Continuing to Serve Our Communities in Life After Service

Chris Meek — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 08:36:46 -0400

Last year the Department of Veterans Affairs released a report that found that 32% of veterans work in public service or charitable organizations. This is higher compared to their non-veteran counterparts, of which 22% work in those particular fields. Some may ask what makes veterans more likely to work at these types of organizations, but the fact that they do should come as no real surprise. It makes sense that those who choose to serve their country would find new ways to serve their communities in life after service.

There are a number of reasons that many veterans choose to serve their own communities. Many of those reasons are deeply personal. But I think there are also several positive key elements that draw a great number of veterans to volunteer or work in public service or charity and non-profit organizations. My hope is that in bringing light to some of these positive elements, other Veterans (and quite frankly, civilians as well) will be inspired to serve in similar outlets.

I have made it a mission of mine to help veterans take their next steps into life after service in my work through my non-profit SoldierStrong. https://rly.pt/33RQW6J
As many veterans have experienced, it can often be difficult to transition from the military into everyday civilian life. However, volunteering, taking leadership roles within the community and serving the public can serve as an essential part of making that transition easier. It can be a good first step forward for many veterans, especially for those who are looking to give their life renewed meaning and purpose.

These types of roles also allow veterans to utilize many of the leadership and management skills that they developed during their time in the military and use them in outlets that are extremely beneficial to their communities. As many know, military capabilities are certainly applicable to other aspects of life and choosing to follow a path that allows you to harness skills learned during your time in the service can make you feel that your work in the civilian world is worthwhile and constructive.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the overwhelmingly positive impacts that this type of work ultimately can have on one’s mental health. Work in the public service and non-profit spectrums can serve as a great launching pad for beginning to lessen depression and anxiety, as well as providing a deeper sense of identity.

Even if working directly in these fields is not feasible for you, there are still great ways to give back to your community. Throughout the past few months as our country has waded through unprecedented and stressful times, there has been a greater shift to focus on mental health and to find what it is that makes us all feel happy as a way to de-stress and gain a better sense of control over our well-being. I encourage everyone to take what it is that they love and turn it into a way to give back to your community. For example, if you love to bike than organize a community bike ride to raise money for a local charity. Or if you like to knit, consider knitting hats for premature babies at your local hospital. There are many unique ways to take what you love and a find a way to turn it into something that allows you to show your love for your community and its members.

Though there are a vast number of additional positive aspects of veterans working in public health and non-profit fields that I admittedly did not have enough space to cover above, I encourage those who are interested to continue their own research and hopefully take those initial next steps to serve your communities. I am entirely convinced that the number of veterans working in public service and charity outlets will only continue to rise in the years to come. Thank you to those for your service and your continued service as well.

Military Veterans Support, Therapy & Rehabilitation | SoldierStrong

At SoldierStrong, we help our injured military veterans take the next step of their journey by unwavering support, physical therapy, and rehabilitation.

Response by Ryan Callahan made Aug 27 at 2020 8:37 AM

Ryan Callahan — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 08:37:20 -0400

Thanks for sharing Chris Meek. I too have felt the positive impacts of community service on mental health. Giving back to the community has given me a strong sense of self purpose that has helped to define me both personally and professionally.

It was great to see wounded warriors standing during Vice Presidents Pence's speech last night. Keep up the great work at Soldier Strong.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Aug 27 at 2020 8:38 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 08:38:57 -0400

Thank you for the great article share brother Chris Meek

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Aug 27 at 2020 8:54 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 08:54:57 -0400

Chris Meek solid advice. I did 10 years in the public school system after the military. It was a rocky but not impossible transition, aided by the volunteer work I was doing for a grief and loss non profit. Now I've found my home in the Red Cross and I am always amazed at just how many veterans are serving along with me.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 6:07 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 18:07:52 -0400

Great efforts by many. Good read (and post).

And —-> FBR

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Response by Wayne Soares made Aug 27 at 2020 8:47 PM

Wayne Soares — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 20:47:09 -0400

Great share brother Chris

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 28 at 2020 3:15 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:15:01 -0400

I engage myself with veterans who have PTSD. I have PTSD and none of my therapists could connect with me so I decided to heal myself. It was not a quick fix as it took me 2 years to significantly heal. Something on my shoulder whispered that I should write a PTSD Paper as a road map for others. I have gotten tons of positive feedback like:
- It reinforces and organized what I already knew.
- It gives me hope.
- I never thought on things like I need to work on my marriage.

The paper is called Love Squared. https://www.wellnesswishes.org/veterans

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No veteran in America should ever be homeless or hungry – EVER. Wellness Wishes will be the mechanism to convey the gratitude or our country by funding veteran assistance programs, and making a difference in their lives, as they have made in ours.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Aug 28 at 2020 6:13 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 18:13:10 -0400

I have continued my public work by being a high school math teacher and metoring students to try to keep them on the right path and become productive citizens. Several of my students have gone into the military. I don't push them to do this, it is of their own decision. Unfortunately I have little contact with most after their high school graduation but every so often I get invitations to their college graduations including two that graduated from medical school. One of these I never expected to go to college much less become a doctor. She credited me with her success and the values I put into her. That was the greates compliment I could ever hope to receive. Most likely you will never know the impact you have just by helping.

Response by MSgt Charles Johnson made Sep 10 at 2020 4:06 PM

MSgt Charles Johnson — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 16:06:09 -0400

The number is much higher than this. If you include the Veterans who are engaged in the Patriot Organizations like American Legion, Disabled Veterans, VFW, and their riders. But, the largest rider group is the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are around 400,000 and rising. They attend funerals, functions, parades, escorts, nationwide and are perhaps the most active group of Veterans (and patriot civilians) of all.

Response by MSgt Charles Johnson made Sep 10 at 2020 4:08 PM

MSgt Charles Johnson — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 16:08:21 -0400

Another group are those Veterans who are still serving but as Civilians.