Month: August 2015

August 28, 2015

Eight years ago this month, we put forth an idea: service to the nation, and to our communities, doesn’t end with a separation letter from the military. It doesn’t fade out at a retirement ceremony, and it certainly is not finished when wounds lead to an early exit.

Once you swear an oath to join the military, service is in your blood, and it’s in there for life.

Our friends at Task and Purpose and Team Rubicon agree. That’s why we’re coming together to ask veterans and nonveterans alike to take a Second Oath—a promise to actively engage your community and country.

Continue reading “Take a Second Oath and Serve Again”

August 24, 2015

By Mary Beth Bruggeman

(Editor’s note: this piece originally appeared at The Huffington Post.)

When I was 11 years old, I attended a Navy vs. Air Force football game with my great uncle, a World War II veteran and a 1945 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He was my friend, my mentor and my hero. We watched the midshipmen march onto the field, looking sharp and disciplined in their white uniforms.

I decided in that moment that this was a team I desperately wanted to be a part of, and I set my sights on attending the Naval Academy. With the unwavering support of my Uncle Paul and my parents (both former Peace Corps volunteers), I graduated from the Naval Academy with the Class of 1999, threw my military cover into the air on graduation day and immediately changed into the uniform of a U.S. Marine Corps officer. I have never in my life felt so proud, nervous, anxious and excited. I was part of a new team, an elite team, a band of brothers.

Continue reading “Can Service on the Home Front Help Female Veterans Reintegrate to Civilian Life?”

August 14, 2015

When we launched the Service Platoon Program in 2013, we envisioned teams of veterans coming together to solve some of the biggest challenges in the community.

From environmental stewardship in San Diego to mentoring kids through fitness in Washington DC, our platoons have settled into communities, developed strong local bonds and have committed to transformative changes in the years to come.

For the past two years, we’ve grown—and grown fast. We now have 52 service platoons across the nation with about 4,000 active veteran volunteers.

The members of those communities, for the first time, can play an even more active role in our platoon missions.

Continue reading “Community Members: Force Multipliers for Service Platoons”

August 7, 2015

When we launched our Fellowship Program in 2007, there was a particular requirement: veterans must have held a disability rating from either the Department of Defense or Veterans Affairs. The idea was to help infuse purpose into the lives of veterans who came home from the service injured, either in wartime or stateside.

It’s today–National Purple Heart Day–that we honor those who were wounded and killed in battle. Though the award was originally a medal for merit in colonial days, the Purple Heart was designated during World War II as recognition for wounds received by the enemy. It is now one of our strongest symbols of military heritage and courage.

More than 80 of our Fellows have received the award from action in Iraq, Afghanistan and other campaigns. Despite their wounds, these veterans are carrying the same commitment to the people around them. Now, that commitment is service to their community.

In the larger veterans community, there has been a shift in how we think about wounds, both visible and invisible. Our program qualifications have also changed with the times. In 2012, we opened the fellowship application to all post-9/11 veterans. You no longer must hold a disability rating to join us, but you do have to demonstrate a commitment to continued service.

So on National Purple Heart Day, we thank our Fellows who have sacrificed on the battlefield. We know those wounds are not often what hold veterans back, but like service and purpose, are part of what drives them forward.

Want to service your community in a new way? Apply for a fellowship.

August 2, 2015

The Marine Corps Marathon is later this fall, but Team Mission Continues is in full preparation mode.

We had a great run (no pun intended) last year, with 37 runners, raising about $60,000 to help fund our programs.

But we’re doubling down in 2015. We have a slate of 53 motivated runners who are already halfway to last year’s mark, with a goal of hitting $100,000 before the marathon on October 25.

Our team comes from all over. David Hopkins is a longtime donor of The Mission Continues from the St. Louis area, and coming from a family with a strong military connection, he understands his support will galvanize the legacy of our newest generation of veterans.

Yolande Goodman has also been a tireless advocate and leader for veterans of the post-9/11 era. She served in the Marine Corps, helped provide resources to victims of sexual assault during her fellowship, and currently serves in the Jacksonville 1st Service Platoon.

“I want to help fund the fellowship to give another veteran the same opportunity to contribute to their community in a positive way,” she said.

It was just payday, so drop by our Marine Corps Marathon fundraising page and consider a contribution.