RMA - The Royal Marines Charity’s Post

When a photo says 1,000 words. This photo was shared by my sweet friend, Jenny Lynne Stroup & it hasn’t left my mind since seeing her original post. Pictured is the USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER CVN 69 with its lights off & at rest after returning home recently from a very long, extended deployment… …& then extended again. Directly next to it is the USS Harry S. Truman with its lights on & ready to roll out. Here’s the thing - Deployment’s don’t stop. This is an example of only 2 US Navy aircraft carriers swapping out on mission. At this moment, the U.S. has over 200,000 military personnel deployed. 200,000 service members away from their family, friends, & loved ones. 200,000 service members families “holding down the fort” & just waiting for the day their service member comes home. When one unit comes home, another unit heads out. Rinse & repeat. *Deployments don’t stop.* Support for our service members can’t stop. Resources MUST be constantly fueled & on the ready. Nonprofits & organizations supporting the service members that keep us sleeping peacefully at night are constantly needed. If you ever needed a sign or red flag stating WHY military support organizations are NEEDED…this is it. 🚩 Because deployments don’t stop. **I encourage you to pop over to Cassidy Norman’s posts & read a bit more into what the Ike’s deployment looked like for its crew. Hint - “…the most intense & sustained combat at sea since World War II.” Believe me, you’ll want to read the rest. #operationgratitude #supportourtroops #nonprofit #socialimpact #giveback #volunteer #remembereveryonedeployed Operation Gratitude

In recent years, there have been a number of new drugs approved for #ALS, and Muscular Dystrophy Association funding has been involved either directly or indirectly in most of those. One example is QALSODY® (tofersen), which is a drug for a genetic form of ALS, and MDA funded the first clinical trial for the predecessor to that drug. One of the key areas of #ALSresearch that we think is very important is the ability to diagnose people earlier. Most people have symptoms of ALS for a year to six months before they're actually diagnosed, so if we could back up that time and start drugs and clinical trials earlier, we feel like that would have a great impact across different types of therapies in ALS. #ALSawarenessMonth #EndALSwithMDA  

In preparation for our upcoming Board of Directors meeting, we asked our Veteran Director, Tim Hickey, to update us on Veteran Homelessness. "...the actual numbers for homeless veterans has increased more than the 7% in that article was recently shared. They changed the definition of 'homeless' and made it more restrictive - and the numbers STILL went up." We must do better. Nobody Should Freeze to Death in America. Nobody. Especially not our veterans. #dobetter #vets #veterans #marines #usmc #army #navy #airforce #coastguard #homelessness #military #brotherhood #suicideprevention #charity #codeofvets #donate #instagood #veterans #homeless #supportourveterans #veteransupport #usveterans #veteranshelpingveterans #veteransuicideawareness #veteransusa #philanthropy #nonprofitleadership #veteransadministration #veteransforveterans #subzeromission #sub0mission #nobodyshouldfreezetodeathinamerica

Being a military spouse, I firsthand understand it’s important when there are companies and people who understand the transition, understand the lifestyle, the hardships you endure through every process. It’s a lifestyle ♥️ Heroes for Healthcare has your best interest at heart when it comes to your transition out. The people behind this program are there to support you through your changes.

The Power of Public Service: A Personal Reflection from Naval Boot Camp Graduation On August 22, I had the honor of watching my son-in-law graduate from Naval Boot Camp at Great Lakes Recruit Training Command (RTC). Seeing him and his fellow sailors take their oath to serve our country filled me with immense pride and brought home the true meaning of sacrifice, commitment, and honor. Having spent a good part of my own career in public service, with time in law enforcement and government, I’ve always believed in the power of dedicating oneself to something greater. While my days of serving in the military have long passed, attending this ceremony reminded me that the spirit of service is something that never leaves you. It’s a lifelong commitment that continues to shape who you are and how you contribute to the world. Tomorrow, Sept. 5, is regarded as International Day of Charity, and I ask you to reflect on the many ways you can give back, no matter where you are in life. Whether it’s volunteering, supporting a cause, or simply lending a hand to someone in need, every act of service counts. Afterall, public service is more than just a career—it’s about being there for others, in both big and small ways. Watching my son-in-law recently step, or rather, march, into his new role reinforced the idea that while we may not all wear a uniform, we each have the capacity to serve. So, let’s consider how we can make a difference in our communities and positively impact the lives of those around us. #USNavy #Service #PublicService #LeadershipLessons #ExecutiveInsights #GivingBack #InternationalDayofCharity #Leadership #MilitaryPride #ServiceMatters #MakeADifference #Volunteer #Nonprofit

This post is essential reading. NZ has been on a pathway of increasing division for some years, and it is collective weakness. Defence veterans show NZ the way. Integration, dialogue, learning from history and setting a joint culture pathway to the future is essential. Do we want to continue the pathway we are on and reach the terrible outcomes that Bosnia, Germany, and Rewanda did in the past? OR shall we act on the Defence example. A society that stands together is a strong society. Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou
ka ora ai te iwi (With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive)

Helping veterans find jobs at military ready companies is crucial. Lots of companies claim to be military friendly but don't have the systems in place to onboard and retain these talented employees. Love that Military Connected not only helps veterans find jobs but also teach companies become military-ready through a proprietary four-phase consultancy and engagement program. #veteranemployment #hiringveterans #humanresources

In response to my original post, I received an excellent question from Michael Pihosh. “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝?” Here is my answer: 🇺🇸 Participate in a Memorial Day event today like a parade, ceremony, or other event dedicated to honoring veterans. Your simple presence shows support and respect for these heroes. 🇺🇸 Donate to a veteran organization that provides services and support to veterans, such as the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and The American Legion. It doesn’t need to be a tremendous amount. It all adds up! 🇺🇸 Volunteer Your Time at a veteran hospital, care facility, or local event. Even a small amount of time makes a big difference. Don’t feel like this has to be a huge time commitment! 🇺🇸 Reach out to a veteran today if you happen to know one personally. A simple call or message to “check in” and express your gratitude means a lot to them. This can be a really short call. Don’t let the potential time commitment overwhelm you. 🇺🇸 Support and/or patronize a veteran-owned businesses. This helps them thrive in their post-service careers. 🇺🇸 Quickly educate yourself today on the history and significance of Memorial Day and share this knowledge with someone else to foster an appreciation of this holiday weekend. 🇺🇸 Advocate for veteran issues by using your voice toward policies and initiatives that benefit veterans, whether it’s through social media, writing your legislator, or participating in an advocacy group. 🇺🇸 Fly the flag at your home or business to honor those who have served and sacrificed. You can still do this today!

Whether you're serving on active duty, a veteran, or supporter of our veteran community, you don't want to miss this! The VBC purpose is three-fold: 1) Assist transitioning service members through networking, discussions of important events, introductions to industries across the region, and ensuring service members are personally introduced to leaders in the aforementioned groups. 2) Translate our military service to community service, ensuring we continue our leadership into non-profit, volunteer, and civil service organizations.  3) Continue our sense of camaraderie, thus safeguarding the bonds established during our military service and establishing a safety net of resources for veterans.

Have you heard of #veteran #transitionstress? It's a common among separating #veterans when they leave the military since for many that is all they know. The hurdles they face are numerous: finding a new job, losing their military friends, finding purpose, and losing routine, to name a few. It is a challenging time, as many may not want to ask for help as they try to adapt to civilian life. Some #veterans have compared the experience to shedding their military "skin," much like Will Ferrell's character in Zoolander. As a US Navy #veteran myself, I experienced many of these hurdles, but was fortunate to find opportunities at veteran-friendly companies like Toll Brothers and Mercalis. If you know a veteran who's experiencing a recent transition, please show your support by connecting with them, giving them advice, or just asking how they're doing so they know they are not alone. And if you don't know a veteran, consider supporting some great charities that help veterans, like Mission 22, Irreverent Warriors, Inc., or The SUP Veterans. Please help make this transition a little easier for those who have served our country. #supportveterans #veterancharities https://lnkd.in/db-ARbHM