Veteran Support / Non-Profit Organizations

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides comprehensive educational funding and advocacy for the children of fallen Special Operators. They also offer immediate financial assistance to severely wounded, ill and injured Special Operations personnel. Clay Hutmacher currently serves as the Foundation’s President and CEO. Clay served our nation for 40 years in both the Marine Corps and the Army, retiring at the rank of Major General. Clay had served six and half years in the Marines when he saw a brochure about [...]

Farmers helping Veterans and a program to help more Veterans pursue careers as farmers are the subjects of this episode. We begin with Michelle Keller, Senior Director of Farm 2 Veteran, a non-profit with headquarters in Manhattan, Illinois. A study showed that one in five of our nation’s Veterans are currently facing food insecurity. Farm 2 Veteran began in 2020 with one 60-acre farm in Manhattan owned be a “serial entrepreneur” who wanted to do something for Veterans and funded [...]

Transitioning from military service to the civilian world can be a challenge for many of our Veterans. It is one of the most common themes I have heard in the decade of hosting American Warrior Radio. On this episode we talk with J.C. Glick, CEO of the Commit Foundation. Anne Marie Craig was compelled to establish the Commit Foundation when her husband faced challenges finding a civilian career that was as fulfilling and purposeful as serving in the Army Rangers. [...]

Never Home - Rich Sherman More than 521,000 Americans died fighting against tyranny and oppression during World War I and World War II.  About 207,000 of them never made it home – even in death.  Their remains rest in 23 cemeteries spread across 8 countries on 3 continents. Cover of "Never Home: Remembering the Military Heroes Who Never Returned" Retired Navy Intelligence Officer now professional photographer Rich Sherman traveled to all 23 of these cemeteries over the course [...]

Fueled by the Fallen founder Kevyn Major Howard never served in the military. He has 31 film and television acting credits and is perhaps most recognized for his role as combat photographer “Rafterman” in the iconic Stanley Kubrick Vietnam war film “Full Metal Jacket”. We spend some time discussing the films production and the experience of working with greats like Kubrick and R. Lee Ermey. Because of his role in Full Metal Jacket, Kevyn was invited to visit the Twenty [...]

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has the principle responsibility to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and our nation. It was created in January of 2015 by merging the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command along with several functions of the Air Force Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory. DPAA Media Relation Chief for Outreach and Communications Sean Everette joins us to describe the agency’s functions. We are also joined by [...]

The Warrior Surf Foundation uses the calming and spiritually regenerative power of the ocean to help Veteran families deal with the difficult transition to civilian life.  The organization was established on Folly Beach, South Carolina in 2015. The Foundation addresses post service transition challenges like PTSD, moral injury, survivor’s guilt and traumatic brain injuries through surf therapy. Warrior Surf Foundation Executive Director Stephanie Dasher knows the challenges first hand. She was raised by a Veteran, served five years in the [...]

Green Beret Foundation Director of Programs and Services Anna Richardson joins us for an update on their programs.  The mission of the Green Beret Foundation is to provide Special Forces soldiers and their families with emergency, immediate and ongoing support. Since inception, the GBF has provided support for over 14,000 families. For Anna, her work with the Green Beret Foundation is “personal”. She served as a mental health and drug and alcohol counselor in the Army and is a Green [...]

Wreaths Across America plans to lay more than three million fresh wreaths at the graves of Veterans in more than 4,000 locations this year. Co-Founder and Executive Director Karen Worcester joins us to explain more about the organization and their initiatives. This year’s event will take place December 16. Karen’s husband Morill visited Arlington National Cemetery as a young man and was taken with scope and solemnity of what he saw. In 1993 the family decided to donate 5,000 wreaths [...]

USAA recently conducted a poll of Veterans, active duty personnel and the general population. The survey centered on the topic of Veterans Day.  The results were surprising.  John Bird, USAA’s Senior Vice President of Military Affairs joins us to share more. Some of the results were disturbing; 28% of the civilian respondents didn’t know or were unsure why we recognize Veteran’s Day.  Others shed light on generational disparities between Veteran populations. Seventy percent of younger Veterans said they felt uncomfortable [...]