Post by MikeDamon on Nov 23, 2016 17:09:14 GMT
The inspiration for all this started with my friend Paul ( not his real name lol). Paul is part of a PTS group at the Worcester Vets center in Massachusetts . It was, and still is, a PTSD group for war veterans. The group's unofficial leader was a guy named Bud. He is a disabled veteran that started a sort of social group outside of the weekly hour spent in group. He helped me through a tough time in my life and I help him expand his group. Bud is a shy guy and I am a outgoing person so it worked out great.lol
One of the benefits of the group was that we were all at different stages and we had experiences that we could share to make moving through the systems easier... state , VA , social security etc
Another Vet by the name of Bill Moore was in the thick of it when I hit bottom and picked me up when I hit rock bottom while I was struggling with PTSD. He runs an amazing organization, Project New Hope, that helps New England veterans ( and national) and their families with education and services via retreat weekends.
During all this, I also met a good friend "K". She was a veterans advocate that work with local veterans .. one on one . She often expressed her frustration over the disconnect between information and the veterans in need . From this she coined the phrase "Where is my Gunny?". For those who don't understand Marine terminology a Gunny is like your father when you are in the Marine Corp. You went to him with any challenge you had. Many know hen you go back to civilian life there usually isn't that person in your life to help you transition to civilian life. this frustrated her so she encouraged me to develop a system, not only connect veterans with each other, but that will allow veterans to access to information in a central place in a language they understand.
Over a three year process of asking veterans what they needed , assisting them, mentoring them, connecting them to other veterans.... I believe a forum is the best avenue to address these issues. connecting the dots...
One of the benefits of the group was that we were all at different stages and we had experiences that we could share to make moving through the systems easier... state , VA , social security etc
Another Vet by the name of Bill Moore was in the thick of it when I hit bottom and picked me up when I hit rock bottom while I was struggling with PTSD. He runs an amazing organization, Project New Hope, that helps New England veterans ( and national) and their families with education and services via retreat weekends.
During all this, I also met a good friend "K". She was a veterans advocate that work with local veterans .. one on one . She often expressed her frustration over the disconnect between information and the veterans in need . From this she coined the phrase "Where is my Gunny?". For those who don't understand Marine terminology a Gunny is like your father when you are in the Marine Corp. You went to him with any challenge you had. Many know hen you go back to civilian life there usually isn't that person in your life to help you transition to civilian life. this frustrated her so she encouraged me to develop a system, not only connect veterans with each other, but that will allow veterans to access to information in a central place in a language they understand.
Over a three year process of asking veterans what they needed , assisting them, mentoring them, connecting them to other veterans.... I believe a forum is the best avenue to address these issues. connecting the dots...