I researched a number of Volunteer Veteran Organizations before joining Warrior Now. Warrior Now is the only one that works with ALL Veterans, regardless of their status. Namely, the only one makes a dedicated effort to work with judicially impacted Veterans on a comprehensive level. The more I involved myself with Warrior Now, the more positive feedback and praise I heard regarding the work they (we) do and the success stories coming out of it.
Warrior Now approaches real-world challenges to at-risk Veterans through real-world approaches and meaningful partnerships. Our work speaks for itself and we're just getting started. The staff have made serving our fellow Veterans a long-term, if not life-long commitment. Every volunteer stands ready to respond to a Veteran in need at any time. Whether it's crisis management, addiction mitigation, mental health issues or peer support; we continue doing what we've always done - serve others. More than that, we serve our fellow Veterans best by supporting them to empower their lives so they tackle the challenges they will face in their future as well. We don't just "give a man a fish". We also teach them to fish for themselves as well. Fulfilled lives are not measured in hand-outs. They're measured in "hand-ups" as well.
I began this journey by placing the Warrior Ethos at the forefront of every day. Namely, I strongly believe in and strive to exemplify the "I will never leave a fallen comrade" tenet of that ethos. Veterans are witness to too many fallen comrades within our own Nation. The statistics alone are shocking. The human cost is even more overwhelming.
This is why we must step up and take care of our own - Veterans and non-Veterans alike.
This is why I'm part of Warrior Now.
This is why Warrior Now stands above the rest.
This is why I invite everyone to stand with us, for all of us!
"E Pluribus Unum"!
WarriorNOW has giving me an opportunity to give back. I was really in a bad place in life and didn't know where to fit in as I finally started getting help for my Chronic PTSD. Having an organization like WarriorNOW to keep me busy doing real work that matters helps me deal with my mental health. I currently recruit mentors for the VTC's and it's very fulfilling to assit other veterans who are dealing with metal health or additions. Boots on the ground is what we do and not just talk, real work is being done to help my fellow brother's and sister's who are serving or have served our country.
After battling with transitioning from war to civilian life, I found myself deep in the darkness of depression. I needed to find my pathway back to structure, camaraderie, and purpose and WarriorNOW did just that. I am a client served, donor, and volunteer staff member and cant think of an organization that is making as much of an impact on Veteran's mental health, recovery, and suicide prevention.
Warrior Now is approaching veteran crisis and mental health in an unorthodox fashion. We understand the stigma of mental health and the urge to isolate when symptoms become unmanageable. Warrior Now focuses on pillars that promote connection and comradery while in the community. Too often veterans feel ostracized by the community and the community does not have a frame of reference to understand the veteran. Warrior Now facilitates healing in the community while educating the community on ways to better manage crisis. The community benefits from our trainings and our veterans benefit from the inclusivity they feel allowing them to interact more in the community. The benefits cause a ripple affect in the community. Businesses start to look forward to the veteran presence and also feel more empowered to manage those struggling with emotional crisis.
The Warrior now model creates a non-traditional approach to mental health allowing for success to happen as a result of just showing up. Veterans are able to practice social skills, and self-care boundaries while sharing in the support of connection with other veterans. The process creates protective factors that can decrease veteran suicide and normalize their symptoms. Warrior Now is working to change the stigma and create curb appeal for mental health services.
WarriorNOW (WN) tackles the veteran suicide dilemma with mentor-ship, virtual buddy checks, recreational therapy and pro-socials. I have personally watched this non-profit save lives through this approach. It’s truly inspirational to watch the process! The nightly virtual “buddy checks” is an open forum for all Veteran’s to meet and just talk about whatever is on their mind. I personally know there are so many Veterans that are grateful for this forum. I have also attended some of the weekly bowling recreational therapies and everyone present is having a great time and you can just feel the healing in the room! The staff is not just friendly and knowledgeable of veteran issues, but they are all Veteran’s themselves, (or spouses of), which I think makes it all that much more effective. They even have a family services division that services the needs of the spouses which is huge!! WarriorNOW really does tackle the problem from all angles and I’m beyond proud to volunteer with such a needed cause.
Once suffering from PTSD, addiction and mental health issues, WarriorNOWs mentors and leadership has provided me a consistent and stable community of veterans a like. Nightly buddy checks in Daniel's room is vital to my continuous sobriety and improvement of mental health conditions. WarriorNOW also offers mental health training, suicide training, peer to peer mentorship, pro socials and other positive influences that are combined to eliminate veteran suicide, mental health and addiction struggles. Without this organization and its teams endless devotion I would not be a year sober today, a productive member to society and a father worthy of idolization. There is no way I can ever thank or repay warriorNOW enough, but my goal is to share my story of addiction, time in service, divorce and mental health struggles and make myself readily available to others who may need help. My story goes on, but we all have our own and the most important thing to remember is the work that WarriorNOW is providing to any and all veterans. Another unique and phenomenal service warriorNOW provides is their WarriorFamilies program. Including this piece of their solution completes a full circle to ensure that family members of any type and the veteran are receiving the support that is crucial to success.
The path they have given to not only my husband suffering from Vietnam PTSD but the many veterans they are helping with virtual calls seven nights a week,pro socials within Covid restrictions,offering mental awareness training including self-care for all their veterans. Keeping our veterans engaged and not focusing on ending their lives. Their selfless work goes beyond miraculous