The document discusses the problems military veterans face with reintegration into civilian life after service, including high rates of unemployment, PTSD, and suicide. It proposes establishing a nonprofit called GallantFew to provide social and professional networking, counseling, and physical support to ease veterans' transitions and help heal their mental and emotional wounds. The nonprofit would start by partnering with the Army's 75th Ranger Regiment and expand to serve more veterans nationwide over time.
2. “…the military does an excellent job of keeping troops alive during combat – but not so well at keeping them healthy afterward.” A mother talking about her son who committed suicide after returning home from multiple combat deployments (New York Times Nov 25, 2009)
3. Agenda Problems A possible solution Severance Reintegration? What if… GallantFew Vision Implementation Rangers
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5. Depression
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7. Unemployment Veteran unemployment rate now nearly 21% Up from 17% in September One million unemployed veterans Data from the Army Times, December 2009
8. Suicide Traditionally, Army and USMC suicide rates are significantly lower than civilian Army and USMC both matched civilian rates first time ever in 2009 Active duty suicides exceeded combat deaths in Iraq or Afghanistan 2009 VA reports suicide increases in veterans aged 20-25 in their care Data from the Army Times, December 2009
9. Insured with Blood Are we doing everything we can to provide those who have volunteered their lives to insure our safety with a smooth, peaceful and successful transition from military service to civilian life?
10. Severance = Chasm Departure from the military = severance Professional Social Emotional Physical Onsite Transition Assistance Offices are ineffective The VA is NOT interested in recruiting more “workload” Those enrolling in the VA face waits of months There is no bridge that spans the service to civilian chasm
11. Reintegration? Today’s soldier = most highly trained, capable, disciplined soldier in history Asset to any company IF in the right position Unable to “fit” They don’t understand Unable to “translate” How do my skills equate to this company? Unable to “identify” Total respect versus total disrespect You military types have no initiative, just follow orders
12. What if… During transition, the soldier: Was coached by a veteran/mentor Was welcomed home by a veteran/mentor who has been there/done that too Was introduced to a social network of veterans Was introduced to a professional network Received assistance in home modifications and other physical help
13. GallantFew Vision Establish a non-profit that enrolls veterans at time of severance into a voluntary, no-cost network that provides: Social networking Keep in touch with fellow veterans Meet fellow veterans in home community Professional networking Targeted introductions Real resume coaching Emotional support Counseling Support groups Physical support Association of General Contractors National Home Builders and Remodelers
14. Implementation Identify a small, manageable unit Build a nationwide network of veterans Secure external support Screen, hire and train support staff Measure key rates of unemployment and suicide against the general population Expand to more military veterans
15. Rangers 1974 Abrahm’s Charter – hooah? The 75th Ranger Regiment has about 3000 Rangers Since Oct 2001, constant combat rotations – many three year tours involve six or more combat rotations Most intense unit of this size – highest casualty rates both in combat and training Supreme dedication, esprit de corps GallantFew founder is a Ranger veteran Regiment is willing to participate with GallantFew Wanna be a Ranger?
21. Pledge: In honor of the 75th Regiment, DriPowder has pledged 7.5% of gross be set aside to fuel GallantFew.
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24. In the book The Good Soldiers, David Finkel – tells the story of a US Army Infantry battalion in the midst of the surge in Iraq: “There had been internal studies suggesting that 20% of soldiers deployed to Iraq were experiencing symptoms of PTSD ranging from nightmares, to insomnia, to rapid breathing, to racing hearts, to depression, to obsessive thoughts about suicide. They also suggested that those symptoms increased significantly with multiple deployments and that the cost of treating the hundreds of thousands of soldiers suffering from them would eventually cost more than the war itself. Every study that had been done indicated the seriousness of this, and yet in the culture of the army, where mental illness has long been equated with weakness, there remained a lingering suspicion of any diagnosis for which there wasn’t visible evidence…Losing a leg couldn’t be faked…legitimate injury. But to lose a mind?...as reports of soldiers supposedly having problems …(reached the battalion commander), he continued to reduce some of those reports to the infantry’s historically preferred diagnosis: ‘He’s just a p***y.’” A Soldier is taught to buck up and bear the load, whatever the cost. We need to ask ourselves, “how does a soldier heal his broken mind or tarnished spirit?
