Honoring the Brave: Impactful Initiatives by Veteran Support Groups
When you hear Veteran Service Organization, what do you immediately think of? For a lot of us, our thoughts go to the two that everyone knows, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion. These are two very good Veteran Service Organizations, and both continue to do a wonderful job supporting Veterans. But, they are only the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot of other organizations that exist to help and support Veterans. Today we are going to examine just a handful to give an idea of the opportunities.
AMVETS
AMVETS is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to veterans and their families. They offer a variety of services, including:
- Financial assistance
- Employment assistance
- Housing assistance
- Health care assistance
- Education assistance
- Advocacy
One of AMVETS most important programs is their national cadre of National Service Officers stationed at VA Regional Offices and Medical Centers. These Veteran Service Officers are availalbe to assist Veterans with their VA compensation claims free of charge, and can also provide assistance with other VA programs including health care, homelessness, and housing modification information.
Bunker Labs
Bunker Labs is a non-profit organization that provides veterans with the resources and support they need to start their own businesses. They offer a variety of programs and services, including:
- Veteran Accelerator: This program provides veterans with a 12-week intensive training program that covers everything they need to know to start their own business, from ideation to launch.
- Veteran Incubator: This program provides veterans with a year-long program that provides them with mentorship, guidance, and access to resources to help them grow their businesses.
- Veteran Mentorship Program: This program matches veterans with experienced entrepreneurs who can provide them with guidance and support as they start their own businesses.
- Veteran Business Resources: Bunker Labs provides veterans with a variety of resources, including access to capital, business training, and legal and accounting services.
Bunker Labs has helped over 1,000 veterans start their own businesses, and has generated over $100 million in revenue for veteran-owned businesses.
Hire Heroes USA
Hire Heroes USA is a non-profit organization that helps veterans find jobs. They offer a variety of services, including:
- Job search assistance
- Resume writing and interview preparation
- Career counseling
- Networking opportunities
- Veteran-friendly employers
Hire Heroes USA has helped over 100,000 veterans find jobs since its inception in 2007. They are committed to helping veterans succeed in the civilian workforce and are a valuable resource for veterans looking for employment.
For more information, visit their website at www.hireheroesusa.org.
Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IMVF)
The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IMVF) is a non-profit organization that partners with Syracuse University to provide veterans and military families with the resources and support they need to succeed in civilian life. The IMVF offers a variety of programs and services, including:
- Career counseling and job placement assistance
- Educational support
- Financial assistance
- Health care and mental health services
- Housing assistance
- Legal services
- Advocacy
The IMVF is committed to helping veterans and military families achieve their full potential. For more information, visit their website at www.imvf.syr.edu.
Team Rubicon
Team Rubicon is a veteran-led disaster relief organization that provides immediate disaster response, veteran reintegration, and community resilience. They assist veterans by providing them with opportunities to use their skills and experience to help others in need. Team Rubicon also provides veterans with training and support to help them transition back to civilian life.
Some of the ways that Team Rubicon assists veterans include:
- Providing disaster response training and opportunities for veterans to volunteer their time to help communities recover from disasters.
- Offering mental health and wellness programs to help veterans cope with the challenges of transitioning back to civilian life.
- Providing job training and placement services to help veterans find meaningful employment.
- Connecting veterans with resources and support networks in their communities.
Team Rubicon is committed to helping veterans achieve their full potential and to making a positive impact on their lives.
And there you have it. Six Veteran Service Organizations that are helping Veterans in a myriad of different ways. If you have a favorite that I didn’t include in this short list, feel free to drop it in the comment section below!
