Where did you serve and what did you do?

2003-2016 US Army Electronic Warfare NCO

How are you Still Serving?

I am the Illinois State Lead for a National Non Profit for Veterans- The Fallen Outdoors- Veterans Helping Veterans in the form of outdoor therapeutic outdoor adventures all over the Unites States. I have an all volunteer staff and together Team Illinois host over 470 Veterans last year. I personally guide a lot of our Upland Bird Hunts, bass Fishing trips and some Waterfowl and Deer camps. I also received a Master Resiliency Certification while in the US Army, so I am able to provide some basic low level counseling and resiliency ” Hunt the Good Stuff as they call it” to the veterans I serve.

Why do you do it?

I do it because I am passionate about the Outdoors and Helping Veterans. Suicide Prevention is something I think our communities need to come together and take a little more seriously. The Soldier’s Creed states ” I Will Never Leave A Fallen Comrade” and it’s something I feel every veteran can understand and relate to. This should be just as important in civilian life as it is on the battlefield. We have a Duty to our brothers n sisters to our left n right to keep reaching back and pulling them forward. Sometimes we might have to drag them – but I would much rather answer a call at 2 am from a veteran I took hunting or fishing the week before than read about him in the newspaper. The Army Values and The Fallen Outdoors come full circle when you think about what it takes to be a leader in any organization and what it takes to volunteer your time and expect nothing in return: Loyalty-Duty-Respect-Selfless Service-Honor-Integrity-Personal Courage. It takes them all or none. When volunteering your time to a community full of men and women that gave everything- It’s all or none