Transitioning from military to civilian life can be challenging, and the period immediately after separation is a critical time for support. That&rsquo;s why Onward Ops is proud to partner with III Armored Corps, the VA Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI), and the Fort Hood Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to connect Soldiers with sponsors, community programs, and resources that help set them up for success.
Through this partnership, Soldiers gain access to:
<ul>
<li>Peer sponsors to guide them through the transition</li>
<li>Housing, employment, and education resources</li>
<li>VA health care and mental health support</li>
</ul>
These efforts have enabled the initiative to proactively identify and support at-risk individuals with increased VA services, fundamentally shifting the approach from reactive care to preventative intervention.
Together, we&rsquo;re ensuring every Soldier has a strong support network and the resources they need to thrive in civilian life.
<a href="https://forthoodsentinel.com/news/iii-armored-corps-va-veteran-sponsorship-initiative-partnership-supports-empowers-soldiers-after-separation-from-military/article_21f1c6bf-9d83-4579-8179-ab4e9e0461ef.html">Read More Here</a>

Stronger Together: Partnering to Support Soldiers in Transition

2025 has been a breakout year for the Onward Ops program. With an expanding network of partners, rising enrollments, and continued validation that what we are doing works, together we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of our nation&rsquo;s newest veterans. Whether measured by screening more than 28,000 service members for suicide risk or by connecting communities and mentors with those transitioning into civilian life, we are proving that a successful transition is not only possible&mdash;it is achievable at scale.
More importantly, we continue to demonstrate that the vast majority of veterans are not damaged or broken. They are exceptional men and women who build on their military experiences and values to contribute to our country for years to come. With your continued support, we remain committed to reaching our goal of supporting every new veteran as they take off the uniform for the final time and step confidently into civilian life. Our veterans deserve nothing less.

Onward Ops Impact Report

Midway through 2025, the Onward Ops program continues to gain momentum. With an expanding network of partners, rising enrollments, and solid evidence that our approach truly works, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of our nation&rsquo;s newest veterans.&nbsp;&nbsp;So far, over 23,000 service members have been screened for suicide risk. We are helping bridge the gap between military and civilian life - connecting communities and mentors with those who need them most and showing that a successful transition is not only possible but expected.&nbsp;
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More importantly,&nbsp;, we are helping change the narrative: the vast majority of veterans are not broken. They are extraordinary individuals who carry their military values into the next chapter, continuing to serve and strengthen our country in new ways.
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With your continued suppport, we will reach our goal of supporting every new veteran as they take off the uniform and make the leap into civilian life.&nbsp;

Onward Ops 2025 Mid-Year Impact Report

Identity, Purpose and Community. In this episode of the Your Next Mission&reg; video podcast, SMA Tilley is joined by BG (R) Mike Eastman, Executive Director of Onward Ops, and Col (R) Howie Cohen, Principal of Cohen &amp; Associates and Board Member of Onward Ops. Together, they share how Onward Ops is transforming the lives of Servicemembers by helping them uncover their Identity, Purpose and Community as they transition from military service.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7_-L14oNOFo?si=qR6UmvTEGAfZ5AGi" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Your Next Mission® Podcast with Onward Ops

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;">.
&nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp;
<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;
&nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp;
<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;
&nbsp;
<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

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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<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>
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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>
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