2024 has been a breakout year for the Onward Ops program. With an expanding network of partners, enrollments on the rise, and validation that what we are doing really works, together we are making a real difference in the lives of our nation&rsquo;s newest veterans. Whether that is measured in screening 15500+ service members for suicide risk or connecting communities and mentors with their newest members, we are showing that a successful transition is achievable. More importantly, we are demonstrating that the vast majority of veterans are not damaged or broken. They are phenomenal men and women who build on their military experiences and values to contribute to the country for years to come. With your continued support, we will reach our goal of supporting every single new veteran as they take off the uniform for the final time and make the leap into civilian life. Our veterans deserve nothing less.
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To read the complete impact report click here: <a style="color: #000000;" title="Onward Ops 2024 Impact Report" href="https://partnerhub.onwardops.org/impact-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Onward Ops 2024 Impact Report</a>

Onward Ops 2024 Impact Report 

<h4 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://abc7.com/post/nonprofit-organization-onward-ops-helping-veterans-transition-to-civilian-life/15190332/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source Article</a></h4>
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LOS ANGELES (KABC) --&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-testid="prism-linkbase">Department of Veterans Affairs</a>&nbsp;is far more than the VA hospital. Through public-private sponsorships, the VA is trying to help with the challenges veterans face as they transition out of the military.
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"The stress is always there," said Terri Tatum, now retired after over two decades in the Navy. "It might not be the same as the person that got out before you but the stress is always there." There are over 40,000 veterans service organizations across the country, but most aren't connected in any way. So, in spite of available resources, retiring service members can feel lost said John Fasano, the Community Coordinator for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn17/vsi.asp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-testid="prism-linkbase">Veteran Sponsorship Initiative</a>.
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"Most of our service members will tell you that they feel like they're on their own," he said. Maurice Wilson spent 26 years in the Navy but now works with Onward Ops, a nonprofit helping unify Veterans organizations nationwide. "It's not as simple as just taking off the uniform," Wilson said. Wilson is the Regional Community Integration Coordinator for&nbsp;<a href="https://onwardops.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-testid="prism-linkbase">Onward Ops</a>&nbsp;which connects veterans with a volunteer who checks in every week to make sure they have access to resources and assure them they are not alone.
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Tatum knows personally how valuable that is. "I have a sailor who got married and his wife got out and she didn't have this... and the loss of community was where... she felt the degrade and so... she didn't know where to go," Tatum said. Peter Lanham was Tatum's "Battle Buddy" with Onward Ops San Diego and helped her navigate her transition to civilian life. "There are many out there that need Onward Ops... once they hear about it and know what it can do as they transition and reintegrate... it's refreshing... nothing like this has existed," said Lanham.
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In partnership with Onward Ops, the Veteran Sponsorship Initiative, or VSI, calls service members long BEFORE they exit the military and begin working with them to ensure they have healthcare and determine any other needs. Wilson pointed out, "Roughly 90% intend to change from the career they have in the military to a new career, but they can't tell you what that is."
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"If we work with them now and start to connect them with resources in the community where they're going to live... the veteran starts to have the mindset of, 'somebody in my community really cares about me," added Fasano.
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According to a study in 2017, on a given night over 40 thousand veterans were homeless. In contrast, research from VSI shows, with a transition sponsor, a veteran is 63% more likely to engage with healthcare and 50% less likely to attempt suicide -- positive numbers in the effort to give retiring veterans the tools needed to reintegrate into civilian life successfully. As Tatum fought back tears she said, "It was that community that Maurice and Pete provided me and helped me integrate back in... that I think... I'm successful today."

Onward Ops Featured on KABC Los Angeles

Transition Support Through Partnership Renewal
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">VA identified <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">suicide prevention</a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as its highest priority, and it reflects on this commitment through the nonmonetary partnership renewal with the <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://onwardops.org/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Expiration Term of Service Sponsorship Program (ETS-SP)</a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This partnership, facilitated by VA&rsquo;s <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.va.gov/healthpartnerships/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP)</a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, addresses <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">social determinants of health (SDOH)</a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that influence mental health resilience and improved health outcomes. The collaboration between VA and ETS-SP and ETS-SP&rsquo;s military transition program, Onward Ops, enhances support for service members and Veterans as they reintegrate into civilian life and communities.
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;The partnership between VA and ETS-SP helps VA and the community proactively reduce suicide risks and support the health and well-being of Veterans and their families,&rdquo; said Christine Eickhoff, HAP health system specialist. &ldquo;Thousands of Veterans have been served through this partnership, and we are excited to continue our collaboration and serve an increasingly diverse Veteran population.&rdquo;
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<span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Onward Ops reaches more Veterans
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ETS-SP, a community partner within the <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.va.gov/HEALTHPARTNERSHIPS/vspn.asp"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Veteran Sponsor Partnership Network (VSPN)</a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and its military transition support program, Onward Ops, is extending its outreach beyond the Army to include all branches of the military.
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Onward Ops pairs service members with local peer sponsors, offering one-on-one support and guidance through VA benefits and connecting them to essential local and regional community resources. While Onward Ops resources have always been available to all branches of service, they are expanding their outreach efforts to other branches of service to increase awareness of the program&rsquo;s resources.
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;Expanding the outreach of Onward Ops from Army Veterans to Veterans from all branches of the military is a critical step towards ensuring all transitioning service members and Veterans have the support they need to thrive in civilian life,&rdquo; said Mike Eastman, Onward Ops executive director.
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<span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enhancing Veteran support
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ETS-SP&rsquo;s platform, Onward Ops, is excited to announce new developments in its support programs, including the introduction of a suicide risk calculator, representing a significant advancement in efforts to identify and support at-risk Veterans.
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<a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7489860/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Research</a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> shows that suicide rates increase during and after transition to civilian life, but the risk isn&rsquo;t the same for all TSMs. This tool, <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37815485/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">developed in collaboration with researchers in the Department of Defense and academia</a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, integrates predictive analytics to better assess risk factors, enabling community organizations, peer sponsors and health care providers to offer individualized services and potentially save lives.
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Veterans at acutely high risk, Onward Ops can quickly and easily refer them to the <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Veterans Crisis Line</a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and VA mental health providers.
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<span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">VA and ETS-SP: A unified effort
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The collaboration between VA and ETS-SP exemplifies a unified effort to support Veterans. Led by HAP, the VSPN initiative fosters the development of nonmonetary partnerships, such as the one with ETS-SP that offer Veterans access to local, regional and national resources essential for successful reintegration into civilian communities.
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Partnering with VA significantly enhances ETS-SP&rsquo;s ability to support TSMs and Veterans by facilitating seamless enrollment into VA health care through the Onward Ops platform. This collaboration leads to 80% of Onward Ops participants being successfully enrolled into VA&rsquo;s healthcare system by providing them with a handoff to regional coordinators.
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;The collaboration between VA and ETS-SP shows how shared efforts can lead to innovative solutions to support Veterans,&rdquo; said Chien Chen, HAP chief officer and nurse executive. &ldquo;Strategic partnerships enhance the reintegration process for TSMs and Veterans, and set new standards for how we collectively address service members&rsquo; evolving needs.&rdquo;
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the partnership between VA and ETS-SP enters its next phase, the collaboration promises to make an impact on Veterans&rsquo; lives. By using Onward Ops&rsquo; support resources to provide tailored support and leverage innovative tools like the suicide risk calculator, the partnership is set to improve mental health resiliency and outcomes for Veterans nationwide.
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;

Onward Ops Partnership with the VA

The PenFed Foundation Partners with Onward Ops to Empower
Veterans Transitioning from Military Service to Civilian World
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<p class="prntac" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 35px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; color: #373737; font-family: Montserrat, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;">Program is offered at no cost to service members up to a year before they depart the military.
TYSONS, Va.,&nbsp;April 23, 2024&nbsp;/PRNewswire/ -- The&nbsp;<a style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: #063369; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4147389-1&amp;h=1607225639&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4059598-1%26h%3D3180808370%26u%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.penfedfoundation.org%252F%26a%3DPenFed%2BFoundation&amp;a=PenFed+Foundation" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">PenFed Foundation</a>, a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union, announces a life-changing partnership with Onward Ops that is empowering veterans making the challenging transition from military service to the civilian world. The program is offered at no cost to service members up to a year before they depart the military and provides the option to choose a self-guided transition with personalized resources and tools or a sponsor-guided transition with personalized, hands-on support from experienced sponsors.
"The PenFed Foundation is so proud to partner with Onward Ops to empower transitioning veterans. We both believe in the potential of veterans as community leaders," said PenFed Foundation President&nbsp;Andrea McCarren. "They have an extraordinary work ethic, unparalleled resilience, and an array of skills that can benefit communities across the country."&nbsp;
The program enrolls more than 1,200 transitioning service members and their families monthly with enrollment expected to double this year.
As the program grows, Onward Ops needs everyday community members like you to volunteer as a mentor. Mentors come from diverse backgrounds, similar to the transitioning service members they assist. For just a few hours a month, you can make a big difference in a transitioning service member's success by offering your support and being there for them every step of the way. Learn more about being a mentor&nbsp;<a style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: #063369; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; font-weight: bold;" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4147389-1&amp;h=1382552834&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fpenfedfoundation.org%2Fhow-we-help%2Fonward-ops%2F&amp;a=here" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">here</a>.
"Veterans bring tremendous skills and experiences with them from their military service," said Onward Ops Executive Director Brigadier General US Army (Ret.)&nbsp;Mike Eastman.&nbsp; "We are so grateful for this partnership with the PenFed Foundation.&nbsp; Together, we are connecting local mentors with our newest veterans and engaging the entire community in helping them succeed."
Onward Ops provides support to active-duty service members as they navigate their way back into civilian life. They connect new veterans with trained sponsors from their destination community, focusing on the 12 months between leaving the military and reintegrating into civilian life. They offer the tools to achieve their goals and a supportive sponsor to guide them through the process.
To learn more about Onward Ops visit&nbsp;<a style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: #063369; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; font-weight: bold;" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4147389-1&amp;h=3689445777&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.onwardops.org%2F&amp;a=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.onwardops.org%2F" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.onwardops.org/</a>.
About Onward Ops Foundation The Onward Ops Foundation exists to support military members in their transition out of uniform and into life as Veterans. The Foundation is exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and is a public charity. It is qualified to receive tax-deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106 or 2522.
About PenFed Foundation Founded in 2001, The PenFed Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that supports veterans in their transition from service to success. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has provided more than&nbsp;$50 million&nbsp;in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members and military families. The credit union funds the Foundation's personnel and most operational costs, allowing 99% of incoming donations to go directly to our programs. To learn more, please visit&nbsp;<a style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: #063369; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; font-weight: bold;" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4147389-1&amp;h=2737609261&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.penfedfoundation.org%2F&amp;a=www.penfedfoundation.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">www.penfedfoundation.org</a>.
SOURCE PenFed Foundation

Onward Ops Partnership with PenFed Foundation

Onward Ops Foundation Provides Resources Critical to Effectively Bridge the Military-to-Civilian Transition
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Foundation Supports Military Members With the Tools, Resources &amp; Mentorship to Thrive After Uniformed Service
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Expiration Term of Service Sponsorship Program (ETS-SP), a national non-profit organization bridging the gap between military and civilian life through its flagship <a href="https://onwardops.org/"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; color: #0070c0; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Onward Ops</a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; color: #373737; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">military transition support program, announces the establishment of the <a href="https://onwardops.foundation/"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; color: #0070c0; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Onward Ops Foundation</a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, a unique public charity created to support new Veterans and their families making the journey out of uniform and into civilian life.
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Annually, nearly 200,000 service members transition into civilian life. Navigating relocation, employment, housing and medical care challenges can be overwhelming for many. <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The establishment of the Onward Ops Foundation is the next step in our evolution supporting service members. It offers a way for all Americans to play a meaningful part in enabling Veteran success in the next phase of their life, focusing on empowering success rather than treating all new Veterans as somehow broken. &ldquo;<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Funds raised by the Onward Ops Foundation are used wholly to support our newest Veterans,&rdquo; <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">said John Hoffman, Director of the Onward Ops Foundation. &ldquo;This foundation uses every dollar contributed to directly impact service members as they make an unnecessarily stressful transition back to civilian life. We are all about successful life outcomes measured one individual at a time.&rdquo;
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Working with major partners including Google, Department of Veterans Affairs, PenFed Foundation and USAA&rsquo;s Face the Fight Foundation, Onward Ops has expanded its presence to all 50 states. Enrollments exceed 1,200 service members monthly and are projected to double this year. Supporting the Onward Ops Foundation provides individuals and corporations a tangible way to assist America&rsquo;s newest Veterans, confident that 100% of their donations are providing tools, resources and mentorship to a new Veteran and their family.
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">&ldquo;This is the only program that gets actively engaged with service members of all branches before they begin the process to reassimilate back into civilian life,&rdquo; according to retired Lieutenant General Ken Tovo, Onward Ops Foundation board member. &ldquo;Our model enables a proactive approach to eliminate stress and leverage benefits and resources on an individual basis. This leads to outstanding results and the &lsquo;warm handoff&rsquo; the military is seeking, enabling great outcomes.&rdquo;
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">&ldquo;This foundation is absolutely cutting-edge,&rdquo; added Joe Fields, CEO of Tencate Grass Americas and Onward Ops Foundation board member. &ldquo;We have eliminated all the overhead costs normally associated with providing support services while fully leveraging the world-class services that our partners provide, including access to certified mentors and education, healthcare and employment resources as well as other support tailored for each individual as needed. And, we are able to do this for one dollar a day per service member."
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Contributions to the Onward Ops Foundation are tax deductible and can be designated to either support a new Veteran and their family in the transition process or to provide emergency assistance to a new Veteran in need. Donors also decide whether their contributions will be applied nationally or in the destination state of their choosing.

Onward Ops Foundation Announced

<h1 class="article-header" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 44.8px; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 32px; color: var(--gray-900);">ETS-SP &amp; Avalon Action Alliance Connect Transitioning Service Members to World-Class TBI &amp; PTS Care</h1>
<div class="article-info" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: bold; font-size: 0.8em; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; color: var(--gray-400) !important;">PRESS RELEASE&nbsp;&bull;&nbsp;JAN 23, 2024</div>
<p class="content-summary" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin: 20px 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; font-size: 24px; line-height: 34px; color: var(--ds-color-mono-6); font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif;">Organizations Bridge Military-to-Civilian Gap, Empower Active Duty, Veterans &amp; Their Families &amp; Assist Those Struggling With Invisible Wounds
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WASHINGTON, January 23, 2024 (Newswire.com) -&nbsp;The Expiration Term of Service Sponsorship Program (ETS-SP), a national non-profit organization bridging the gap between military and civilian life, has partnered with&nbsp;<a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" href="https://stats.newswire.com/x/html?final=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hdmFsb25hY3Rpb25hbGxpYW5jZS5vcmcv&amp;sig=kW1R_UoQzAZSIzjlsc4WVjO9b1GcQzWvN5BF2vrAhYq2XgXNmTieHhEyWrk3WAheuLY4Xb1FQbqppg6jwQvP3g&amp;hit%2Csum=WyI0NjJlOTIiLCI0NjJlOTMiLCI0NjJlOTQiXQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Avalon Action Alliance</a>, a post-trauma wellness non-profit helping veterans and their families gain control over issues related to mental wellness and brain health.
Annually, nearly 200,000 service members transition into civilian life. Navigating relocation, employment, housing and medical care challenges can be overwhelming and for some new veterans, the transition is more difficult if they struggle with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress symptoms.
&ldquo;Avalon is on a mission to help every one of our nation&rsquo;s defenders win the battle against the&nbsp;<a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" href="https://stats.newswire.com/x/html?final=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXZhbG9uYWN0aW9uYWxsaWFuY2Uub3JnL3RoZS11cmdlbnQtcHJvYmxlbQ&amp;sig=uFcULnPxpM4uKpC96zqbdm1nZ_1MlYN29aqjra4ZoRPdbildAKQ8lJYqeJ-1E2_NDLjVJGnimp2jtVP6jwgVrQ&amp;hit%2Csum=WyI0NjJlOTUiLCI0NjJlOTYiLCI0NjJlOTQiXQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invisible wounds</a>&nbsp;of service,&rdquo; said Joe Brennan, Avalon&rsquo;s CEO. "Joining forces with ETS-SP affords us the opportunity to connect with transitioning service members and offer them an immediate path towards healing so they can thrive as veterans."
Through its growing&nbsp;<a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" href="https://stats.newswire.com/x/html?final=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXZhbG9uYWN0aW9uYWxsaWFuY2Uub3JnL2ludGVncmF0aXZlLWFwcHJvYWNo&amp;sig=C3Ajbivy4TuzvoE5GKkQ4nMVoYR0pvxwinWNwuL1ESvyXZXpjsq6zfiUyfJODoxT7rV1hr3hjNxHKITXWmJJhQ&amp;hit%2Csum=WyI0NjJlOTciLCI0NjJlOTgiLCI0NjJlOTQiXQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">network of TBI Centers</a>, Avalon Action Alliance combines the best traditional rehabilitation tools with complementary non-clinical interventions to create personalized programs with no out-of-pocket expenses to the veteran.
&ldquo;There is a common misperception that all veterans struggle with PTSD,&rdquo; said Brigadier General (ret) Mike Eastman, Onward Ops Executive Director. &ldquo;While the number is closer to 30%, those that are suffering deserve affordable, effective care. This partnership provides our enrollees and their families with comprehensive care that works.&rdquo;
Up to a year&nbsp;before&nbsp;their active duty ends, transitioning service members enrolled in the&nbsp;<a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" href="https://stats.newswire.com/x/html?final=aHR0cHM6Ly9vbndhcmRvcHMub3JnL3Bvc3RzL29ud2FyZC1vcHMtZXhwbGFpbmVkLWluLTItbWludXRlcw&amp;sig=IvsnAcjHYTjiVDsxamBjgePX5WkZ-NVxOa-bYtJZhmYzY-j6LJ35NX_5Ch_BTIA8ZqaMBUIb46H7-ifHvk2gjg&amp;hit%2Csum=WyI0NjJlOTkiLCI0NjJlOWEiLCI0NjJlOTQiXQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Onward Ops program</a>&nbsp;are connected to a&nbsp;<a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" href="https://stats.newswire.com/x/html?final=aHR0cHM6Ly9vbndhcmRvcHMub3JnL3Nwb25zb3Jz&amp;sig=SFyCVqXsv6HyI9Zqmoh5hxaKDoAy1Vi74lbErWWQmUdaM67JdTnuYhZp8ua4ZE9jPUikMf_5JEYfOBOKuwKpeg&amp;hit%2Csum=WyI0NjJlOWIiLCI0NjJlOWMiLCI0NjJlOTQiXQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trained sponsor</a>&nbsp;in their destination community to ensure a successful transition into civilian life. They work together on employment, education, family needs and housing while the new veteran accesses benefits and services in their future post-military community.
To give back to transitioning service members and military spouses as a volunteer sponsor, visit&nbsp;<a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" href="https://stats.newswire.com/x/html?final=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub253YXJkb3BzLm9yZy8&amp;sig=ZiXlS4YP7I7mmavH8sNXimOiqbzz9Oha_XLbUxjMhdXpN8DLuqdZZwdulXOuRsKe7cJNlLTPISwCvt6UiCGPvA&amp;hit%2Csum=WyI0NjJlOWQiLCI0NjJlOWUiLCI0NjJlOTQiXQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OnwardOps.org</a>. Communities can join our network via&nbsp;<a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" href="https://stats.newswire.com/x/html?final=bWFpbHRvOmxlYWRlcnNoaXBAb253YXJkb3BzLm9yZw&amp;sig=MZsP8uJup78J88MWIEGYQ62YzUyd5kEtIHh_nwwkP6X6xnB-nsN6uDl82JXAc_crj1bJJ6m7yOQD-lazsmUE3g&amp;hit%2Csum=WyI0NjJlOWYiLCI0NjJlOWciLCI0NjJlOTQiXQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leadership@onwardops.org</a>. For news and updates, follow @OnwardOps. For more, watch&nbsp;<a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" href="https://stats.newswire.com/x/html?final=aHR0cHM6Ly9vbndhcmRvcHMub3JnL3Bvc3RzL29ud2FyZC1vcHMtZXhwbGFpbmVkLWluLTItbWludXRlcw&amp;sig=IvsnAcjHYTjiVDsxamBjgePX5WkZ-NVxOa-bYtJZhmYzY-j6LJ35NX_5Ch_BTIA8ZqaMBUIb46H7-ifHvk2gjg&amp;hit%2Csum=WyI0NjJlOTkiLCI0NjJlOWgiLCI0NjJlOTQiXQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">onwardops.org/posts/onward-ops-explained-in-2-minutes</a>.
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Onward Ops partnership with Avalon Alliance

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<a style="color: #000000;" href="https://news.va.gov/126138/va-ets-sp-partnership-transition-experience/?fbclid=IwAR0Eb4adleZ0UaiIx1qLRPZ9-_Y-OEKykjXwbqU16Dbp7eHKTpA1mwxUeAk_aem_AXty1akcB23UBdtDqL2jEifxlx7b3eJzJJBmbRoKAWXg8NMXlZ3Wnc0wBUMzZZaBpLE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VA News,</a> November 22, 2023
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Each year, approximately 200,000 service members transition from military to civilian life. Between <a style="color: #000000; letter-spacing: 0em;" href="https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2011/12/08/the-difficult-transition-from-military-to-civilian-life/">44% and 72%</a> of them experience high levels of stress during the process. VA is committed to helping them, and one way it does this is with non-monetary partnerships. These partners act as &ldquo;force multipliers&rdquo; that expand resources for Veterans and other beneficiaries.
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VA partners with <a style="color: #000000; letter-spacing: 0em;" href="https://etssponsorship.com">the ETS Sponsorship Program (ETS-SP)</a> to help Veterans address social determinants of health (SDOH) associated with mental health resiliency and improved health outcomes. Facilitated by the <a style="color: #000000; letter-spacing: 0em;" href="https://www.va.gov/HEALTHPARTNERSHIPS/index.asp">National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP)</a>, it provides individualized support for all service members before, during, and after their transition from military service.
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&ldquo;VA strategic partnerships with community organizations, health care providers, and stakeholders expand resources supporting Veterans&rsquo; SDOH, such as food security, mental health support, and employment and education assistance,&rdquo; said Chien Chen, HAP chief officer and nurse executive. &ldquo;Together with the community, we&rsquo;re addressing the root causes of disparities to achieve health equity for Veterans and their families.&rdquo;
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The <a style="color: #000000; letter-spacing: 0em;" href="https://onwardops.org">Onward Ops</a> program pairs service members with trained volunteer peers prior to separating from the military. Here, VA and ETS-SP can address employment, transition, and education needs.
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<ul style="line-height: 1.5; direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px;">
<li style="list-style: disc;">Employment Support: The VHA-ETS-SP partnership supports military spouses through job training, resume writing assistance, and job placement services.</li>
<li style="list-style: disc;">Education and Training Support: Military spouses have access to educational resources and training opportunities to advance current or future careers.</li>
<li style="list-style: disc;">Transition Support: The Onward Ops program pairs transitioning service members and Veterans with peer sponsors in their communities. Sponsors are trained to provide effective one-on-one support throughout the transition process, including information about VA benefits and local and regional community resources.</li>
</ul>
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&ldquo;The Onward Ops program effectively bridges the gap for transitioning Veterans and their families by connecting them to the health care and benefits they earned in uniform and providing support through a trained community sponsor,&rdquo; said Danielle Bracco, ETS-SP director of operations. &ldquo;By addressing common issues such as spouse employment and school evaluations, this program alleviates the burden that new Veterans and spouses often face alone.&rdquo;
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VA partnership resources
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<a style="color: #000000; letter-spacing: 0em;" href="https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/D83V110C">Early research</a> indicates that participation in community-based interventions and sponsorship programs decreases suicide risk factors, increases positive SDOH, and improves military-to-civilian transition outcomes. VA partnerships provide Veterans and their families with resources, such as food and transition support.
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<li style="list-style: disc;"><a style="color: #000000; letter-spacing: 0em;" href="https://www.nutrition.va.gov">Nutrition and Food Services</a> offers meal planning tips, nutrition guidance from registered dietitians, and assistance for food insecurity.</li>
<li style="list-style: disc;"><a style="color: #000000; letter-spacing: 0em;" href="https://benefits.va.gov/transition/tap.asp">Transition Assistance Program</a> provides information, resources, and tools to help service members, families, and caregivers transition successfully.</li>
</ul>
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VA and ETS-SP Partnership Enhances Transition Experience

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Silverlinings, October 24, 2023
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unless you&rsquo;re in a very specific subset of the population, you&rsquo;ve likely never heard of the ETS Sponsorship Program. But the company, run by Army veteran <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-r-eastman/"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mike Eastman</a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, is working with Google Cloud on a better way to help military personnel transition to civilian life.
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While it&rsquo;s still early days, an interesting trend is emerging: veterans don&rsquo;t necessarily want to keep doing what they were doing in the military. And one of the top things they do want to be doing? Cybersecurity work.
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indeed, cybersecurity is a growing field. <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2023.pdf"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A report from the</a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> World Economic Forum showed that there is a global shortage of 3 million cybersecurity professionals. The same report found just over half of the 803 organizations surveyed for the study pointed to skills in networks and cybersecurity as increasing in importance.
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eastman told Silverlinings that there are plenty of programs out there already that try to match military skills to civilian job listings on a like-for-like basis. But ETS is trying to come up with a more nuanced approach based on a slew of data that can account for &ldquo;intangibles&rdquo; in the equation.
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That includes analyzing information about a person&rsquo;s military history, their favorite thing about the military, whether they actually want to keep doing what they were doing, where they&rsquo;re living, how much travel they want to do, what kinds of vets have been hired for what jobs in the past and more to uncover jobs a candidate may not have considered but is qualified for.
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to Eastman, that&rsquo;s where Google Cloud comes in. ETS has partnered with the company to securely store what can oftentimes include sensitive data. Google Cloud also helped it build a model to crunch all the aforementioned data and supplied its Looker business intelligence platform for analytics.
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eastman said ETS is coming to the end of its first year of partnership with Google Cloud. While it took a while to build its new software, he said ETS has completed the move of its infrastructure from on prem to Google Cloud and has also integrated Google Cloud and related services into its new software. Now, it&rsquo;s working to scale its new service and tackle new use cases that can leverage Google Workspace.
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;Google&rsquo;s working really closely with us and some of their AI experts to go after these use cases,&rdquo; Eastman said.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cybersecurity in focus</h2>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The average ETS enrollee is 27 and has served five to seven years in the military, Eastman said. They have an Associate degree and half are married.
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, where are they ending up?
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #333333; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;The careers they&rsquo;ve been selecting have been remarkably stable: Cybersecurity, project management, some of the trades, construction, HVAC and then it gets a little more fine grained as you go down,&rdquo; Eastman said.
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to Eastman, there are two pools of candidates pursuing cybersecurity roles. One group consists of folks who area already trained in this area due to their military experience. But &ldquo;the majority here are folks that are upskilling or retraining because they view cyber and IT as a growth industry. So they are literally coming in with an Associates degree in English Lit and going and getting &ndash; either through Google certificates or through [the Department of Defense&rsquo;s] SkillBridge [program] &ndash; upskilling themselves to enter into this sector.&rdquo;
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #212121; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eastman said it&rsquo;s too early to share numbers around how many employees are going into each category, given success is often a 12-month journey. But he noted that around 6,000 people are enrolled in ETS&rsquo; platform right now and it expects to enroll over 24,000 over the next 12 months.


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Google Cloud and ETS built a new way for military vets to find jobs

<p style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 75ch; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: #1a1819; font-family: 'Public Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #f5f5f5; font-size: 1.2rem !important;">VA News, October 20, 2023
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 75ch; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: #1a1819; font-family: 'Public Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #f5f5f5; font-size: 1.2rem !important;">VA will conduct a peer sponsor training session in November for anyone interested in becoming a Veteran peer sponsor.
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 75ch; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: #1a1819; font-family: 'Public Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #f5f5f5; font-size: 1.2rem !important;"><a style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-timing-function: linear; text-underline-position: under;" href="https://www.queri.research.va.gov/qnews/dec21/default.cfm?QnewsMenu=article3" rel="noopener">Research shows</a>&nbsp;suicide rates among Veterans are highest during the military-to-civilian life transition. To combat this, the&nbsp;<a style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-timing-function: linear; text-underline-position: under;" href="https://www.va.gov/healthpartnerships/" rel="noopener">National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP)</a>&nbsp;leads the&nbsp;<a style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-timing-function: linear; text-underline-position: under;" href="https://www.va.gov/HEALTHPARTNERSHIPS/VSPN.asp" rel="noopener">Veteran Sponsor Partnership Network (VSPN)</a>&nbsp;initiative in collaboration with VA&rsquo;s Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI).
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 75ch; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: #1a1819; font-family: 'Public Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #f5f5f5; font-size: 1.2rem !important;">Composed of several non-monetary VA partnerships with community organizations, VSPN partners help Veterans and their families with housing, education and employment. VSPN partners also pair Veterans with sponsors who can assist with the military-to-civilian transition.
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 75ch; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: #1a1819; font-family: 'Public Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #f5f5f5; font-size: 1.2rem !important;">&ldquo;VSI facilitates educational programming and training centered around suicide prevention,&rdquo; said Dr. Natesha Smith-Isabell, who provides oversight of VA&rsquo;s peer sponsorship training. &ldquo;Onward Ops, in partnership with VSI, enrolls current active duty service members, and then matches them with VA certified peer sponsors to build a supportive foundation before they transition out of the military.&rdquo;
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 75ch; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: #1a1819; font-family: 'Public Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #f5f5f5; font-size: 1.2rem !important;">Onward Ops is one of more than a dozen VSPN partners. This nationwide program helps all service members regardless of branch of service by creating a personalized transition plan for enrollees with peer sponsorship as a cornerstone of the system.
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 75ch; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: #1a1819; font-family: 'Public Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #f5f5f5; font-size: 1.2rem !important;">Dr. Smith-Isabell and the VSI team, in conjunction with Onward Ops and the University of Texas at Austin&rsquo;s Institute for Military and Veteran Family Wellness, will conduct a peer sponsor training session in November for anyone interested in becoming a Veteran peer sponsor. The training will be held Nov. 8, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT both online and in-person (John. W. Hargis Hall, 1823 Red River St, Austin, TX 78712).
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 75ch; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: #1a1819; font-family: 'Public Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #f5f5f5; font-size: 1.2rem !important;">To register for the training,&nbsp;<a style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-timing-function: linear; text-underline-position: under;" href="https://onwardops.org/sponsors" rel="noopener">sign up on the website here</a>.
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 75ch; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: #1a1819; font-family: 'Public Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #f5f5f5; font-size: 1.2rem !important;">&ldquo;Sponsors help decrease the stress of transitioning out of the military by answering questions, providing information about community resources and fostering a supportive relationship with transitioning Veterans,&rdquo; said Christine Eickhoff, VA health systems specialist.
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 75ch; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: #1a1819; font-family: 'Public Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #f5f5f5; font-size: 1.2rem !important;">&ldquo;Service members, Veterans and military family members can also be effective peer sponsors for those going through the military-to-civilian transition, but no military experience is required to be a sponsor. Anyone committed to helping Veterans integrate smoothly into civilian communities is encouraged to volunteer with a VSPN partner and become a sponsor,&rdquo; she added.
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 75ch; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: #1a1819; font-family: 'Public Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #f5f5f5; font-size: 1.2rem !important;">Although sponsoring a transitioning service member can seem daunting, the VA VSI training helps prepare peer sponsors to support service members, their families and the community. This includes helping Veterans engage with VA in the community they&rsquo;ve moved to, in addition to local community resources that support their health, careers and more.
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 75ch; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: #1a1819; font-family: 'Public Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #f5f5f5; font-size: 1.2rem !important;">&ldquo;This training session supports the growth and development of VSPN and the continuing education of VSPN&rsquo;s network of Veteran peer sponsors,&rdquo; said Chien Chen, chief HAP officer/nurse executive. &ldquo;The one-on-one support provided by peer sponsors helps streamline the transition process to improve the overall experience and outcomes for Veterans adjusting to civilian life.&rdquo;

Assist Transitioning Veterans Through Peer Sponsorship

<div class="has-drop-cap " style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 20px;">
<p style="--wp--preset--font-size--small: var(--wp--custom--typography--font--size--small); --wp--preset--font-size--default: var(--wp--custom--typography--font--size--default); --wp--preset--font-size--large: var(--wp--custom--typography--font--size--large); margin-bottom: var(--space-lrg);">Transitioning out of the military into civilian life should be an exciting new chapter in the lives of service members. However, studies show that of the nearly 200,000 personnel who leave the U.S. military each year, 30% leave with no job and 71% don&rsquo;t sign up for VA benefits. A non-profit organization is trying to change that by combining resources and facilitating supportive communities to help transitioning veterans and their families through a program called Onward Ops. The Onward Ops program takes a different approach from other efforts to support transitioning service members by building a human connection between service members and a sponsor from the destination community they intend to live in, according to Mike Eastman, executive director for the ETS Sponsorship Program, the organization behind Onward Ops. Eastman outlined the core elements of Onward Ops in a recent panel discussion, produced by Scoop News Group, and underwritten by Google for Government which involves building relationships between a service member and their sponsor while they&rsquo;re still wearing the uniform and regardless of where they are deployed. Establishing this relationship early on can alleviate pressure during transition by allowing direct connection to information and community that the service member and their family need. &ldquo;One of the things that we are really excited about &mdash;&nbsp;based on the capabilities we have with Google Workspace is introducing risk screening into our process,&rdquo; explained Eastman. By identifying those that are in most need of assistance, through Workspace they can get connected with intake specialists and mental health providers. &ldquo;Rather than spread limited resources broadly, we can focus it on where it can have the most impact,&rdquo; he said. Mike Houlihan, director for Workspace with Google Public Sector and an ETS sponsor himself, joined the conversation to share how the collaboration platform improves the efficacy of Onward Ops&rsquo; mission. &ldquo;The technology is actually the easy part,&rdquo; he said, saying that the tools Google has already developed can be leveraged in unique ways to achieve the mission goals of the Onward Ops program. Houlihan pointed to tools that add value, such as Google Maps, which shows where soldiers eventually end up, Google Wallet, which provides gift cards or access to funds, and data analysis with AI and ML tools to provide additional services back to those transitioning service members on the communal front. This video panel discussion was produced by Scoop News Group for DefenseScoop and FedScoop, and underwritten by Google for Government.
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