costly and inappropriate environments of care, the Wounded Warrior Project, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and 11 other veterans groups wrote to lawmakers in a joint letter this month. Lawmakers from both parties say they support renewing the program. The five-year pilot was designed to test whether veterans with traumatic brain injuries-the kinds of wound that became a signature of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts-improve faster with intensive therapy in a community-based home than at a hospital or rest home.
The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) was founded in 2007 by six women veterans, each with years of experience as State Women Veterans Coordinators in various states around the country brbr Joseph VanFonda CEO brbr Joseph VanFonda served in the United States Marine Corps for more than 27 years. He retired out of Quantico, VA in 2013 as the Regimental SgtMaj for the Wounded Warrior Regiment. In this role, he was responsible for the coordination of non - medical care for combat and non -combat wounded, ill, and injured Marines, as well as Sailors attached to or in direct support of Marine units and their family members in order to assist them as they return to duty or transition to the veteran status. Joseph is a combat veteran who has a deep understanding of the Veterans Integrated System Network of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Knowing the many levels of care within the VA, Joseph has begun to implement a new core concept of operations of DVNF, known as Benefits and Resource Navigation (BaRN). This new and exciting concept of operations will help with the direct needs of our disabled veterans while providing additional resources that each disabled veteran earned while serving this great nation. Joseph is very familiar with working with nonprofit organizations. As the Wounded Warrior Regimental SgtMaj he served as one of the main points of contact and clearinghouse for persons or charitable organizations seeking to support wounded warriors through charitable gifts and special events. Asked why did you accept the Executive Director position? “I have served our wonderful nation for 27 years. I believe in DVN F’s mission, which allows me to continue serving our American heroes our disabled veterans in need, and we will do this with a relationship, not a process approach” Joseph VanFonda's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal with two gold star (3rd award) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars (4th award) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with four gold stars (5th award) Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (8th award) Humanitarian Service Medal with one star (2award) National Defense Service Medal with one star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) Global War on Terrorism (GWOTM) Kuwait Liberation Medal Saudi Arabia Liberation Medal Southwest Asia Service Meda
Two of the biggest problems in the service dog training business are the scam of registering your dog as a service dog and passing a dog off as a service dog. There are scam companies that will register your dog for a price, and scam people who claim their dogs are service dogs brbr Jerry Black Co-Founder & General Manager Veteran Support Centers of America and VSCOAPaws brbr VSCOA PAWS Service & Companion Dog Training Program is fundamentally transforming how we serve our disabled veterans and Wounded Warriors who have become homeless at Camp Royal Oak. Veterans who come to Camp Royal Oak are now offered several opportunities that can result in them receiving pre-vocational skills, a career path and or a way to serve their fellow brother and sister veterans. In addition all dogs in our programs are rescue dogs. VSCOA PAWS Service & Companion Dog Training Program offers two very different Service Dog Training programs that a veteran can get involved with while staying at Camp Royal Oak. “Train a Trainer” or “TAT” is a Therapeutic Vocational Education & Training Program that the VSCOA PAWS Program offers to the disabled veterans and Wounded Warriors we serve at Camp Royal Oak. This unique first of its kind program offers qualified veterans staying at Camp Royal Oak the opportunity to obtain pre-vocational skills that could help lead a veteran to become a fully certified Companion- Service Dog Trainer or more. Veterans that enroll for the “TAT” program are taught to train Companion- Service Dogs for disabled heroes such as Combat Veterans and First Responders that suffer with PTSD and or Traumatic Brain Injuries known as TBI’s.
Author and master storyteller Dan Perkins presents the second book in his trilogy about terrorism against the United States.
brbr Dan Perkins: Author brbr Walking into a creative writing class at the BIG Arts Center on Sanibel Island in November 2011, Dan Perkins had no idea how dramatic of a turn his life would take after the four week class. The instructor, Nancy Daversa, started by telling the students they would know within the first two weeks if they could write. Dan smiled to himself thinking he would only miss a couple of rounds of golf. But the writing bug bit Dan Perkins and he found, not only can he write, but he can write fast and with a vengeance. His first story blossomed into a full length novel that he completed in 90 days. The Brotherhood of the Red Nile, A Terrorist Perspective, would go on to be the fourth book by one of Nancy Daversa’s students in as many sessions of teaching. Dan’s first book was published in December, 2012, barely a year after taking the course. One reviewer said, “This book is as current as today’s headlines, but scarier than tomorrow’s.” Filled with twists and turns, it offers a surprise at every intersection as readers will no doubt wonder “Where did that come from?”
Veterans that are bringing awareness to PTSD, TBI, veteran homelessness and veteran suicides.
brbr Anthony Anderson Served in the WI National Guard 2002-2008. Volunteered for 2 deployments to Iraq Served as an Infantryman Left the military in 2008. Studied and received his degree from UWM with a BS in Secondary Education-English Co-Founder Veterans Trek brbr Tom Voss Served 3 years active duty with 25ID out of Ft. Lewis, WA. Served as an infantryman assigned to a scout sniper platoon doing recon. Deployed to Iraq. Left the military in 2006. Studied Social Work at University of Wi Milwaukee. Co-Founder of Veterans Trek
The National Service Programs operates a nation-wide network of 77 service offices from Guam to Puerto Rico. Over 73,000 veterans and dependents receive expert assistance in obtaining well deserved benefits and you don’t have to be an MOPH member to receive the help you need.
brbr Lt Col James G. Richards (US Army Ret) National Service Director - Military Order of the Purple Heart brbr Patriot James G. Richards (Jim) is a native of Western Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) with a Bachelor of Science degree in education and a Master of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.... Lieutenant Colonel Richards entered the Army in 1969 thru the ROTC program at IUP and culminated at Fort Meade Maryland in 1989 as the Chief Aviation Resource Management Director that evaluated aviation programs for reserve and National Guard units from Virginia to Maine. His assignments included: Air Cavalry pilot in Vietnam, helicopter instructor pilot at Fort Rucker Alabama, Armor Company commander Germany, Air Cavalry Troop commander at Fort Campbell Kentucky, Army Aviation Staff Officer at the Pentagon and Aviation Officer at Fort Meade Maryland.... His military decorations include: Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal w/3 OLC, the Air Medal (22nd award) two with V devise for heroism and the Army Commendation Medal. He also has the Master Army Aviator Badge and the Army General Staff Badge.
He flew 650 combat helicopter missions in Vietnam, where he was shot down and received the Air Medal for Heroism for saving his crew
. By Paul Fattig Mail Tribune If Medford resident Steve Deaton didn't have the papers and photographs to document his tales, they would raise more than a few eyebrows. My military experience was all out of the norm — not the standard track, he acknowledged. But everything, except going to Vietnam, was voluntary. Consider this: He was born on Veterans Day — Nov. 11, 1950 — in the U.S. Naval Hospital on the Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton, Calif. And his official military discharge as a chief warrant officer 4 from the Oregon Army National Guard inactive reserve is effective today — Nov. 11, 2010 — at age 60. He flew 650 combat helicopter missions in Vietnam, where he was shot down and received the Air Medal for Heroism for saving his crew. He also earned the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart in Vietnam. That was before he flew fixed-wing surveillance between South and North Korea, and piloted a newfangled airplane — he learned to fly it en route — from Northern Ireland to the Middle East just in time for Desert Storm in 1991. Small wonder his wife, Susan, fondly refers to him as Forrest Gump when it comes to his military experience.
General Counsel at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. and a reserve USAF JAG Officer Combat wounded / Purple Heart / Joint Service Commendation Medal / Combat Action Medal
Former Notre Dame basketball player Danielle Green-Byrd prides herself on taking “the road less traveled” – a road that took a fateful turn when she lost her left arm in Iraq.
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Army Specialist Danielle Green-Byrd
brbr A former basketball star from Chicago’s inner city who served in the Army and was injured in Iraq has learned that time does really heal wounds. Danielle Green-Byrd, one of the first women injured during the beginning of the conflict in Iraq, said she believes her successful transition comes from traveling on the road of hard knocks, inspired by a Robert Frost poem. “It’s called ‘The Road Less Traveled,’ and I think that poem defines my life,” she said. “I have always traveled [this] road. I was raised in a dysfunctional family. My mom was on drugs; my dad wasn’t around. I was 7 years old and had to figure out what [I was] going to do.”
As many Veterans and their families know all too well, the transition from service to civilian life has many obstacles. A large amount of combat Veterans have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and tasks like sitting in a classroom that civilians take for granted are difficult. Manpower to Horsepower is a hands-on program that teaches Veterans motorsport management.
Sue Roberson CEO/President for Manpower to Horsepower Salisbury, North Carolina We started this business in 2009 to just start giving back to our Veterans by building a 2 seat race car that the Veterans could ride around the track in. That was a great success which led us to thinking that maybe we could through our race shop teach some of them to weld and fabricate and help them get jobs. I talked to the Veterans Administration about my idea which lead them to sending me to the community colleges to start a program. We have now been able for the past four years have a Motorsports program that is strictly for Veterans and is taught at our race shop. We not only teach at the shop but as long as they maintain a good GPA in school they go to the track with the race cars and are the pit crew for our super late model dirt cars. Because we race World of Outlaw and Lucas Oil Series we are going to 19 states and 67 cities in the US so that we can spread the word about this program to as many Veterans that are interested. We have recently been given the go ahead for our new school in Kansas City and have also partnered with CRI Counter Terrorism Training in Las Vegas, Warriors in the Workplace, and the Tug McGraw Foundation so that we are able to offer more jobs for our Veterans . Both mine and my husband’s families are very military oriented so this is a very near and dear cause for us.
About bands of brothers who exhibited unparalleled bravery, solidarity and endurance on the battlefield to come out on top in a fight against impossible odds. This is a true Story that's told by a veterans who survived to tell about it.
Captain Perfecto Sanchez, US Army A Bronze Star recipient was born and raised in NYC; raised by both his grandmother and mom and the eclectic 8M neighbors in the city. His mom was a teacher and his grandmother a pianist so he grew up with a inquisitive and creative curiosity for life. The military was never in the cards for him until he met Jack Dammon, his track coach, a man he very much respected. His opinion was that Perfecto had potential but lacked discipline. He thought obstacle courses sounded cool so he opened up the West Point brochure that Jack gave him.
He met the best of friends at West Point- friends he still is very close with to this day. The world was much simpler then, before 9-11 that is. It wasn't until his 3rd year when he had to choose his brand that it really hit him that he could potentially be going to war. He blames his curious personality that led him to infantry- and the fact that if he was going to do something he wanted to do, he wanted to do it with his utmost ability; and of course that his best friend was doing it with him.
He reported to Ft Benning in June 2005- after a few nights out in the woods and a couple jumps out of an airplane about a year later he was reporting to his first duty station in Baumholder, Germany. His unit was already deployed and he was scheduled to fly out less than 2 weeks from getting there and he couldn't wait.
Thanks to his amazing strength, courage, an incredible will to live, the courageous actions of the men in his unit, the prayers of thousands, and all the healthcare providers at the Walter Reed, Travis remains on the road to recovery. Every day is a battle, but Travis continues to astound friends and family alike with his progress and with his amazing spirit. SSG Travis Mills is a genuine American hero, and for his incredible sacrifice, we are forever in his debt.
Staff Sergeant Travis Mills US Army Ret Wounded warrior, motivational speaker, actor, and an advocate for veterans and amputees
Travis’s story has been featured on local and national news including Fox News’ Happening Now with Jenna Lee and The O’Reilly Factor with Bill O’Reilly. On April 10, 2012, United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne was critically injured on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan by an IED (improvised explosive device) while on patrol, losing portions of both legs and both arms. He is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries. In September 2013, Travis founded the Travis Mills Foundation, a nonprofit organization, formed to benefit and assist wounded and injured veterans. Travis and the foundation are actively involved with several veterans’ organizations including, Veterans Family Camp in Belgrade, Maine. Travis also founded the Travis Mills Group, LLC where he consults with and speaks to companies and organizations nationwide inspiring all to overcome life’s challenges and adversity. www.travismills.org
Patriot Everett has been honored with many awards from the Department of Florida, including Patriot of the Year for 2008-2009, His Chapter 566 was twice Chapter of the Year. Patriot Everett was MOPH National Patriot of the year 2008-2009, and he received the MOPH National Commanders award 2013. Also he has received many awards of recognition from the State of Florida Senators, Congressmen, and local Counties Officials and local Mayors.
William “Bill” Everett
MOPH Region IV Commander and Chapter #811 Adjutant
During his Military service, Patriot Everett was wounded in 1967 while with the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment leading a convoy that was ambushed from both sides of the road by VC troops. Though hit by rifle fire himself, Everett helped get the casualties to a vehicle for evacuation and provided cover fire while the wounded were driven to safety. He was awarded both the Bronze Star with “V” Device, and the Purple Heart for his bravery and wounds in that conflict. He later was awarded two more Purple Hearts, and many other awards as the Silver Star, 2 more Bronze Star with ”V” Device, Soldier’s Medal, Air Medal earned in subsequent conflicts in Vietnam while serving 4 tours of Duty. William “Bill” Everett joined the MOPH in 1984 in Somers Point, New Jersey, and there helped open up a new MOPH Chapter, # 155 Patriot Everett retired from the army after 21 years of service and then was hired by the Trump Organization where he worked for 19 years as the Facilities Manager. Following this he moved to another area of New Jersey where he worked in a managerial capacity for several more years. Upon retiring again, Patriot Everett moved to Baker, located in the Florida Panhandle, and transferred to MOPH Chapter #566.
He held the positions of Adjutant, Jr. Vice, Sr. Vice, and Chapter Commander during his four years with that Chapter. Also during that time period he was the Department of Florida, Chief of Staff (2 years) and the Sr. Vice Commander for 1 year. Patriot Everett was elected the Region IV Commander at the 2010 National Convention held in Florida, and he has held that position from 2010 until the present time (2014). Also, at the same time he was/is Chapter #811 Adjutant, from 2010-2013 then again 2014-2015.
RICHARD B. SMALL, MD
Region VI Commander and National Surgeon of the Military Order of the Purple Heart
Battalion Surgeon with the 1/505, 82nd Airborne Division and as Medical Officer in the Emergency Room at 24th Evac Hospital, Long Binh Post, Republic of South Vietnam. Then a year as General Medical Officer at US Army Hospital, Camp Zama, Japan. He completed his medical training at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, became Board Certified in Neurological Surgery
Became Board Certified in Neurological Surgery and practiced in Ventura Co, California until 2000. His next 6 years were spent in Rescue Mission Work as a Program Director and volunteer Chaplain where he worked with many veterans living on the street. He is currently Region VI Commander and National Surgeon of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) and National Coordinator for the collaborative effort between MOPH and Spirit of ‘45 to honor and preserve the spirit of the “Greatest Generation.” As a member of the Las Vegas Health Care System Veterans Administration Voluntary Services Executive Council he formed strong relationships with leaders of other Veteran Service Organizations throughout the Vegas Valley, Parhump, Henderson, Mesquite and Laughlin/Bullhead City. Together their coalition holds annual Veterans Health Fairs, Veterans Day and Memorial Day Ceremonies and they share many Chapter/Post activities. Dr Small is the founding Chairman of the Nevada Veterans Foundation (NVF) charged with raising capital funding and continuing support for a Veterans Guest House to be constructed at the new VA Medical Center in North Las Vegas. Partnered with the Fisher House Foundation and the Nevada Military Support Alliance the NVF is well on the way to raising the necessary $6M in funding. Dr Small is also a Director of the Nevada Veterans Assistance League, and a founding member of the Honor Flight Southern Nevada Board of Directors.
Stand Down House, owned & operated by FaithHopeLove*Charity, Inc. (FHLC, Inc.), helps male veterans who are struggling due to mental / physical wounds & illness, addictions, homelessness and/or other issues regain their lives through a multi tiered program, transitional living, & collaborative efforts. FHLC, Inc. addresses the needs & unseen wounds of our veterans & military members.
Roy J. Foster Executive Director & Co-Founder for Standown House & Ross Fallacaro. Ross is a graduate of Stand Down House and served as a Case Manger for both Stand Down House and the First Stop Veterans' Resource Center. Ross is presently attending Florida Atlantic University, after graduating from Palm Beach State College with Honors. Ross served in Iraq.
Help with my Claims
James P. Young
Former President of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers
James P. Young is the immediate Past President of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, he served as the Association’s Chief Executive Officer, Liaison between the association and the Department of Veteran Affairs, and other Veteran Service Organizations responsible for keeping the Department of Veterans Affairs informed of the Association concerns and suggestions. He also has a seat on the Board of Directors, and serves as vice chair of the Veterans and Military Service Committee of the National Association of Counties, (NACo). Mr. Young Joined the Army in February 1966, and retired July 1990 as a Sargent First Class Traffic Manager, having multiple assignment over the years including 1967-68 Pleiku, Vietnam as an Infantry Mortar man, and holds a Bachelor degrees in Business Management and Human Resources specializations with a minor in Women Studies from Viterbo University, La Crosse, WI, and an Associate’s degree from Green River Community College, Auburn, WA in Transportation Management.
Badge of Military Merit
James Joseph Klug
National Public Relations Officer MOPH / National Historian
At 20 years of age, he was drafted after his second year in the California College system and ready to start his third year with a major in architecture and a minor in business. The year was 1967 and the Vietnam War was ramping-up. He was sent to Basic training at Ft. Ord, California and advanced infantry training at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. His MOS, 11C20, light mortars, prepared him for deployment to Vietnam. Once in country, he served as 11Bravo, Infantry, for 12 months as a gunner carrying the M-79 grenade launcher with the 1st Battalion 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division in II Core Central Highlands. Among the most intense battles he fought in was Hill 875 were he was wounded. He then went on and fought in the 1968 TET Offensive. Instead of returning home after one year, he extended his tour. He stayed for another 7 months as the Battalion Chaplains Assistant for the 1st Battalion 10th Infantry of the 4th. Infantry Division. His final rank after active duty and USAR was SSG.
In 2007, he discovered the Military Order of the Purple Heart and became a life member. That same year, he was elected as Jr. Vice Commander of our local Chapter 147. He moved up the ladder of elected offices to Chapter Commander as well as Oregon Department Commander. He held these offices for several years even while being appointed as National Historian in 2010. He still holds that National Office as well as that of National Public Relations Officer MOPH.
The Trek Continues Anthony Anderson & Tom Voss
Anthony Anderson Served in the WI National Guard 2002-2008. Volunteered for 2 deployments to Iraq Served as an Infantryman Left the military in 2008. Studied and received my degree from UWM with a BS in Secondary Education-English Have served various positions at Dryhootch since 2011 Co-Founder Veterans Trek
Tom Voss Served 3 years active duty with 25ID out of Ft. Lewis, WA. Served as an infantryman assigned to a scout sniper platoon doing recon. Deployed to Iraq. Left the military in 2006. Studied Social Work at University of Wi Milwaukee. Served as Vice president of Dryhootch from 2011-2012 Co-Founder of Veterans Trek
A families adventure on the road to healing
Warrior SSG Chaz & Jessica Allen
In June 2011 a Saturday morning, friends and family along with many folks from the community gathered at Outlaw Field to Welcome Home a local Hero. As SSG Charles ( Chaz ) Allen’s plane landed, members of the Patriot Guard lined the tarmac holding American flags. Once the plane stopped, SSG Allen walked off the plane and onto a red carpet as he made his way through a passage way of flags as the Patriot Guard lined the walk way. When asked about his flight home, Chaz said it was his best flight in a long time. He also thanked everyone for coming out and stated that he didn’t think his wife knew so many people. SSG Allen returned from a long stay at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. SSG Allen was injured when he stepped on an IED on January 22, 2011, losing both legs and breaking his elbow. He was deployed with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team at Fort Campbell. While SSG Allen didn’t come home with the rest of his unit, today he was welcomed home in a special way at Outlaw Field. People lined up for the opportunity to welcome home SSG Chaz Allen and to shake hands with their local hero. In a brief interview, he stated his was glad to be home. After a brief meeting with friends and family inside the air conditioned building at Outlaw Field, SSG Allen made his way to the family vehicle and was escorted home my the Patriot Guard and the Clarksville Police Department. American flags lined the street as leading to the Allen family home. Once in the neighborhood, Motorcycles lined the street as everyone gathered outside the family home. When asked what he would like for his first home cooked meal, Chaz stated that he would like a pot of beans, corn bread and fried potatoes. A fundraiser for SSG Chaz Allen is being held starting at noon today at the Bella Napoli Pizzeria, 1200 Villa Place in Nashville. Donations can also be made to the Chaz and Jessica Allen Fund at Heritage Bank, 3845 Trenton Road, Clarksville, TN 37040. Jason Conner, general manager of Valentino’s Ristorante in Nashville, who also planned the dinner and concert fundraiser, “We are giving 100 percent of ticket sales, silent auction, and beverage sales to build one-story home for him that is accessible.”
Reintroduce the warrior and the family members to life outside the hospital.
The Aleethia Foundation was formed in 2005, when the Friday Night Dinners that were started at Fran O’Brien’s Steakhouse in 2003 needed some financial assistance. Since Hal was an owner of Fran O’Brien’s, he took on the task of forming the 501c3 called The Aleethia Foundation. He therefore became the Executive Director and has held that position since the corporation was formed. Hal is dedicated to supporting the newly injured service members. As with all members of the Aleethia Board, Hal does not receive any compensation for anything he does with the Aleethia Foundation and its activities. For Hal, and all the board members this is a labor of love. It is to help the service members and not to exploit the service members.
Love and Recovery in the Aftermath of War.
Kayla Williams is a former sergeant and Arabic linguist in a Military Intelligence company of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) company of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) who currently does research and analysis on national security and veterans' issues. Kayla is the author of Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army, a memoir about her experiences negotiating the changing demands on today's military, and the forthcoming book Plenty of Time When We Get Home: Love and Recovery in the Aftermath of War, about her husband's injury and their joint path from war trauma to healing. Ms. Williams graduated cum laude with a BA in English Literature from Bowling Green State University and earned an MA in International Affairs with a focus on the Middle East from American University. Kayla is a a White House Women Veteran Champion of Change, a Truman National Security Project Fellow, and a former member of the VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.
http://www.npr.org/2014/02/10/274670026/for-military-couples-its-a-long-recovery-when-we-get-home
Trains prison inmates to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and explosive detection canines for law enforcement.
RecruitMilitary is a website where veterans can search job postings, and communicate with potential employers.
Mike Francomb, Senior VP of Marketing Walter Campbell: A man with a Plan
Mike Francomb graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1989. After graduation, Mike entered the Army as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery. His first assignment in the Army took him to Fort Stewart, GA where he served in front line leadership roles and on his unit’s staff as the logistics officer from December 1989 – March 1993. During this time, Mike also served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a company fire support officer. His next assignment was to Fort Sill, OK, where he excelled at the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course and finished #2 in a class of 120 peers. As a result of this he was selected to take a prestigious instructor assignment as a gunnery instructor at the United States Army Field Artillery School. He served as an instructor for two years before taking over the leadership of the support branch that provided all of the field support for the Artillery School. Mike then left the Army in February of 1996 to pursue an entrepreneurial real estate venture in Orlando, FL. Mike spent two years in this capacity building a business that acquired and redeveloped small commercial and residential real estate. Looking to further expand his business experience in a start-up environment, Mike joined RecruitMilitary in October 1998. Since joining RecruitMilitary, Mike has served in a wide array of key leadership roles within the company including sales, recruiting and operations. Currently, he serves as the Sr. VP, Veteran Services.
Transitional vs Unsupervised housing
Lt. Col Wilbert B. Forbes U.S. Army Retired Former Deputy Secretary for the Veterans Administration, Maryland Staff Sergeant Charles Eggleston U.S. Army Retired State Commander for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Director for the Blue Star Family Jerry Black Director for Veterans Support Centers of America
Pamela Stokes Eggleston: Advocate for the spouses of wounded warriors and the director of development with Blue Star Families. Lorinda Fontaine Farris: Board certified OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner, an Air Force medical reserve officer, and military spouse.
Yoga and meditation – dealing with PTSD, TBI, MST Pamela Stokes Eggleston: MBA, Senior Consultant. Since 2004, Pamela’s goal has been to raise awareness of the challenges military families and veterans face upon returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since her husband was combat injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Pamela can identify with military spouses and caregivers who are often ignored. She has worked in the public policy, criminology, research and business management fields for over 18 years, serving as a consultant, peer reviewer and grant reviewer for numerous agencies including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the VA, the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), the Department of Labor, the National Resource Directory, and as an advisor on Congress-supported publications, and as Development Director for Blue Star Families. She is a member of the National Black MBA Association; additionally, she serves as an Advisory Board Member of Tee It Up for The Troops and on the Business and Professional Women Foundation’s Joining Forces for Women Veterans and Military Spouses Mentoring Advisory Council. Lorinda Fontaine Farris: Lorinda has been a practicing nurse practitioner for fourteen years, in the military for 27 and a spouse for 17 years. Of those 17 years of marriage, Lorinda shared her husband, Doug, with the Army for fourteen of them. Her husband retired from the Army four years ago; ironically, she has now worked for the Army as a government civilian for four years continuing to care for military women, spouses and retirees. Lorinda loves what she does for a living and is honored to be caring for her fellow military comrades. Lorinda and Doug have two ‘children’, their cats, Moxie and Glacier.
Help Deter criminals, Prevent crime, and React more effectively to crime, mental distress, and other safety issues through two-way communication.
Shy Pahlevani: Live Safe Founder and Partner Advocate Kristina Anderson: LiveSafe Chief Evangelist, VT shooting survivor
Shy Pahlevani is a Founder and Partner Advocate for LiveSafe. As a victim of crime himself, Shy realized the role technology could play in crime prevention and personal safety, and brings over a decade of technology and start-up experience to LiveSafe. His goal is to ensure that everyone has access to tools to increase safety and create peace of mind. Kristina Anderson is a survivor of the Virginia Tech tragedy in April 2007, and has since dedicated herself to the important issues of campus safety and emergency planning. As Chief Evangelist for LiveSafe, she speaks frequently on violence prevention and the importance of increased communication and the role technology plays in preventing crises.
Cultivate predictability in your life without compromising flexibility. In simpler terms, decided to become proactive instead of reactive in all areas of your life. Torrey Shannon: Blogger, writer, speaker, veteran's advocate and full-time caregiver and spouse of a wounded warrior. Torrey Shannon is a blogger and writer, speaker, veteran's advocate and Mom to three children, one of which is an honorably discharged veteran. She is also a full-time caregiver and spouse of a wounded warrior. Her husband, SSG John Daniel Shannon, survived a gunshot wound to the head in a gunfight in Iraq in 2004. He served in the Army for more than 23 years and was medically retired in 2009. They spent three years of his recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and became the central figures behind exposing the Walter Reed Scandal in 2007. In addition to multiple physical injuries, her husband is most affected by severe PTSD and a traumatic brain injury. Dealing with the invisible wounds of war first-hand allows Torrey to bring a human element to the problems our military communities face. She serves at a leadership level for many nonprofits across the nation and is proud to work with Senator Elizabeth Dole at the Dole Foundation's Caring for Military Families program. When she finds time, she freelances for a variety media outlets and is currently writing a book. She and her family live in a remote location in the Colorado Rockies. You can learn more about her work and life by visiting her blog at TorreyShannon.com
Claims, Employment, Education and changes
Lt. Col Wilbert B. Forbes, Former Deputy Secretary for the Veterans Administration, Maryland He is a Past Department Commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) for the State of Maryland
Former Deputy Secretary for the Veterans Administration, Maryland. Prior to this appointment, he was a Contract/Consultant Investigator conducting security background investigations for applicants seeking security clearances for positions of trust and responsibility in various agencies in the federal government. Mr. Forbes is very supportive of matters recognizing the service and sacrifices of veterans. He is a Past Department Commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) for the State of Maryland and has served as the Sixth District National Executive Committee Alternate, representing the DAV Departments of Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. During his tenure with the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, Deputy Secretary Forbes continues to be a dedicated advocate for veterans and their families. He has been involved in a number of instances whereby assistance and help has been provided to those who were in need. His involvement with homeless veterans on the state’s Eastern Shore has resulted in the establishment of a veterans’ service center which bears his name Forbes Hall Veterans Education and Training Center, Salisbury, Maryland. Most recently, Deputy Secretary Forbes was honored by the African American Patriots Consortium, Inc., and was awarded the Paul L. Thompson Humanitarian Medal for his unyielding commitment to veterans as an innovative leader who has made Maryland the model for service delivery to veterans and truly represents the legacy of Paul. Thompson. He is the recipient of the Department of the District of Columbia, American Veterans’ (AMVETS) Americanism Award for his patriotism and service within the veterans’ community. Recently, for the school year 2011-12, he was inducted into Morgan State University’s ROTC Bear Battalion Hall of Fame recognizing his services to ROTC Alumni Chapter and the veteran community. As a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, with combat service in Vietnam (1967-68), he received numerous awards during his military service, including the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. As a public servant he retired from the US Department of Labor, where he managed a national investigative program.
What mental health challenges lay ahead for American Warriors in 2014? What progress has been made this year to help American Warriors? How can we create more hope among Warriors and families?
Dr. Mary Bartlett is a licensed professional counselor, and serves as an independent behavioral health consultant on resilience, risk reduction, and suicide prevention. With a doctorate in Counselor Education from Auburn University, her professional credentials include certification as a national counselor, a certified Alabama counseling supervisor, a certified family life educator, and a military family life consultant. She is an authorized trainer for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and the American Association of Suicidology, is a qualified master resilience trainer, and speaks internationally on suicide prevention, resilience, leadership, and various mental health related topics.
Dr. Bartlett is currently involved in research on the correlation between eating disorders, self-harm, and suicide with Dr. Thomas Joiner, a leader in the field of suicide research, and his research team at Florida State University concurrently with Dr. Tracy Witte at Auburn University. She serves Department of Defense leadership on suicide and resilience-related matters and works closely with the Air National Guard Bureau in Washington, DC; formerly, she served on the Army National Guard Resilience, Risk Reduction, and Suicide Prevention Council and the Air Force Resilience Programming and Development Working Group.
Dr. Bartlett is a board member of the Alabama chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and serves as a member of the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition and on the ethics committee for the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals.
Dr. Bartlett is passionate in her commitment to prevent suicide and advocate for those who have been touched by suicide. She travels to lecture and provide support services to a wide range of organizations, hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is married to a retired military member who served for twenty-five years on active duty.
For a veteran with mental health concerns, a big part of navigating the holiday season is about being honest with yourself and open with your family: setting realistic goals; helping people understand what you're up for and what's just too much.
Dr. Dee Rajska is a clinical and rehabilitation psychologist. The focus of her clinical practice is on treatment of trauma. She has worked with survivors of childhood abuse, physical and sexual assaults, serious motor vehicle accidents, as well as workplace injuries and assaults.
Her professional activities in her private practice are focused on treating service-related trauma in veterans, currently serving members of the Canadian Forces, as well as law enforcement professionals and first responders. She believes that those who have put their lives on the line to serve their country or community deserve to be treated with the utmost compassion, dignity, respect, and gratitude. Serving those who have served includes striving to continually educate herself to provide the very best possible care to my patients.
In addition to her clinical work, she also writes Coming Back Home, a blog about PTSD for veterans, currently serving members of the military and their families. The goal of the blog is to provide easy-to-understand information about the biology behind PTSD, as well as to provide support to those with service-related PTSD and their families. You can find the blog at: http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/comingbackhome/
POS REP is a mobile, proximity-based social network made expressly for the military veteran community. Short for Position Report, POS REP connects veterans who served together but more importantly allows veterans to discover peers and resources in their communities.
Anthony Allman is the CEO & Co-Founder of POS REP. Since his Honorable Discharge from the Army in 2003, Anthony has worked as a veterans advocate with such organizations as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Student Veterans of America, Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) and Team Rubicon. In 2010, Anthony transitioned into the tech sector where he worked for Google's first Value Added Reseller of Google Apps, a cloud-based productivity suite. Anthony also founded Cloud Corpsman, a 2011 VA Innovation Industry Award finalist, which developed a direct import tool for VA's Blue Button Initiative and Google Health.
Jeremy Williams, Principal & Managing Partner of Hashmark Strategies, LLC™
Jared Lyon, The National Program Manager For The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp For Veterans With Disabilities (EBV)
The impact of effective leadership along with how the IVMF leverages higher education to design, develop and deliver world-class educational programs for veterans, their families and community stakeholders.
Through his journey of courage, injury, resilience and triumph, Justin demonstrates that we are all stronger than we think we are. His personal story of recovery and success is a testament to the power of the human spirit, and the message he shares applies to all members of the audience. All will leave inspired to attack any difficulties in their own lives, and will search out opportunities to excel at work and at home.
Lieutenant Colonel Justin Constantine: Inspirational Speaker, Lawyer, entrepreneur, published author and member of the National Speaker’s Association. Justin is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps with 16 years of active and reserve service. He volunteered for his deployment to Iraq in 2006, excited to lead other Marines and help rebuild that war-torn part of the world. While on a routine combat patrol, an enemy sniper shot Justin in the head, causing catastrophic damage, destroying his jaws and much of his face. Thanks to the heroic efforts of a young Navy Corpsman, and his own warrior spirit, Justin is still alive today. Since his injury,Justin has continued to lead from the front and serve as a role model to other Wounded Warriors. Justin's personal awards include the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
VetJobs.com, Inc. (dba VetJobs) is owned and operated by veterans and headquartered in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta. VetJobs is the premiere military related job board on the Internet. The VetJobs website connects transitioning military personnel, veterans and their family members with organizations who are searching for highly trained, reliable and mission-oriented employees. TED DAYWALT: President of the Veterans of Foreign Wars sponsored VetJobs the premier military employment site on the Internet. Since 1999 Ted Daywalt has been president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars sponsored VetJobs (www.vetjobs.com), the premier military employment site on the Internet. From 1971 to 1978 he served on active duty in the Navy as a line officer and intelligence officer, then transferred to the Naval Reserve Intelligence Program, from which he retired as a Captain (O-6) with 28 years of service. Ted has held executive positions in the steel, electric utility, importing, chemical and recruiting industries. Ted is an in demand speaker and is regularly cited and interviewed in the press, including USA Today, 60 Minutes, Military Times, PBS, NPR, CNN, and FOX News. Ted testifies regularly before Congress on veterans and economic issues. Ted is recognized as the leading subject matter expert regarding veteran employment issues. Ted earned a BS from Florida State University (1971); an MA, International Relations, University of Southern California (1977); and an MBA from the Goizueta Business School, Emory University (1980).
Since 2002 I had closely followed the actions of women throughout the war and it quickly became apparent that women were doing things they had never done before. Women like Kayla were successfully serving as imbedded members of combat units in Iraq and Afghanistan. They were being used in ways that clearly violated the intent of the combat exclusion policy.
Kayla Williams is a former sergeant and Arabic linguist in a Military Intelligence company of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Ellen Haring is a colonel in the US Army reserves. She is a senior fellow with Women in International Security where she directs the Combat Integration Initiative project.
Family Program Position providing support and outreach for Alaska Air National Guard
Gretchen Nealy Haney
Gretchen moved to Anchorage, Alaska in 2000, shortly after she began her career working in the support services. Gretchen volunteered her time with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) which led to a full time career with the ADA. Years later Gretchen was asked to manage the Family Program Position providing support and outreach for Alaska Air National Guard and continued working in the Military Member and Family Support Services for over 8 years at the Headquarters Level. Gretchen brought change and created a working relationship between the military services and the community allowing a partnership and transition for military and family members. She has also assisted in the creation of Memorandum of Understandings, policy letters and guidance and excelled in unit and leadership training for the air and army guard locally and nationally, in addition to providing services to the Air/Army/Marine and Navy Reserve. Gretchen’s community outreach created recognition of issues surrounding victims of sexual assault and the National Guard. As the Program Manager for the Transition Assistance for the military, Gretchen helped in providing a link and resources for the Alaska Brain Injury Network from 2007-2008.
Finding the Kachadoorians Lu Lobello My unit was ambushed in Baghdad and was engaged in one of the fiercest firefights of the invasion according to the New York Times and our 13 wounded. After our radio operator was shot through the head he was later saved by Sanjay Gupta. Our unit has affectionately been called the Sinners and The Saints because half of us were from Las Vegas and the other half were from Salt Lake City, Utah. Unfortunately, during our firefight there was multiple families and innocent civilians caught in the crossfire, some were killed and some were wounded. One of the families caught in the crossfire were the Kachadoorians. Their father and two sons were killed and the rest of the family was stuck in the middle of an open field when our unit conducted a rescue. Dr. Craig J. Bryan, PsyD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical psychologist in cognitive behavioral psychology, and is currently the Associate Director of the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah. He was Chief of the Primary Care Psychology Service and the Suicide Prevention Program Manager for Lackland AFB. Dr. Bryan deployed to Iraq in 2009, where he served as the Director of the Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic at the Air Force Theater Hospital. He currently researches suicidal behaviors, suicide prevention, and psychological resiliency. He chaired the American Association of Suicidology’s Primary Care Task Force to develop training curriculum for primary care medical providers in the assessment and management of suicidal patients, and is a consultant to the Department of Defense for psychological health promotion and suicide prevention.
DryHootch of America, A place for Veterans to Reconnect
Bob Curry, Vietnam combat veteran founded Dryhootch of America in 2008 as an accessible, collaborative network of people and nonprofit organizations to provide support and services for veterans and their families. The innovative organization operates out of coffee houses that serve as gathering places for veterans and families as well as the surrounding community. An acknowledged expert on war trauma and PTSD, Bob Curry is a renowned speaker who has spoken at conferences for military & VA, mental health, medical colleges, social workers, criminal justice workers, addiction, and many others about the importance of attention, guidance, and unconditional support in helping a veteran return home, all the way. Mark Flower, Director of Community Programs and Peer Coordinator ,At DryHootch of America. Mark is involved with the day-to-day functioning of the organization at the executive level and also works with his guy's as a peer mentor and works with his mentors. A veteran from the Cold War era, Mark joined the Army in 1976, and served on active duty with the 25th Infantry Division through 1980. Later, he joined the 84th Training Division and served as a Tank Commander and later as a instructor/evaluator, and later as a field sanitation NCO and a Medic with the 452nd Combat Support Hospital.
Designed to open the door to business ownership for our veterans
Caleb Perkins: Completed 8 years in special operations. Deployed 6 times knelt on a pressure plate IED in Afghanistan and was medically retired from the US army. Currently, the CEO/president of Shadow Trade Tactical we provide tactical and defense training as well as creating custom sniper weapon systems. EBV Texas A&M
Brandon Bunch: I was an infantry man in the US marine corps from 2000-2004. I served two tours in Iraq, the first in the invasion in 2003 with kilo company 3rd battalion 5th marines. The second I served as a combat replacement with weapons company 2nd battalion 2nd marines in 2004.
I didn't struggle with effects of combat in my opinion until the summer of 2010, one year after my wife delivered our still born daughter. I had been diagnosed with PTSD at the time of discharge from the marines in 2004 but I hadn't allowed it to affect me until then. Little did I know that summer of 2010 my struggle with PTSD would turn my world upside down.
I noticed since that time when I focus on something bigger then myself, serving others, great things happen. The last few years i have been focusing on being an entrepreneur and serving our American Heroes. EBV Texas AM
PTSD, moral injury, and suicide among U.S. combat veterans Guests Dr. Craig J. Bryan: Associate Director of the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah
Jim Holbrook: Clinical professor of law at the University of Utah
The impact mental illness and suicide have had on Ken's family deepened his personal and professional efforts to reduce stigma and promote help seeking and early recognition and treatment of mental illness and substance use disorders.
We have quite a unique organization with us today.. America's Veterans Industries is soon to be a Corporation that is made up of six separate business tied together and working toward the common goal of employing US Military Veterans in all walks of life. Did I say 6 businesses? Not according to our guests. They have other businesses in mind that are going to be added on as they grow. Seems to me there is no stopping this organization...
As told by the victim's caregiver this story is intended to reach out to active duty, National Guard, reservists and veterans that suffer from MST as well as their families and caregiver’s. You are not alone. Not by far. While serving I was raped by a fellow soldier, a “brother in arms”, and nobody cared. The soldier who raped me confessed and was convicted for two rapes. He was sent to Fort Leavenworth for three years, and to my knowledge was never made to register as a sex offender after his release I was on suicide watch in March and then my out-processing of the military began in July of same year for substandard performance, but a cleared mental health status - go figure. My last standing order was: “Don’t speak of it”, “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is a Federal law”, “If you speak, you dishonor your country and your oath”, and “You can still be court martialed as a civilian if you break military laws.” They added: “We still own you” and “You can re-apply for service after two years”.
Colonel Mosher deployed to Afghanistan in 2003-04, earned two bronze stars for Valor, then redeployed to find myself immediately divorced, a single father of a 5 and 7 year old, broke, homeless and left with very few choices…desperate really…I was broken and wanted only to return to combat where things made sense to me. I chose instead to remain home to care for my sons, get healthy again and re-build my life. My story is the road back to my new normal as a dad, son, soldier and person by balancing my spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical health. I have since gone on to found the annual Resiliency Run (Facebook) and OneLifeWarrior.org as a ten year Health Awareness and Risk Reduction Campaign. Since 2008, I have run marathons and ultra runs to demonstrate living metaphor of completing the daily marathon through personal resiliency and the necessity in living one's life with purpose to overcome the adversity that we all face in life.
Justin is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps with 16 years of active and reserve service. He volunteered for his deployment to Iraq in 2006, excited to lead other Marines and help rebuild that war-torn part of the world. While on a routine combat patrol, an enemy sniper shot Justin in the head, causing catastrophic damage, destroying his jaws and much of his face. Thanks to the heroic efforts of a young Navy Corpsman, and his own warrior spirit, Justin is still alive today. Since his injury,Justin has continued to lead from the front and serve as a role model to other Wounded Warriors. Justin's personal awards include the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
Randi Jensen is the Director of The Soldiers Project Northwest. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor in the State of Washington for many years. She maintains a private counseling practice in Shoreline, Washington, near Seattle, where she specializes in providing an encouraging, motivational, and hopeful atmosphere for those dealing with the devastation created by substance abuse and military trauma. We also have with us, Dr. George Patrin MD, an Army Pediatrician, talks on deployment separation anxiety and suicide prevention/postvention after the recent loss of their youngest son to suicide. George Patrin, MD and his wife Pamela, speak of their son and how they cope in this article from the August Legion magazine
He was a former ARMY PSYCHIATRIST (during the Vietnam Era) receiving the US Army Meritorious Medal in 1976. He has, since 2001 evaluated MORE THAN 7000 Veterans with PTSD. He is the coauthor of the book I ALWAYS SIT WITH MY BACK TO THE WALL -- Recognizing and treating Combat Related PTSD. A recognized national expert in PTSD, he is frequently called upon by NATIONAL MEDIA to respond to issues on the topic, including with interviews and articles appearing in/on: CNN INTERNATIONAL, FOX NEWS CHANNEL, MSNBC, BLOOMBERG, HLN (DR. DREW), NBC, ABC, FORBES, USA TODAY, TIME, ATLANTIC, INC., CHICAGO TRIBUNE, and others
He teaches Physicians and other Mental Health Professionals about recognition and treatment of COMBAT PTSD in civilian practice. Recent lectures include those for TEXAS ACADEMY OF FAMILY PRACTICE (1000) , and PRIMARY CARE NETWORK in: ORLANDO, SANTA CLARA, CHICAGO, BALTIMORE, ATLANTA, DETROIT (500 EACH)
As medical director of The San Antonio Psychiatric Research Center he has served as the Principal Investigator in over 60 clinical trials of new antidepressant/anti anxiety medications over the past 25 years.
He serves as MEDICAL DIRECTOR of HEALTHYPLACE.COM, the world's largest consumer driven mental health website.
Services for Marines and their families Our mission includes the following guiding principles: • We follow and teach operations security (OPSEC) awareness to keep our troops safe. • We allow freedom of spiritual proclamations, support and prayer. • We believe in God, family, country and the United States Marine Corps. • We are always faithful to the United States Marine Corps and Marines: Semper Fidelis. • Bringing Marine Corps families together to Connect & Share™ with one another is our primary function. Our mission includes four distinct areas: Informing, Connecting, Sharing, and Supporting. We DO NOT address or allow political issues. We DO allow freedom of spiritual proclamations, support and prayer. We DO believe in God, Family, Country and The United States Marine Corps. • Community awareness for troop support is a vital component of our work at MarineParents.com. The Care Package Project™, Operation PAL™, and Team Marine Parents™ provide opportunities to involve your community in actively supporting our troops.
Andrew O'Brien, a young man that attempted to take his own life and now helps save lives
2nd half hour Suzanne Vogel... NSW Kids President. Suzanne has done volunteer work her whole life. She is a trained behavioral therapist and worked exclusively with autistic children. NSW Kids is a natural extension of her faith, her love for children, and her commitment to Naval Special Warfare and America.
Jill Trammell, President of Patriot Promotions Jill understands the need for corporate responsibility combined with volunteerism. Through her efforts, she has given away hundreds of consulting hours to non-profits and transitioning veterans, provided ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunities for those in need, organized and attended community service projects and provided outstanding recreational events for wounded war fighters, first responders and families of children with special needs.
First 30 minutes segment Veteranstrek.com with Anthony and Tom getting ready for their 2700 Mile Walk for PTSD and Veteran suicides Awareness. 24 more days
Second 30 minute segment Healingheroes.org With Stacey and Stephanie
Through a nationwide network of medical professionals willing to provide services, Healing Heroes Network assists these brave warriors free of charge, for services not covered, or delayed under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits system.
Mission Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. Team Rubicon Saves Lives. Since its creation in January 2010, TR has impacted thousands of lives – in Haiti, Chile, Burma, Pakistan, Sudan, and here at home, in Vermont, Maryland, Missouri, and Alabama. TR reaches victims outside the scope of where traditional aid organizations venture; victims on the fringe. Team Rubicon Engages Veterans. Hundreds of US military veterans, many returning home after fighting ten years of war, find a renewed sense of purpose for their skills and experiences through TR. Team Rubicon Sets Itself Apart In the Nonprofit World. Is it a disaster relief organization? A veteran-focused enterprise? The truth is it’s both. TR pioneered a new paradigm in disaster response while redefining the meaning of veteran reintegration into society. Team Rubicon Pioneered the Concept of Veteran-Focused Disaster Response. On the streets of Port-au-Prince, in the immediate aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, TR’s military veterans realized a simple truth – natural disasters present many of the same problems that confront troops in Iraq and Afghanistan: unstable populations, limited resources, horrific sights, sounds and smells. The skills cultivated on those same battlefields – emergency medicine, risk assessment and mitigation, teamwork and decisive leadership – are invaluable in disaster zones.
Collaborative http://cir.usc.edu/los-angeles-veterans-collaborative Coordinate the resolution of gaps in service or needed policy changes that they identify through the Collaborative’s Working Groups
Second Half: Walk from Milwaukee Wisc. to Los Angeles, 2700 Miles www.dryhootch.org “I know what we’re doing for the walk sounds ambitious. But, we hope it gets the attention of people who otherwise might not listen. A Veteran commits suicide every 65 minutes. I hope that when people hear we’re doing this, they’ll get involved and learn about issues like Veteran suicide and how these problems are influencing our Veteran families and all of our communities.”
The mission of Operation First Response, Inc (OFR) is to serve all branches of our nation's Wounded Heroes and their families with personal and financial needs. Services are provided from the onset of injuries or illness, throughout their recovery period and along their journey from military life to the civilian world. Financial aid varies as each case is based on individual needs ranging from rent, utilities, vehicle payments, groceries, clothing, and travel expenses
The fourth consecutive survey fielded by Blue Star Families, the 2013 Military Family Lifestyle Survey detailed the many challenges faced by military families after more than twelve years of continuous war. The key concerns identified include pay and benefits, changes to retirement, military spouse employment, the effects of deployment on the emotional well-being and development of military children, and military child education.
Rev. Dr. Parker and her colleague, Dr. Glenn C. Sammis, are co-creators and Directors of the Spiritual Fitness Initiative, a 12 phase restorative program of care which was first piloted in the Iraqi combat theater. The program is now gaining an increasing reputation stateside for its effectiveness in addressing the trauma-specific needs of warriors, veterans, and their families. SFI is viewed as unique among programs which foster resiliency and reintegration of the warrior, because of a multifaceted approach which simultaneously embraces the biophysical, psychological, behavioral, relational and spiritual domains of individuals affected by trauma.
CallApp is a smartphone App that removes a lot of the decision making for anyone at risk. The ability to intelligently route someone to a person of their choice is its biggest feature, especially during a moment of crisis. CallApp is a simple application designed to reduce the risk of suicide. When a button is pressed a series of user options become available. For example if “Live Support” is selected, CallApp identifies the users location and scans a list of pre-installed support providers in their area using its in-built location tracking system. If that option is selected CallApp dials through to support and if the call is not answered within a certain time period it automatically scans through an alternate list of pre-installed numbers. In the unlikely event CallApp is unable to connect, it will automatically offer call-back assistance or provide a list of alternative contacts to choose from.
Many of us send our children off to war, hoping nothing happens. As a parent, I was prepared for the worst—the ultimate sacrifice of my daughter—death. But I never anticipated that her life-threatening injuries would have had the impact it had on our family.
While many married caregivers or spouses of the WWs have rights and benefits and willing accepted their spouses military career, parents do not. We raise our children and let them go. Unfortunately, when the child is a single service member (from the army, navy, air force, marines, national guard or reserves), the parents are called upon to help in their recovery.
Never did I anticipate a three-year long stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. And never, did I anticipate the struggles that had to be fought to get the best care for my daughter. My experience and tenacity often times pushed me up against bureaucratic inertia and uncomfortable/questionable situations with the military and their way of doing things.
The Veterans of the Vietnam War & The Veterans Coalition is a Veterans benevolent organization founded in 1978, born out of a need to have the service and special needs of War Veterans recognized and acknowledged. Traditional Veterans organizations were unwilling to accept the service of Vietnam Veterans, as well as Veterans of other eras. Today, The Veterans Coalition comprises of 90 posts worldwide sustaining the mission of the organization.
Our Mission:
The Veterans Coalition continues to strive through its many programs to maintain, improve, preserve and defend the quality of life of all veterans and their families.
Mrs. Anita Mingo is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker currently coordinating the Caregiver Support Program at the Washington DC Veterans Administration Medical Center (DC VAMC). This is a new program started in May of 2011 under the Obama administration. In this position she gets to combine her clinical skills along with her administration skills to assist family caregivers in getting the support services they need to effectively care for themselves and the veterans they love. She is able to do this by working in a multidisciplinary team environment. As of February 2013, she is collaborating with 125 caregiver/veteran dyads on an ongoing basis. Mrs. Mingo understands the significance of family caregivers in healthcare-as she comes from a long line of caregivers and personally understands the challenges caregivers face on a daily basis.
Mr. Bob Sharps retired from the United States Air Force as a highly decorated officer after 25 years of service. He served three tours in South East Asia and held a variety of positions. Mr. Sharps also served as the Director for the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs. Since his retirement, he has been very active in the veterans’ community as well as the business community as an independent franchise owner, business consultant and highly respected Community leader. Our Guest is Mr. Bruce Bronzan.... President of Trilogy Integrated Resources In the year 2000, he co-founded Trilogy Integrated Resources which lead to the development of the Network of Care
We strive to place well trained service and companion dogs with veterans who have physical or mental injuries, at little to no cost to the veteran. Here at Homers Heroes we find dogs that meet our needs from local shelters. These dogs under go all betting, basic and advanced obedience training and then are trained to the specific tasks the veteran needs them to do. We then invite the veteran to attend a 2 week course to learn about their new service dog and to learn proper handling and training of the dog. This process can be expensive with cost anywhere from $5000 to $30,000. Our program is funded entirely from donations from individuals and businesses and 100% goes toward training and placing the dogs with veterans. Donations are tax deductible.
As a result of this work in the veteran community, NATRA Inc. began a partnership with the Veterans Administration in late 2008. By September 2010 NATRA launched a ten bed emergency shelter program at Perry Point Maryland. In March of 2013 the name of NATRA was changed to VSCOA or the Veterans Support Centers of America to more properly reflect the work and mission that the original nonprofit organization had been doing very successfully for over 2 ½ years
Just before dawn, Andrew O’Brien flipped his laptop open, turned on his webcam and prepared to tell the world the most personal story of his life. On the first try, the lump in his throat caught his voice and tears welled in his eyes. He tried again, he said, but the words kept jumbling together. His mind raced back to the night his world collapsed, to the horrible mistake he almost made. On his fourth try, O’Brien looked into the tiny keyhole of the webcam: “So here’s the story,” he said, his voice steady now. “I snapped one day and decided to take every pill I could get my hands on.” Four minutes and 23 seconds later, the 24-year-old finished the video. But he hesitated before uploading it to YouTube. There was a reason no other soldier he knew of had ever gone public with their suicide attempt. It’s a taboo subject in general and especially among young soldiers, who too often view talk of feelings as a sign of weakness.
COMBAT TRAUMA ALONE IS NOT THE REASON WHY A YOUNG VETERAN WILL TAKE THEIR OWN LIFE. POVERTY, DESPONDENCY, ISOLATION AND AN OVERWHELMING SENSE OF HELPLESSNESS ARE ALL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. IF WE TRAIN AND EDUCATE THEM THEY WILL BE OUR MOST FORMIDABLE GENERATION—NOT JUST ANOTHER STATISTIC
Keeping in line with our overall mission of providing support and assistance to the families of our nation's wounded and fallen, my personal mission is help relieve some of that stress our caregivers are constantly under, so they don't get sick or walk away, and I do that one family at a time. Our veterans deserve the best care available for their sacrifices, and that care is with family and loved ones, but not just the soldier goes to war....When America goes to war, her families go to war...and when that soldier comes home to heal, those families also need to heal. As that soldier adjusts to his or her new conditions and limitations, so must their family. As a caregiver your job is helping everyone else at the cost of often neglecting yourself. If you can't do your job well, everyone suffers but most of all you. God tell us when we share our joys they are multiplied but when we share our burdens they are cut in half.
The job of caregiver, though usually unpaid, is one of the most complex and challenging roles anyone will undertake. There is no how-to manual that can adequately coach people on what it takes to keep a loved one safe and well once he or she has serious medical problems.
Our mission is narrow and deep. We will assist the recovery/reintegration of our OIF/OEF Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) by defining the brain pathology and by developing the protocols for recovery. We will advocate for our returning heroes and their families while educating the public about the injuries and co-morbidities associated with a traumatic brain injury.
I did my share of enabling until I finally realized that I was part of the problem and not part of the solution. I then started a local drug education network and learned a huge amount about drugs and their effects. After two years I wanted to expand the reach of this work so created my current website. Drugs split families apart. I knew that for my own health and safety I could not live in the same house with a drug abuser. Now I am committed to helping other families who are going through the same drug-induced chaos that I lived with. In the summer of 2008, I became a caregiver for a disabled woman Veteran who suffered a life threatening illness. Since then and after dealing with the VA in all it's various forms, I decided to expand my information here to give much more help to Veterans and their families.
This site is a bridge for caregivers and veterans alike. It is a safe place to air questions and frustrations on and offline, but also provides individualized assistance when you’ve hit the wall. As a veteran or a caregiver of a veteran, family life may be significantly altered by injury, illness, or aging. VeteranCaregiver is completely self-funded and philanthropic. The simple truth is that caregiving is not at all “sexy” – it’s not a golf tournament, nor a companion dog. Instead, it’s the grittier side of surviving with visible and invisible injuries.
Linda Kreter, President and CEO of WiseHealth.com
Pamela Stokes Eggleston, MBA, Senior Consultant and part of the Blue Star Family
It was during this time that Steve began to make a very hard decision. He contemplated if it would be in his best interest to actually have his legs amputated and “start from scratch,” so to speak. To help him make this difficult decision, he went on a trip to San Diego. He wanted to put his toes in the sand to see if it was more important for him to feel the sand beneath his feet or to actually walk on it.
Deputy Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Also served on the 6th District National Executive Committee for the Disabled American Veterans organization commitment to Maryland's veterans to start theNetwork of Care He is also involved with International Critical Issues Stress Foundation which provides leadership, education, training, consultation, and support services.
Chris deployed with his unit to Iraq in 2007 and was injured during combat operations near Haditha in Al Anbar Province. Chris was hospitalized for two years and was not able to walk. Two years after his injury, Chris’ leg was amputated below his knee. Months after his amputation Chris learned to walk again and now lives a full and active life.
Eggelston was serving with a reservist unit while on his second tour of duty in Iraq in 2005 when he was severely injured. Two improvised explosive devices, commonly known as IEDs, were detonated next to his vehicle. He was thrown into another vehicle and suffered extensive injuries to his back, leg and head. Once he got to Walter Reed, it took two months before surgical appointments were made to mend the shattered discs in his back and install titanium rods and plates in his body, and another eight months before he was treated for traumatic brain injury.
Kirk Bauer has devoted 41 years of service to Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA). The first 12 years as a volunteer and the last 29 as its executive director. Bauer knows firsthand what it is like to face the challenges of disability. As a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, Bauer lost a leg from a hand grenade during an ambush while serving in the Ninth Combat Infantry Division in Vietnam in 1969.
SSG Gill Army ( RET) is an athlete. It’s safe to say that if Gill is not on the slopes snowboarding or skiing, he’s golfing, kayaking, climbing or cycling. You might even find him in SCUBA gear. As a program assistant with the Wounded Warriors Disabled Sports Project, Orlando Gill introduces other veterans to the benefits of sports on a regular basis. You might say being active is a way of life for Gill. Born in the Bronx, Orlando Gill was 19 when he enlisted in the Army in 1992. Over the course of his service he traveled around the world, and was in his second tour of duty in Iraq He has received the Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge, Air Assault Badge, Drivers Badge (wheel & track) Army Commendation (ARCOM) 3, Army Achievement (AAM) 6, and the NATO metal.
In a matter of seconds, under a broiling Iraqi noon sun on Aug. 17, 2004, Major Ed Pulido of Edmond, Okla., saw his life take a 180-degree turn. He was thrust into first battling for his own survival and then dealing with how to rebuild himself. Having completed three separate tours of duty in Iraq, Pulido was serving a one-year stint with the U.S. Army Reserve's 75th Division to train new members of the Iraqi army. As he was driving an SUV through what is known as IED Alley, traveling at 50-60 miles per hour. After making it through the crowded streets of Baghdad, the SUV hit an IED (improvised explosive device), that exploded under him.