National Hire a Veteran Day is July 25. It is one of many dates, holidays and occasions throughout the year when we are reminded not only of what our military veterans have done for us, but what we can do for them in return. Every company should consider hiring a vet, and there are other ways that the business community can support U.S. veterans, particularly those who are struggling.
Throughout any veteran’s service, the concept and power of the team is at the heart of everything. You train as a team, live as a team, and go to war as a team. For many of our fellow service members, the absence of that team support when transitioning to civilian life can be emotionally and psychologically devastating, especially for someone dealing with mental health issues.
As we saw with Vietnam veterans, and see currently among post-9/11 vets, mental health disorders and suicide are a disproportionate problem among them. Suicide has been one of the top 13 causes of veteran deaths for many years. Yet with all the prevention efforts implemented, the rate of suicide continues to rise, severely impacting families, friends, loved ones and entire communities.
In active duty, service members depended on their teams in order to serve and defend the civilian population. Now, they need us to unite to support them. There is a tremendous opportunity for private enterprise to step up and do more through partner organizations dedicated to veterans struggling with mental health and other related issues.
America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP) is the perfect place for any company to start. AWP partners with community resources nationwide to prevent veteran suicide by connecting nonprofit service organizations with veterans, their families and caregivers through WarriorServe, a proprietary technology platform.
The AWP Network is staffed by a dedicated team of case coordinators with social services backgrounds who are experts at holistically identifying problems and finding one-size-fits-one solutions, whether that involves transportation, short-term financial assistance, housing, help with VA claims or mental health crises. In 2023, the organization established personal relationships with over 8,000 veterans, identifying 263 warriors with some level of suicidal ideation and connecting them to appropriate resources.
One of the most important initiatives for AWP has been the implementation of Operation Deep Dive, a community-based study aimed at the individual, organizational and community factors contributing to veteran suicide. Researchers at Duke University joined the study in 2022 to help identify individual veterans in each community who are at the greatest risk. With the support of Wells Fargo, AWP also developed the Corporate Veteran Initiative to help employers strengthen veteran support through increased access to community resources.
There are many ways that companies of all sizes can support veteran programs like AWP. One company leading the way is veteran-led wireless communications provider PureTalk. PureTalk not only provides discounted wireless cell phone service for veterans but has also stepped up to raise money for organizations like AWP. Since Jan. 2023, PureTalk has raised over $175,000 for AWP through various initiatives.
America’s veteran community deserves to stand tall and be proud of their service. Not every veteran is struggling, but many of our fellow Americans who served in the armed forces — our friends, our neighbors, our family members — desperately need a community of support in civilian life.
Service to country doesn’t have to come in the form of wearing a uniform. Companies, communities and everyday citizens can do their patriotic duty by contributing to veteran’s causes. Each of us can be an influential part of the change in how — and how much — we care for those who served and are now struggling to find their way in civilian life. They need to know someone has their six. They need a team.
Clint Romesha is a former Army staff sergeant and combat veteran. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery and heroism in the 12-hour battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan. He serves on the board of America’s Warrior Partnership; as a brand ambassador for PureTalk; and as a veteran chaperone for Middle Georgia Honor Flight.
Anthony Krepps has served almost nine years in the U.S. Army and Reserves in the behavioral health area. He is currently based in Aiken, S.C., and serves as a National Advisory Council member for America’s Warrior Partnership, an organization dedicated to ending veteran suicide.
