We Are The Mighty’s Post

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞: 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 As Veterans Affairs and ID.me encourage Military Community Members to participate in Veteran Buddy Checks, I find myself reflecting on my own journey—from the days of gearing up for missions in a UH-60 Black Hawk with my Scout Team to transitioning into the battlefield of corporate America. There I was, dropping off Celebrex samples from the trunk of a used Crimson Red Ford Taurus. Picture this: suit and tie, 95-degree Miami heat in August, navigating the dynamics of big pharma. Like many veterans, I’ve asked myself, Should I have stayed in? After all, most soldiers experience a withdrawal from the camaraderie of their military family and the high-stakes adrenaline of their military role. In my case, it was from mission-ready environments to managing quotas and cold calls. The adjustment was real, and that sense of leaving behind not just the people, but the intensity of the work, was a tough one. Veteran Buddy Checks are an essential reminder that the mission never ends. Whether it's on the battlefield or in the boardroom, staying connected with our brothers and sisters in arms is crucial. And you don’t need to be a veteran to check in on one! Sometimes, just a simple conversation can make all the difference. Here’s why this matters: veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide compared to the general population, according to VA data. For female veterans, the risk is even higher—nearly 2 times that of their civilian counterparts. This is a stark reminder that no one should be left to face these battles alone. From October 21–25, 2024, Veteran Buddy Check Week aims to enhance peer-to-peer connections, improve mental health, and increase access to vital resources, both through VA and non-VA channels. This initiative builds on the American Legion’s Buddy Check program and the Veteran Wellness Alliance’s Get Involved program. I urge all veterans—and those who care about veterans—to take part in this important effort. Let’s check in on one another—because no one should walk this road alone. #VeteranBuddyCheck #IDme #VeteransAffairs #MilitaryCommunity #MentalHealth #PeerSupport #VeteranWellness #BuddyCheckWeek

#ATTN NAMI Nevada Annual Education Conference Call for Presenters is NOW OPEN: We are seeking quality presenters to speak about a wide array of Veterans’ issues in honor of those who have served. Suggested Topics: · Veteran Suicide · Invisible Wounds of Veterans · Transitioning from Soldier to Civilian · Family Perspectives · Panel to discuss benefits and resources, and to collaborate on the barriers from talking, planning, and actually taking action to benefit Nevada’s Veterans · Service to Service - Structure, Command, Rank and File · The Stigma of don't ask, don't tell; Dishonorable Discharge · NAMI Homefront Class - helping family members understand and support their loved one while maintaining their own well-being. Proposal deadline is March 1, 2024. Presenters who are accepted will be notified by March 7, 2024, and will be asked to provide additional information. https://lnkd.in/gVkVzFK6 If you have any questions, please email: emily@naminevada.org.

Finding Purpose After Deployment: A Journey Home Explore the struggle of returning to civilian life after deployment. Discover how to reclaim your sense of purpose and navigate societal expectations in a world that often overlooks the challenges faced by veterans. Join us as we discuss meaningful strategies for adjustment and fulfillment. #VeteransSupport #PurposeInLife #DeploymentJourney #FindingYourself #MentalHealthAwareness #SocietalExpectations #Resilience #LifeAfterService #VeteranVoices #SupportOurTroops

Vets Helping Vets THRIVE: Let's Be Each Other's Battle Buddies in This Next Mission! Brothers and sisters in arms Brett Groller, CCCTA, CPRC is leading the charge with “Thrive in Transition” with the assistance of M.E.&I Cosching as a Veteran owned company! This message is for all the incredible #ServiceMembers gearing up to conquer the #CivilianLife. We all know that transition can feel like a boot camp of its own, but listen up – WE GOT THIS! Here's the thing: as veterans, we've given so much. Now, it's our turn to build BADASS civilian lives, and that's where this community comes in. We're not just fellow vets; we're accountability partners, a battle buddy system for this next chapter. Every day, we'll be sharing tips and tricks to help you crush that transition. Today's mission: #Reflect on Your Goals. What drives you? What kind of civilian career and life do you crave? Take some time to truly understand those desires. Trust me, with a clear target in sight, that civilian life bullseye is practically yours. This is just the beginning, people! Stay tuned for more. Let's make this transition a victory lap, together. We served, we sacrificed, and now, we THRIVE. Let's do this! #Veterans #MilitaryTransition #CivilianSuccess #WeGotThis 🇺🇸

April is all about celebrating the Month of the Military Child, a time when we honor the incredible resilience and sacrifices of military kids around the world. These amazing kids, whether they're part of active duty military families, Reserves, or the National Guard, face some real unique challenges. Moving around a lot is a big part of military life, which can really shake up a kid's social life, education, and sense of stability. It can make it tough to make long-lasting friendships and can even mess with their school work. When a parent goes off on deployment, it's really tough emotionally for the kids left behind. They might feel super anxious, sad, and scared about their parent's safety. This can sometimes lead to changes in their behavior or make it hard to concentrate in school. Growing up in a military family means living a pretty unique lifestyle. There are strict routines, lots of moving, and you're always around military stuff. While it can make kids pretty tough, independent, and able to roll with the punches, it can also make it tricky to figure out where they fit in between the military and civilian worlds. So, it's super important to recognize and take care of the special needs of military kids. Having support at home, in school, and in the community is key to helping them feel like they belong and understand their experiences. Let's make sure we're there for them every step of the way! April 15, 2024 is Purple Up Day! Wear purple to show your support for Military Kids. #armywife #monthofthemilitarychild #bravestrongresilient

America’s veterans possess expertise, talent, and leadership qualities that can enhance any organization. Despite this, veterans oftentimes can’t find jobs that adequately utilize their skills and experience. As a result, many veterans struggle with a lack of financial security, retirement options, and mental health support in their transition to civilian life. The good news is that, working together, we can better help veterans successfully transition to civilian life. Easterseals CEO Kendra Davenport’s recent op-ed in Stars and Stripes highlights that there are steps that employers who want to do more can take to help ensure assimilation into the civilian workforce is smoother for veterans and military families. From mental health coverage to financial planning, employers can foster a supportive environment that can ease veterans’ transition and set them up for future success. https://lnkd.in/dp2kTueA

✍🏻 Findhelp's Connections Blog: Serving Those Who've Served ✍🏻 In honor of Memorial Day, we're resharing a recent blog post that highlights how organizations around the country are addressing the social needs of active duty service members. Every year, almost 200,000 people transition from active duty service to life as a civilian. This transition is complex and challenging, as veterans (and their families) have to adjust to new jobs, living situations, healthcare, finances, social networks, and more, and often don’t know where to turn for help. We're here to help you serve those who’ve served. Read our blog to learn how our partners like The Reveille Foundation , The American Red Cross - Service to the Armed Forces -AOK, Idaho Veterans Network, and BeneLynk empower veterans and active duty service members via the Findhelp platform. 📖 Read the full story → https://hubs.li/Q02yY_4W0 #Findhelp #Veterans #ArmedForces #SDoH #ServingThoseWhoveServed

"I won't seek assistance from the VA. There are veterans in more dire conditions than mine, and they deserve the support more than I do." I hear this all the time, and guess what, they're right...kind of. They don't deserve this, they've EARNED it. There are veterans who have endured more visible and invisible wounds than I could ever imagine, and they have rightfully earned all the support they receive. There are also veterans that sacrificed in other ways, and the VA is there for them as well. Here's a brief history of the VA: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) traces its roots back to 1778 when the Continental Congress of the United States passed legislation to provide pensions to disabled veterans. However, the modern iteration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as we know it today, was established on July 21, 1930, when President Herbert Hoover signed an executive order consolidating all veteran-related activities into a single federal agency. This agency was originally known as the Veterans Administration (VA) and was later elevated to Cabinet-level status as the Department of Veterans Affairs under President Ronald Reagan on March 15, 1989. I urge you, as a current service member or veteran, not to perceive this as a handout. The existence of the VA reflects our nation's commitment to supporting those who have defended it. While the system isn't flawless, my recent encounters and the experiences shared by fellow service members indicate improvements and a genuine desire to provide assistance. Towards the end of my presentation, you'll find a link to the VA. Be sure to visit their website, connect with a reputable VSO, and seek support for any visible or invisible wounds you may be experiencing. If you know anyone that will transition soon, consider sharing this with them too. #warriorwednesday Like what you see? Follow me for more #military & #veteran content. Tomorrow's post takes another look at personal development with #SkillDrill Thursday.

How many #military service members who are preparing for their #militarytransition know about the Yellow Ribbon Program? 🤷♂️ If you're like I was at the time I was preparing for retirement, you probably heard the term a million billion times, and that was it... There's some homework involved in this process, which you can start by going to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eDAwQPWE ANNNNNND Talking to the finance counselor at the institution that you or your dependents are applying to. They're your benefits, use them. ✊ Want learn how to prepare yourself financially for your military retirement/transition and STOP making Military Money Mistakes? Click on this link and check out my course! (You can download the app too!) ➡ https://lnkd.in/g-wAsqB3 👉 Follow me for more insights into VA Disability, SBP, VGLI, TSP, and Military Transition. Got questions? Need help? Use the link below to set up a call or shoot me a DM. 👇 https://lnkd.in/gFqQyfSS #veterans #benefits

It is no surprise that most veterans go on to thrive after leaving military service. These men and women are trained to succeed, and they often do. Anyone who has gone through a big change recently will know that the short-term phase is often the easiest to overcome. These changes are small and mainly transactional. However, the long-term emotional adjustments can be much harder to navigate. These transformational changes can lead us to feel lost, disconnected, and with a diminished sense of purpose. Without support, these challenges can escalate into issues that are far more complex. Despite their unrivalled skills and excellent personal qualities, some veterans will need assistance with this. Inevitably, some will also be facing challenges uniquely associated with military service. In collaboration with the NHS, Walking With The Wounded empowers veterans and their families by reigniting their sense of purpose. Through our Mental Health, Employment, and Care Coordination programmes, we can ensure that **ALL** veterans thrive after leaving service, not just the majority. Walking With The Wounded NHS Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust #supportingthosewhoserved #veterans #veteransupport #veteranemployment #veteransmentalhealth #veteransuccess