Part One of Three
For the most part, I am not a “joiner”.
I have, “Been there, done that” as the saying goes, and, in the
final analysis it has seldom led to permanent good. But, don't let my
skepticism sway you. We are each individuals and we each strive to
fill our own voids. As with many of these organizations, what we may
or may not join is mission specific to our needs. Sometimes those
needs may be seemingly selfish, though necessarily so; other times
find our needs are met by ensuring the needs of others are met.
Over the years, there have been many
organizations crop up in support of our Nation's Veterans. Most do a
great job, while some do a better job supporting their founders and
officers than the Veterans they exploit; Wounded Warrior Program
comes to my mind. While they sometimes help some Veterans in laudable
ways, I have much difficulty with their stated definition of the
Wounded Warriors they support... those who are wounded AFTER
9-11-2001. Aside from having trouble justifying the size of the
paychecks some WWP organizers take home, I have real difficulty
distinguishing between the soldier who stepped on an IED before
September 11th 2001 and one who did so after. Hence, WWP
is, to my mind, representative of the Chaff. While some may disagree
and argue the point.... PTSD is oblivious of date delineations. I
would expect the same from a “Non-Profit” Veteran's organization.
Some Veterans related organizations are
started by Veterans, for Veterans; while others are created by
civilians who lost a Veteran in a war or as a result of the effects
of a war. Many define specific needs. While some work, in a positive
way, in support of Veteran's needs, others are comprised of Veterans
working to fulfill the needs of others.... Veterans and civilians,
alike. Excellent examples of these types of organizations are Team
Rubicon, The Mission Continues, and VetBikes. Three Veteran related
organizations who are clearly separated from the chaff by their
Missions.
And then there is... The Wheat itself;
the creme de la creme... Team RWB (Red, White and Blue). An
idea borne out of a psychologically envisioned need, by
Army Maj.
Mike Erwin, with a Mission Statement so simple and direct that it's
no wonder TeamRWB shot out of the starting gate and continues to grow
and shine.
To
enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their
community through physical and social activity.
Simple,
direct, and easy to understand. More importantly.... easy to
accomplish, and obviously successful, as witnessed by the hundreds of
civilians and Veterans who continue to join every week. And, it doesn't distinguish between eras. Veterans are veterans, despite their age or date/time served.
As
a Vietnam era Veteran who witnessed first hand, the huge disconnect
between civilians and Veterans, that left Veterans bitter,
disappointed, and questioning their value as individuals and as
Americans, resulting in a huge spike in Veteran suicides, the Team
RWB Mission Statement is long overdue and refreshing. The beauty of
the Mission is, there are no losers. Everyone wins.
I'm willing to bet that not many in TeamRWB even know who Major Mike Erwin is; after more a year as a member, I didn't. That itself says a lot. Clearly, the Major is not seeking notoriety. What he did seek... and build, continues to grow.
Next time: Separating the Wheat from the Chaff: TeamRWB, It's What's Up Front That Counts.... and Matters
