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How Did You Come to Work at The Mission Continues?

September 29, 2016
By Chris Randall, Fellowship Program Specialist

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Why I Wanted to Serve

From the time I was eight years old, I knew I wanted to be a Marine. Growing up in North St. Louis, my father was my role model – a standout in a tough neighborhood. He was determined to not let anything, let alone age requirements, get in his way. He enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 15 — before he could drive, vote or buy a beer — and served during the Korean War.

I wasn’t exactly a great student as a kid, but I was dedicated in other ways, and most important, I was dedicated to my dream. More than anything, I wanted to be part of the military like my father. So I started early. I joined the Young Marines Program when I was 8 years old, and attend Cleveland Jr. Naval Academy in St. Louis for high school.

In many ways, just like my father, I didn’t want to waste any time. I felt ready, more than ready, to achieve my dream as soon as possible, so much so that I made sure to graduate high school ahead of schedule so I could enlist at the age of 17.

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Everybody Wins When Nonprofits Partner

September 22, 2016
By Jessica Herring, Fellow Alum

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How My Story Began

It was February of 2003 when I learned my first trip to see the world would be to a giant sandbox, and unfortunately it wouldn’t be to build sandcastles. I had joined the military partially to see the world, and partially to continue my family legacy of service. I was in basic training when the attacks of 9/11 occurred. It was then that I knew I might be deployed. But little did I know that serving at the time I did and deploying to the middle east would change my life in more ways than I can count.

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Being in the military allowed me to push up my curls and pull on my boots, and ensure that everyone saw the badass I believed myself to be. But while I was on deployment, my convoy was hit by an IED, and I sustained injuries which sent me out of country in January of 2004, and eventually lead to my medical retirement in 2006.

In many ways, I had a successful transition back to civilian life. I found a civilian job and had a family. But my battle with PTSD and TBI was my achilles heel, and I fell into a rather dark place. Feeling alone, lacking usefulness, and feeling lost and unsure of the path I should be taking in life, was soon my norm.

Luckily, a fellow veteran recommended I try out The Mission Continues service platoons as an outlet, and that they partner with other nonprofits and communities to amplify everyone’s impact. Who knew that hammering nails and digging holes with a bunch of mouthy vets would be what I needed?

 

Serving Again, with Nonprofits who Partner

My first real introduction into the importance of giving and caring for others and the foundation of my life’s ambitions comes from my mother. After divorcing my father, my mother took care of me and my three siblings, and took in local children in need of a place to stay, ensuring they had everything they needed to get by on a daily basis. That same spirit of caring for others I saw growing up came back into my life with my volunteer work.

After several years of serving with my local service platoons, a fellowship opportunity with a local nonprofit came up. Again, partnering with other nonprofits seemed to be a win-win all around — for myself, The Mission Continues, their partner nonprofits, and the communities we all were serving. Being aware of my desire to ultimately work with nonprofits, my platoon leader thought I’d be a perfect fit for Hemisfair Conservancy, as they were willing to teach me all the gooey innards of nonprofit management, and I would be able to experience how urban development could have a positive impact on the local culture and community.

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I earned a fellowship, and I quickly fell in love with Hemisfair, its mission, the work it does and the people who ensure it’s a well-oiled machine. This park is a place to go for those who cannot afford to go to Seaworld or Six Flags or travel out of the state, or even out of the city. It is wonderland for many. It is a place of adventure for children and one where they have access to free books, activities, games and time with their friends and family in a safe and fun environment.

Being part of Hemisfair Conservancy contributed to my overall self-growth and gave me the ability to work on the goals I had set with Mission Continues, and ultimately with myself.

Even though they were able to accomplish so much, the Conservancy was still suffering from the one thing that plagues most nonprofits: a lack of funds and manpower. With an office consisting of just two employees, my entrance empowered the Conservancy to utilize my skills, freeing time for them to work on researching, writing and completing grants and funding options for the park and its programming.

This partnership allowed both organizations to help each other achieve their goals: The Mission Continues helped veterans find a place in the world, the Conservancy gained the manpower they needed to make their organization more efficient and impactful.

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It is wonderful to be able to tell myself that I will not go back to bed and cover my head, hiding from the world. Rather, I will work to get everything I can out of life, the world and its people. Through my fellowship with The Mission Continues at the Hemisfair Conservancy, I was able to build a solid framework for myself, one that I can always build upon.

 

Report for duty in your community with The Mission Continues. Serve with a Service Platoon at an upcoming service event near you or apply for a fellowship. You can learn more about our programs on our website and stay updated on the latest news and announcements on Facebook and twitter.

 

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A “Salute From The Chief”

September 14, 2016

closing-ceremony-mission-continuesSpencer Kympton, center, addresses Charlie Class 2014 Fellows at their orientation in Los Angeles.

General Mark A. Milley, 39th Chief of Staff of the Army, will recognize Spencer Kympton, president of The Mission Continues, with the Outstanding Civilian Service Award for his leadership of the national nonprofit organization and dedication to supporting our veterans and military families. The award is the third-highest public service honor the Army can bestow upon a civilian.

The Mission Continues is a national non-profit that connects veterans to opportunities to serve again—here at home. It’s a unique model that empowers veterans to build new skills and networks that help them successfully reintegrate to life after the military while making long-term, sustainable transformations in communities and inspiring future generations to serve.

Since taking helm of the organization as president in 2014, Kympton—an US Army veteran—has seen The Mission Continues continue its growth in scale and impact with nearly 10,000 veterans participating in community service across the country. Operations in cities nationwide now deploy veteran volunteers alongside non-profit partners and community leaders to solve some of the most challenging issues facing our communities. More than 60 teams of veterans and community volunteers have mobilized across the country through our Service Platoon Program, and thousands more have been engaged to date through the The Mission Continues Fellowship Program.

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The Decision I Made, 15 Years Ago Today

September 11, 2016
By Brandi Peasley

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I vividly remember the day I left active duty. It was October 1999 and I’d completed my 5-year commitment in the United States Army after graduating from West Point. I signed the paperwork to switch to a Reserve commission and assume my placement into the Individual Ready Reserve. At the time, I thought it was odd how much it bothered me to take off the uniform but I was very determined to go find success out in the civilian world.

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For Veterans, Their Mission Continues in National Parks

September 8, 2016
By Rose Feroah, Platoon Member

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With a September’s breeze on this late summer night, we will soon be reminded of sacrifice and service.  It is in this honor and service that we will be at Fort Battery Ricketts—Mile Marker Zero of the Hiker Biker Trail, all hands on deck, doing what we do best.  Having worked along the Trail throughout Southeast DC, we are going to hold our biggest project yet on 9/11 at its trailhead.  

Who are we? We are volunteers from The Mission Continues, veterans who are stepping up to serve our communities.

Since its inception, The Mission Continues’ 4th Platoon in DC, funded by Boeing and partnered with the National Park Service, has been caring for and connecting its veterans, members and communities to the culturally rich parks in the Northeast and Southeastern quadrants of the city.  Working the land in these parks has allowed veterans to connect to our military heritage, reminding us of the salt and grit from which we were forged.

Historically, there has been a divide—a divide between veterans and civilians.  In the military, our bonds grew through blood and sweat, earning our place among our brothers and sisters, trusting those to our right and left to hold the line.  Selfishly, we show up to The Mission Continues projects because we want to see and support each other; we like the reminder that our country still needs us; we are fulfilled knowing we are still working towards the greater good.

It is absolutely refreshing to show up to an event and know that we can be ourselves in all of our flaws and patriotism.  Yet, something else is happening too.  We are finding ourselves bleeding and sweating again, but this time we have our community members getting down and dirty with us, reinforcing our lines.

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While digging holes, we start chatting and the conversation moves casually from light-hearted to stories of casualties from the broken hearted, as pain and tragedy knows no civilian-veteran divide.  Building tables and garden beds seems mundane, yet we all eventually bleed our own history over the course of the day, recognizing that all of our blood is red, white and blue.

At the end of the project, our new friends offer to shake our hands, saying thank you for your service; we decline the handshake and pull them in for a hug, saying “Thank you for your service today,” and imploring them to come to the next.  Guess what? They always do, eager to get down and dirty, eager to show their own grit and salt.

In our first year, DC 4th platoon has had the fortune to serve with new and faithful partners on various projects:

  •   For Earth Day, we laid siege to Fort DuPont’s Community Gardens under torrential rains with the Wounded Warrior Project, the Student Veterans of America, and the bravest community gardeners, our favorite Rangers kicked us off; we created and maintained garden plots, installed pallet compost bins, and restored a bee farm.
  •   On National Trails Day, we cared for those spawning and spanning Fort DuPont with the Wounded Warrior Project and the Student Conservation Association.
  •   We joined So What Else? collecting heaps of garbage from Anacostia Park and river.
  •   We have also installed fitness equipment along Fort Mahan, making eager friends in the community throughout the day.  

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For Memorial Day this year, we held an event at the Battleground National Cemetery where we tended the hallowed grounds, gathering at the end to remember their honor and sacrifice.  We closed out the event with Taps—crooning from the rostrum, our lone bugler brought a patriotic mist to every eye.

It was here, with perfectly placed placards of words not to be forgotten, with our Park Rangers imparting the past upon us, that my children started to learn and appreciate the history that created the city they call home.

It was here, with the bowed head of veterans and their families, with flowers and wreaths being laid upon headstones, that my innocent daughters started to understand why their mom chose to become a United States Marine.  These national cemeteries and memorials, though part of a landscape collectively, are individual beacons of perseverance, prompting us to share their history and importance to the curious young minds inquiring.

On the Fourth of July, we were back at Fort DuPont celebrating our independence and enjoying the fruits of our labor with a banging BBQ. Each time we go back, we smile at our contributions, rewarded when we see people walking the trails we cleared and created, or bringing vegetables to the BBQ from the Community Gardens we personally nourished.

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My children and I love going back, whether on a drive to Fort DuPont’s skating rink or to roam the very trails we’ve tended.  They point out “Mommy! That’s where the snake pooped on me!” or “Hey! That’s where we went mountain biking and I finally made it up the hill without stopping!”  The adventure and pride in theirs eyes reassures me that being part of the National Parks along with our community service is giving them something that only nature and the parks can provide.

As encouraged, platoon members frequently attend every event offered by The Mission Continues, creating a reliable, well-oiled machine.  And we have logged enough hours digging holes to have nearly exterminated the width and breadth of hole-jokes, however we persevered and have yet to run out.  We are all about #ReportingForDuty!

We epitomize honor when we serve the very roots our country sprang from—doing as the founding fathers and mothers intended, to connect communities with the playful environments that surround them.

With luck on our side, we get to celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service with the communities that surround them.  If we do it right, we have the opportunity to turn strangers into friends, and to inspire the next generation to keep our National Parks alive while continuing the bonds we have forged with the community—our community.

 

Rose is a post-9/11 Marine Corps veteran, and a leader in The Mission Continues’ Washington, DC4th Platoon.  She is an entrepreneur and a small business owner, as well as the mother of beautiful twin girls. This post was also published on the National Park Foundation’s blog.

 

Report for duty in your community with The Mission Continues. Serve with a Service Platoon at an upcoming service event near you or apply for a fellowship. You can learn more about our programs on our website and stay updated on the latest news and announcements on Facebook and twitter.