Vet Activities
I remember as a young soldier coming back from my first combat operation, Grenada. Me and the guys on my team were so excited to finally become members of the Spring Lake VFW (Ft. Bragg, NC., Veteran of Foreign Wars). They did so many things and had so many activities, plus we could mingle with the older paratroopers who were in Korea and WWII. Drink a few beers and listen to their stories.
Well, 24 years later and several more combat tours with injuries, the Army medically retired me. I joined the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and continued my activities in the VFW, but I noticed something different. Where were all the Veterans from the 17-year War on Terror (WOT) that I fought in (Afghanistan, Iraq, and other parts of the Middle East)? Where were my younger Brothers and Sisters in arms? There were Veterans from Desert Storm, Vietnam, Korea, and WWII vets were still there at the Spring Lake VFW, but no younger service members.
So, I went to another watering-hole, McKellar’s Lodge, predominately a Special Forces hangout on Ft. Bragg to connect with those who fought the WOT. Nope. Same ole crew, operators from the 5th, 7th, and 3rd Special Forces Groups who served in Vietnam, and a few Rangers from Korea. I started asking around. The newer combat vets just wanted to hangout on their own, not connecting with those who get them. A very unhealthy isolation tactic that leads to some bad problems.
There is a saying – “Being all alone in your head is a dangerous neighborhood to be in”.
Then I went to my local DAV. Same thing. The DAV is different than the VFW. Both organizations help Veterans, but the DAV goes deeper and has a powerful impact on Congress and the Executive branches of State and National Government. After a few years in retirement, I moved to NE Alabama. Yes, I had a fairly moderate case of PTSD and had to get away from the big city of Fayetteville, NC. After being there almost 21 years, I could not take the hustle and bustle of everything. I connected with the Marshall County, Alabama DAV and again found out that our National Veteran Organizations are aging out, no younger vets. A serious problem.
Then I learned Veteran Suicide was at a crisis-level, an epidemic, an enemy attacking from within. The question we asked for several years was, “What can we do to get those who fought the WOT to connect with us”? Also, “What can we do to help reduce Veteran Suicide”? In 2018 we came up with an answer – a Veteran/First Responder Service Center – that offers activities the Millennials (Generation X born between 1980 and 1994) can enjoy and attract them to connect with us older Veterans. That is what Veteran Games are all about. Reaching out and drawing in those isolated Veterans who want help, but are afraid of what that help actually looks like.
We feel if we can get them involved in the myriad of activities we have planned, we can show them that being wounded inside is not something to be ashamed of, most of us are. With these activities and interacting with us, we have the opportunity to offer any Mental Health services they may require, free of charge. The Veteran Service Center will have qualified and licensed clinicians who have expert certifications for trauma-related pathology.
If you are a Veteran, Law Enforcement, or First-Responder come visit us on top of Georgia Mountain, Marshall County Alabama.
Dr. Mick
V4V & DAV, Marshall County, Alabama