“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” – Winston Churchill
Mr Churchill was on to something when he stated this. When this duo first encountered each other, the two species became powerfully linked. Warriors 2 Warriors will join Disabled American Warriors with American Wild Mustangs, a true warrior of their own kind to provide guidance and support to adolescent males aging out of foster care.
WARRIORS 2 WARRIORS will be an Independent Living Program that will join 2
populations , American Wounded
Warriors with adolescents aging out of foster care, living together in
one residence. The Wounded Veterans will reside with these youth serving
as mentors to help them complete their
education, their High School diploma as well as continuing on to complete their post-secondary
education, in
order to better themselves
by increasing their opportunities to
gain employment, and learn valuable life skills. In addition
to serving
as one
on one mentors,
the program will provide social workers, education specialists and legal
experts to
further help ensure that these vulnerable youth
have the skills and supports they need for a successful future.
The transition from active duty to
civilian life can be bumpy, if not arduous, for our nation's service
members. Those who
come home wounded must face additional challenges, both physical and mental.
Once the dust has settled, however, veterans must
consider taking the next step in their life. For many, that means a return to school and an opportunity to pursue a new
career path.
Greetings! My name is Tanya.
I graduated from Baylor University with a BA and MES in 2004 at the age of 48. In 2006 I moved to Flagstaff, AZ. My journey has led me to this amazing place! I completed 2 years of service with AmeriCorps. I was given the opportunity to do my service at a local nonprofit organization, working in their adult education program assisting individuals in preparing for the GED. I also have experience in Behavioral Health. I worked as a Behavioral Health Technician III in a group home for adolescent boys that have been diagnosed with various behavioral/mental health issues.
These are my two passions: horses and working with individuals suffering with various behavioral/mental health issues. Now, with your help, I would like to combine these two passions and create Warriors 2 Warriors.
What Issue Will Warriors 2 Warriors Address?
What can
Warriors Helping Warriors do?
Adopt American Wild Mustangs and put them to work helping their American Warrior human friends, our American Warrior Veterans. This will not only provide assistance to the veterans but at the same time rescue 10 wild mustangs from possibly being destroyed, for simply taking up space.
What is the Projected Time-frame to Begin Services:
This project will incorporate 3 phases:
Phase 1
Wounded Warrior interviews/selections
Phase 2
American Mustang Adoption
Phase 3
Interview/selection of Adolescent Males
What We Need Estimate of Cost
Obtain 501(c)(3) $150
Adoption of 10 wild mustangs from BLM - $1600
Join Up Course - $3000
(includes 2 other courses offered)
Fees, Travel & Accommodations - $2000
TOTAL: $7100
What is needed to begin operations?
Staffing, Equipment, Location, & Facilities (S.E.L.F.) $$
Phase 2 will be launched upon completion of Phase 1. Please watch for updates!
Other Ways You Can Help
If you just can’t contribute at this time, we understand! But that doesn’t mean you can’t help!
Please spread the word!! Tell your friends, coworkers, your boss, your neighbors, your cousins, etc. Tell everyone about our campaign! Warriors Helping Warriors! can help these American Warriors by providing a service to them that they are entitled to have at no cost to them.
We appreciate all your help!
And, one final thought; a true example of warriors helping warriors:
"The arrival of Mitchell and his soldiers on horseback had put an end to that. The people of Mazar-i-Sharif, the rugmakers and butchers, the car mechanics and schoolteachers, the bank clerks and masons and farmers, had thrown flowers and kisses and reached up to the Americans on their horses and pulled affectionately at the filthy cuffs of their camo pants. The locals had welcomed the balding, blue-eyed Mitchell and two dozen other Special Forces soldiers in a mile-long parade lining the highway that dropped into town out of the snowy mountains. Mitchell had felt like he was back in World War II, his grandfather’s war, riding into Paris after the Nazis fled."
The quote above is taken from Horse Soldiers, one tiny example out of numerous thrilling accounts of the war in Afghanistan during late 2001, as the US responded to 9-11. A group of an amazing band of brothers were dropped in, secretly, on the bleak landscape of a war-torn, savage land of Afghanistan.
References:
Frank M. Ochberg, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry, Michigan State University; former associate director, National Institute of Mental Health
Isaac Schiff, MD, chief of service, Vincent Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital
"Horse Therapy Helps Veterans Break through PTSD"; Terri Moon Cronk; American Forces Press Service
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG720.html
“Dealing with the unseen scars of war”; Alex Quade, a Freelance war correspondent recently returned from nearly 18 months in Iraq and Afghanistan covering U.S. special operations forces on combat missions, including for CNN.
Horse Soldiers: The extraordinary Story of a Band of U.S. Soldiers who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan. Doug Stanton, Simon & Schuster 2009.
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