Imagine this is you:
It is the first week in October, the kids are settled into school and their activities. It is a Friday afternoon at the end of a hectic week. Your spouse arrives home and shares: “We are being deployed in response to the crisis unfolding in the Middle East. The plane departs Monday morning at 0200.”
Did you feel that jolt of adrenaline? Are you angry, sad, scared, or just numb?
What is your first question? Why your unit? Why you? How long?
“I don’t know how long; we should plan for 6 months minimum is what we were told.”
What would it be like for you to become an instant single parent, October thru April. What will your spouse miss not being home with the family? Which holidays, birthdays, and special events will take place during those months? How many family dinners will be missed?
Many military families have had this type of experience.
Every military family has had the experience of a scheduled deployment. Even if the deployment is scheduled the same challenges exist.
November was first declared as Military Family Month in 1996. Why?
To acknowledge the tremendous sacrifices military families, endure; separation, relocating regularly, changing communities, jobs, and schools. Military families are often seen as pillars of strength, resilience, and courage. Yet many encounter significant setbacks to these challenges.
Do you want to thank a veteran and their family for their service?
Consider supporting an organization that supports veterans and their families. There are over 45,000 registered nonprofits in the United States.
Here are six service providers I am personally knowledgeable of that positively affect veterans and their families. Consider how you could support or take advantage of their services.
Woody Williams Foundation – woodywilliams.org
The Woody Williams Foundation is a nonprofit named for its founder, Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams. With the mission to: honor, recognize, and serve Gold Star Families and the legacy of their love ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The foundation encourages, with the assistance of the American public and community leaders, establishing permanent Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments in communities throughout the United States, conducting Gold Star Families Outreach across the country, and providing Living Legacy scholarships to eligible Gold Star Family members. To date there are over 140 Memorial Monuments installed and 46 additional monuments in progress.
Commit Foundation – commitfoundation.org
Transitioning out of the military can be an extremely challenging endeavor for service members and their family. The most pressing challenge is to find a post service life that has purpose.
Mission
The COMMIT Foundation empowers those who have served and their families to create purposeful and fulfilling transitions by providing personalized programs, resources, and the support of community.
The Commit Foundation assists service members and their family discover their identity and values so they can design their next chapter.
Freedom Makers – freedom-makers.com
Is a virtual assistant services company where every virtual assistant is a military spouse.
Military spouses have the challenge of establishing and maintaining consistency in their careers. It is not uncommon for spouses over a 20-year career to have a dozen or more work entries on their resume. Freedom Makers assists spouses to use their professional skills as a virtual member of business team.
The military spouse professionals of Freedom Makers provide customized, personalized support to help business owners reclaim their time, enhance their operational efficiency and grow their business. I have personally worked with a Freedom Maker for over 5 years and it has been one of the most important decisions I have made for my business.
The Headstrong Project – theheadstrongproject.org
I recommended a client contact The Headstrong Project when he told me he was not being treated for his PTSD. He came back and told me; “They saved my life.”
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition affecting many service members and their families. The condition often goes untreated because of the stigma attached to mental health disorders.
The Headstrong Project is a non-profit mental health organization providing confidential, barrier-free, and stigma-free PTSD treatment to our veterans, service members, and family connected to their care.
The goal of The Headstrong Project is to help their clients “Triumph Over Trauma.” by providing them with effective mental health treatment.
Cohen Veteran Network – cohenveteransnetwork.org
The Cohen Veterans Network, is a non-profit committed to helping veterans and military families by reducing barriers to care.
The organization is focused on post-9/11 veterans and their families. They assist in overcoming the challenges of transitioning from active military service to civilian life and beyond. Their clinics offer specialized, confidential therapy for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment issues, anger, grief and loss, transition challenges, and other concerns.
Additionally, they focus on family members, including spouse or partner, children, parents, siblings, caregivers, and families of choice. They offer marriage counseling, relationship counseling, and help with children’s behavioral issues.
Project Opportunity – project-opportunity.com
Founded by a military veteran when he was frustrated by the amount of veteran unemployment in Maryland. He was inspired to assist veterans in starting their own businesses. Today Project Opportunity provides entrepreneurship education, training, coaching and a supportive community for veterans in pursuit of owning a successful small business.
After completion of the base entrepreneur training course participants have access to business counseling and coaching.
In addition to the course, professional development workshops and seminars are available for veteran small business owners along with referrals to agencies and organizations to assist the veteran small business population within Maryland.
If you are a veteran or spouse of a veteran looking to start a business explore how Project Opportunity may assist you. If you are interested in assisting veterans fulfill their dream of starting or expanding their business contact Project Opportunity.
This November thank the veteran and the veteran’s family for their service through action. These are are six possible ways to say thank you.
