Vast for Vets
Veteran Accountibily and Support Teams
What we do…and Why…
In November of 2018, a young man who would later be identified as a Marine veteran with PTSD, went into a nightclub in Thousand Oaks, California and 13 people lost their lives. As soon as I heard this, a pain in my soul started that led me to try to figure out a way to take this stuff off the table. You see, over the preceding few years, there were many such news articles about how a military veteran, usually with PTSD, had “cracked” and sought to fight their loneliness and depression in one of the few ways they knew how: with violence - sometimes directed against others; almost always ending with the veteran taking, or otherwise losing their own life. Something had to be done.
I, with my wife’s input tried to figure out a way to end this scourge affecting our veteran community. We did all the things you should do when considering how to effect change in an area: we thought about it, prayed about it, talked about it, thought about it some more. You see, I grew up in the church, and have continued with the church in my adult life. No, this isn’t about the church. I am familiar with, have been involved in, and have even led small accountability groups with youth, and with men’s accountability in a church setting. I know women have similar accountability groups. Could we make a veteran accountability group work? Absolutely!
When we were in the military, we held others, and were held by others accountable for absolutely everything: how to address each other; how to march; how to fill out forms; how to methodically move towards accomplishing a mission; everything. Walk out of the Dining Facility without putting you cover on fast enough, and you will quickly discover how many soldiers, sailors, marines, or airmen are around you willing to ensure you quickly adopt proper standards of military bearing, dress, and traditions…accountability. Yes, accountability is one thing we are very acquainted with and accustomed to. Why don’t we develop a program…or group…or something to stimulate the habits of our military service in us, but now as veterans? This is where VAST comes in.
Veteran Accountability & Support Teams, where the veteran accountability part has us get together regularly with one or two other veterans to establish a true brotherly/sisterly relationship with each other. It’s not a stretch; we call each other brother and sister already. We just need to build our relationships with each other to the point that we now see each other as the family member that we already call each other.
There have been three distinct moments in my life where someone called me out on my bullshit, because it needed calling out. I am a better person because of it today. They risked the potential loss of a relationship to address something because their love for me, as a brother, was bigger than the issue in my life that needed addressing. We need to build our relationships to the point where we can say something without the prequalifying statement of, “I’m your friend (or brother/sister), can I say something as your friend?” Brothers and sisters - true brothers and sisters - don’t need to qualify their love; we know they love us. We need to be able to call someone out on their stuff, because we need to be called out on our stuff at times. If no one has a strong enough relationship to do this, we know what happens…it’s what is happening now. Loneliness, self-doubt, lack of a mission, loss of a perceived family, not feeling understood…these lead to a 22-a-day statistic or to a nightclub in Thousand Oaks, CA. This must end. This is the Veteran Accountability part of VAST.
The Support Teams part has us looking to get a nonprofit status around the 2nd quarter of next year (2026). We hope to gather funds and be able to assist when a veteran is struggling. If a veteran is losing hours at work due to uncontrollable business issues and now is at a point where they have to decide between getting enough food for the family, keeping the lights/water on, or fixing the car, why can’t we send them three or four $100 gift cards from a local grocery store so that the family gets fed? Why can’t we contact a mechanic in the veteran’s area and tell them we’re paying for the new tires, or the alternator, or whatever is needed - then send the veteran to the shop to get the prepaid work. There are literally hundred of different scenarios where we could offer some assistance to make the tough times in life a little easier. We’re not here yet, and we don’t need a nonprofit status to get veteran accountability groups going. Join with us. When you think of a veteran in your area, there’s one whose name immediately comes to mind. Contact them; let them know what were looking to get going; schedule a “Cup ‘o joe with a Joe” time at a local coffee shop. Let other veterans know what we’re trying to get started. Let’s help the reporters on our newscasts talk about something besides another veteran becoming a statistic.
In November of 2018, a young man who would later be identified as a Marine veteran with PTSD, went into a nightclub in Thousand Oaks, California and 13 people lost their lives. As soon as I heard this, a pain in my soul started that led me to try to figure out a way to take this stuff off the table. You see, over the preceding few years, there were many such news articles about how a military veteran, usually with PTSD, had “cracked” and sought to fight their loneliness and depression in one of the few ways they knew how: with violence - sometimes directed against others; almost always ending with the veteran taking, or otherwise losing their own life. Something had to be done.
I, with my wife’s input tried to figure out a way to end this scourge affecting our veteran community. We did all the things you should do when considering how to effect change in an area: we thought about it, prayed about it, talked about it, thought about it some more. You see, I grew up in the church, and have continued with the church in my adult life. No, this isn’t about the church. I am familiar with, have been involved in, and have even led small accountability groups with youth, and with men’s accountability in a church setting. I know women have similar accountability groups. Could we make a veteran accountability group work? Absolutely!
When we were in the military, we held others, and were held by others accountable for absolutely everything: how to address each other; how to march; how to fill out forms; how to methodically move towards accomplishing a mission; everything. Walk out of the Dining Facility without putting you cover on fast enough, and you will quickly discover how many soldiers, sailors, marines, or airmen are around you willing to ensure you quickly adopt proper standards of military bearing, dress, and traditions…accountability. Yes, accountability is one thing we are very acquainted with and accustomed to. Why don’t we develop a program…or group…or something to stimulate the habits of our military service in us, but now as veterans? This is where VAST comes in.
Veteran Accountability & Support Teams, where the veteran accountability part has us get together regularly with one or two other veterans to establish a true brotherly/sisterly relationship with each other. It’s not a stretch; we call each other brother and sister already. We just need to build our relationships with each other to the point that we now see each other as the family member that we already call each other.
There have been three distinct moments in my life where someone called me out on my bullshit, because it needed calling out. I am a better person because of it today. They risked the potential loss of a relationship to address something because their love for me, as a brother, was bigger than the issue in my life that needed addressing. We need to build our relationships to the point where we can say something without the prequalifying statement of, “I’m your friend (or brother/sister), can I say something as your friend?” Brothers and sisters - true brothers and sisters - don’t need to qualify their love; we know they love us. We need to be able to call someone out on their stuff, because we need to be called out on our stuff at times. If no one has a strong enough relationship to do this, we know what happens…it’s what is happening now. Loneliness, self-doubt, lack of a mission, loss of a perceived family, not feeling understood…these lead to a 22-a-day statistic or to a nightclub in Thousand Oaks, CA. This must end. This is the Veteran Accountability part of VAST.
The Support Teams part has us looking to get a nonprofit status around the 2nd quarter of next year (2026). We hope to gather funds and be able to assist when a veteran is struggling. If a veteran is losing hours at work due to uncontrollable business issues and now is at a point where they have to decide between getting enough food for the family, keeping the lights/water on, or fixing the car, why can’t we send them three or four $100 gift cards from a local grocery store so that the family gets fed? Why can’t we contact a mechanic in the veteran’s area and tell them we’re paying for the new tires, or the alternator, or whatever is needed - then send the veteran to the shop to get the prepaid work. There are literally hundred of different scenarios where we could offer some assistance to make the tough times in life a little easier. We’re not here yet, and we don’t need a nonprofit status to get veteran accountability groups going. Join with us. When you think of a veteran in your area, there’s one whose name immediately comes to mind. Contact them; let them know what were looking to get going; schedule a “Cup ‘o joe with a Joe” time at a local coffee shop. Let other veterans know what we’re trying to get started. Let’s help the reporters on our newscasts talk about something besides another veteran becoming a statistic.
