For many veterans, equine therapy has been a way to cope with symptoms of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries. Those veterans form a special bond and relief from working with horses that possibly no other animal can provide.

At New Freedom Farm, located in Buchanan, Virginia, organizers take it a step further by saving horses that are a part of the therapy.

New Freedom Farm Founder and Director Lois Dawn Fritz said her mission is to provide a refuge for horses and therapy for veterans and first responders.

A veteran of 1991’s Persian Gulf War, Fritz said veterans and first responders can visit the farm any time it is open. She added that no appointment is needed for attendance.

A SAFE HAVEN FOR HORSES
Founded in 2016, New Freedom Farm, according to Fritz, exists to aid veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, TBIs and substance abuse through activity with the farm’s horses, as well as farming and peer-to-peer support.

“The end goal is to personally empower veterans and help them heal through the realization of their own efforts and contributions,” said Fritz, a former Navy corpsman. “Our slogan is ‘Healing Heroes Through Horses.’ At New Freedom Farm, veterans and horses help each other.”

New Freedom Farm, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, also serves as a place for the rehabilitation of neglected horses, with many at risk of being slaughtered. Fritz, a member of VFW Post 5895 in Buchanan, Virginia, said the farm provides shelter and serves as a “foster home” for those horses.

“Unfortunately, in our country, horses are often sent to slaughter,” Fritz said. “Those mustangs have been through so much trauma, just like our veterans have.”

Fritz claims that her farm is the first organization for veterans to receive accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. GFAS is a nonprofit dedicated to recognizing animal rescue centers with high standards and raising awareness for their work.

BATTLE BUDDIES
One veteran who receives therapy at New Freedom Farm is Clint Cash. The medically retired Army veteran said he met Fritz years before he started going to New Freedom Farm on a regular basis. He has been going to the farm for more than two-and-a-half years.

“One day I decided that I wanted to go there and try it out,” Cash said. “I started going back more and more, and now it’s like a second home to me. I always enjoy going back to the farm.”

Cash was medically retired from the Army for PTSD, which he said stems from his deployment to Afghanistan.

“I was happy getting out of the military, but after I got out, I realized I missed the camaraderie,” Cash said. “I don’t miss being in the Army, but I really miss the brotherhood I had with my fellow soldiers.”

Cash – who deployed from June 2009 to June 2010 to Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, with 8th Squadron, 1st Cav Regt., 5th Bde., 2nd Inf. Div. – said the first few times he visited the farm, he got to know Andrew Kintgen, the barn manager at New Freedom Farm.

Cash said he has a lot in common with Kintgen, an Iraq War veteran and a member of Post 5895.

“We started talking one day and found out that both of us were born on the same day,” Cash said. “We were both Army cavalry scouts and were medically retired as sergeants. We became pretty close after that.”

A Virginia native, Cash said one of the reasons he likes going back to New Freedom Farm is that sense of camaraderie he receives while taking care of horses and visiting the farm.

“The reason veterans need other veterans and their camaraderie is because veterans need to find other people like them, who have been through the same situations,” Cash said. “We know we can rely on each other more than we can rely on others.”

Cash added, saying that it has been a relief to be able to be around others who have the same mindset as him.

REHABILITATING HORSES
Cash, who served in the Army from January 2009 to November 2013, said that during his time at New Freedom Farm, he has worked with two horses, Eli and Cole.

“When Cole first came to New Freedom Farm and given to me, he did not like any humans,” Cash said. “He didn’t have any trust in people. When we first got Cole, he had a halter buried in his nose.”

Cash said that Cole’s wound has healed since then.

“Cole was just supposed to be at the farm until someone adopted him,” Cash said. “After a while, Cole started taking a liking to me. Surprisingly, New Freedom Farm gave me the horse in January.”

Cash said that ever since then, he and Fritz have been working with Cole. Fritz worked with Cole and got the horse comfortable enough to interact with humans. Cash noticed how gentle treatment made the horse more trusting.

“[Fritz] was also able to get a halter on him and walk him around,” Cash added. “Cole has turned around and is a good horse now.”

‘HORSES DON’T JUDGE’
While at the farm, Cash said he typically grooms and waters the horses. He added that he helps take care of the farm, including cleaning the horses’ stalls.

Cash said he spends a lot of his time with Cole and Eli and added that he is around them more than he is around most people.

“Sometimes if I have something I need to say out loud, but don’t really want to talk about it with anyone, I can just talk to the horses,” Cash said. “That’s why I like animals. I think that animals can feel some sort of bond with humans. They can feel that I’m having a bad day. A horse can tell if people are emotional or acting differently than normal.”

Cash said he believes veterans needing support should attempt animal therapy.

“I highly recommend that people find an animal to take care of,” Cash said. “The great thing about horses is people can say anything to them, and they will keep coming back as long as they show the horse affection. Horses don’t judge.”

This article is featured in the 2022 June/July issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Dave Spiva, associate editor for VFW magazine.

VFW Post 670 strives to be a good neighbor within its Fayetteville, North Carolina, community. Its members serve on local civic boards, volunteer at different organizations, work to combat hunger and more. Above all else, the Post is devoted to supporting its members and the greater veteran population.

“Our Post, although open to the public, is very much an organization that helps veterans,” said Commander Mike Baker. “It provides a place for veterans to talk to others who’ve dealt with the same issues, been to the same places … people who understand what you’re trying to describe, even when you can’t find the words.”

Because of the family atmosphere and camaraderie, the Post is a place where members can be themselves and join like-minded friends to make a positive impact together.

Recently, they took part in the inaugural VFW Day of Service when they gathered with Auxiliary members to clean up a local roadway.

“We walked a mile from the Post and collected all the litter,” said Quartermaster Amelia Smith. “In just that one mile, we collected 300 pounds of trash.”

In addition to this event, Post members have performed countless other acts of service in recent months.

“In April, we bought and collected $250 in new toys, blankets and games to donate to the Child Advocacy Center,” Smith said. “On March 30, the Post and Auxiliary hosted a Vietnam Veterans’ Appreciation Lunch.”

The Post also dedicates time and raises funds to support many programs, such as Man 22, the Veteran Suicide Awareness Program, 22 Until None, Veterans Empowering Veterans and Gold Star Families. And to support active-duty soldiers, members provide meal services at unit events.

“We’ve done four events in the last couple of months and served over 800 soldiers and family members,” said Baker. “We’ve also distributed candy, cookies and hygiene products to deploying units.”

No matter the task, members of VFW Post 670 are eager to unite and lend a hand.

“We’re still serving because it helps our community, as well as the veterans. When veterans gather together to help someone else, we don’t focus on what’s wrong with us, and we don’t feel alone,” said Smith.

“Regardless of the amount of people who show up, we come together and work as a team, focusing on how to get the job done to the best of our ability. Along the way, we meet people, make connections, share ideas and just try to relax and enjoy the camaraderie.”

The VFW is proud to honor the members of Post 670 who are #StillServing to provide vital support to the community and one another.

For those who knew him, Herb Kieforndorf was a “great man.” A member of VFW Post 3358 in Slinger, Wisconsin, Kieforndorf served his community well.

According to long-time friend and fellow VFW member Tom Haase, when Kieforndorf died in May 2020 from brain cancer, the community was hit hard by the loss.

“Herb had more integrity than any person I think I have ever met in my life,” said Haase, Post 3358 adjutant. “He personified the essence of what a veteran should be as well as a good citizen.

Not long after Kieforndorf’s death, the Post agreed to honor him with a scholarship to be awarded to a student at Slinger High School.

On May 25, Kacey Ott received the first-ever VFW Post 3358 Herb Kieforndorf Scholarship in the amount of $500. Ott, who wants to be a doctor, plans to attend college at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana.

The co-valedictorian of her graduating class said she chose Taylor because it has a stellar basketball program.

Haase said the scholarship is funded for the first two years.

“Herb was a great, great mentor,” Haase said. “Kids at the school interviewed him about his service. He was very popular with the students.”

Haase, who first met Kieforndorf in 1987 while serving with the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Air Refueling Wing, said the pair deployed multiple times together including during Operation Desert Storm. Incidentally, Haase also served in Vietnam in 1967-1968 and more recently in Iraq.

“Everyone jumped on this scholarship right away,” Haase said. “We as a VFW wanted to do this to make sure the community doesn’t forget him. It was very fulfilling to me that one of my buddies was honored.”

A VFW Post in the Silver State for the second time organized a barbecue contest to help raise funds for scholarship programs funded by VFW.

VFW Post 3396 in Sparks, Nevada, a suburb east of Reno, Nevada, hosted the 2nd Annual Armed Forces BBQ Challenge which had 17 total groups of competitors. VFW Post 3396 Commander Candace Beck said that the Post raised $4,325 from hosting the competition.

Beck said that in the barbeque competition’s first year, it featured local amateur cooks. Beck, a Korea Defense Service Army veteran, said that for the second year, Post members “wanted to go bigger.” So, members of Post 3396 decided to host the annual event with professionals and “backyard” grillers.

“We hosted the event to raise money for the Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy scholarship programs,” Beck said. “We also did it to fund our Post’s VA nurses scholarships.”

VFW Post 3396 Quartermaster David Sousa told KOLO-TV, an ABC affiliate in Reno, that the barbecue competition is a way for the Post to “give back” to its community. Sousa added that the attraction was a good way to bring the community together and “raise a little money for the VFW Post.”

Members of the Kansas City Barbeque Society were on hand to judge every meat made at the Armed Forces BBQ Challenge. VFW National Headquarters in July partnered with the Kansas City Barbeque Society, which sanctions official barbeque competitions. The Kansas City Barbeque Society plans to send judges to other barbeque contests at other VFW Posts across the country.

In July 2021, VFW Post 3396 was selected as VFW’s Post of the Month as part of the #StillServing campaign. Visit vfw.org/stillserving to learn more about #StillServing.

A brand new VFW Post in Texas at Fort Hood was chartered in January with its members having a goal in mind: to help military members and their families.

VFW Post 12209 members held the installation ceremony on Jan. 7 at Fort Hood’s Phantom Warrior Center.

Post Commander Willie Keller said that Post members wanted the Post to be on the grounds of Fort Hood to help with the “perception” of VFW.

“A lot of people think the VFW is a place to get a drink,” said Keller, who has been a VFW member since 1995. “We want to show troops at Fort Hood that VFW is here to help them, and we have many VFW services they can use.”

Keller, an Army veteran of more than 16 years – said he and other Post 12209 members wanted to introduce VFW services to potential members. He named the Military Assistance Program, which provides grants to Posts to help active-duty troops, and Unmet Needs, which helps military families with financial difficulties, as well as programs offered by the VFW Department of Texas. Keller
added that being on base is “more effective” than being located outside of the installation.

“We are on Fort Hood four times a week,” said Keller, who medically retired from the military in 2009. “We at the VFW are out here with the troops. We talk to them – we assist them with what they need. We want to guide them in the right direction through the military.”

The Post was named in honor of the late A.C. Cotton, a retired command sergeant major who died at the age of 86 on Sept. 7, 2021. Cotton, a Vietnam War veteran, joined the Army in 1955 and served 33 years. Cotton also was the first black command sergeant major of the Army’s “First Team,” the 1st Cavalry Division, according to Keller.

Keller – who served in Haiti, Afghanistan and Iraq – said he and the other Post members took the chance to name a Post after a soldier who made history in the military.

“We named the Post in honor of Cotton because we all personally knew him,” added Keller, who medically retired from the military in 2009. “When he passed last year, it affected all of us. He was well-known in the armored cavalry community.”

For those interested, VFW Post 12209 is located at Fort Hood Building 18000. The Post also can be followed on Facebook by searching CSM A.C. Cotton VFW Post 12209.

This article is featured in the 2022 May issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Dave Spiva, associate editor for VFW magazine.

When an Auxiliary member in Muncy, Pennsylvania, suffered a near-death experience following a gruesome motorcycle crash in April, his VFW Post 3428 counterparts stepped in to provide assistance.

More than 85 people attended a fundraiser at VFW Post 3428 on behalf of Anthony Mitchell in July, helping raise $5,490 towards the Auxiliary member’s hospital bills accrued over months of intensive care and surgeries.

“It was overwhelming,” Mitchell told the PA homepage news outlet in Pennsylvania. “Even if it was not a lot of people, friends are friends.”

The wreck happened on April 30, when Mitchell lost control of his motorcycle on his way home after a benefit ride in memory of a local child that had passed away.

He recalled the grass, gravel and then the fog that comes from broken pieces after a traumatic accident shatters perception.

“From that point there, I can’t tell you what happened because I don’t know what happened,” Mitchell said. “My mind just went completely blank after that.”

Mitchell spent five weeks in the hospital nursing broken ribs, a punctured and collapsed lung, as well as blood clots. For an avid motorcyclist, the traumatic accident marked his first in more than 30 years of riding.

“After 33 years together, I just had to make sure he was okay,” said Millie Mitchell, Anthony’s wife. “He’s my best friend, my husband. I don’t know what I would do without him.”

With the mounting expenses as a result of surgeries and physical therapy since the crash, the Mitchells received a hand up by members of Post 3428, who surprised the couple with a fundraiser laden with food, live music and raffles.

Though Mitchell’s recovery remains a work in progress, he was deeply moved by the Post’s efforts to help a fellow friend and Auxiliary member the way it did.

“I get very emotional because they’re not just friends, they’re all family,” Mitchell said. “I appreciate everything.”

When VFW Post 3911 in Key West, Florida, needed an innovative way to raise money for its relief fund in 2013, Powell Thomas turned to the island’s roots.

Revered as a bustling fishing village with a long and celebrated history, Thomas knew Key West served as the perfect backdrop for a veterans fishing tournament to raise funds.

With a history of avid fishermen that includes Ernest Hemingway and legendary baseball player and Korean War veteran Ted Williams, fishing is either a vocation or a pastime for most locals in Key West.

“Just about everyone in Key West owns a boat or knows someone who does,” said Thomas, a Vietnam veteran and a life member of Post 3911. “So I went to the meeting and said this is something we should do. I had run a few fishing tournaments before, and I knew my way around constructing them.”

The Post’s quartermaster at the time, Thomas believed a two-day fishing tournament would both enhance the Post’s presence on the island and help raise funds to support its sizeable veterans population.

“I knew a lot of veterans in the area who were doing quite well, but I also knew a few who weren’t doing so well,” Thomas said. “There are many active-duty service men and women in the Florida Keys, so the Post relief fund also helps many of these people when a sudden deployment wreaks havoc on a young family’s finances.”

With help from Post members and the VFW Auxiliary president, Thomas launched the first “Fish for Veterans” tournament in June 2013, welcoming a modest 18 boats manned by veterans and non-veterans fishing for cash prizes.

Since then, the tournament has grown exponentially as a result of continuous advertising in national fishing and wildlife magazines, as well as word of mouth amongst veterans and locals. And despite cancelling the 2020 tourney due to COVID-19, the 2021 event last June proved the most profitable to date.

The ninth annual “Fish For Veterans” tournament last year welcomed a record 213 participants and 46 boats from across the country. It also yielded more than $20,000 in cash prizes for the heaviest species of mahi, tuna, wahoo, grouper and snapper caught, as well as individual angler categories that included ladies, peewee, junior, active duty, veteran, senior and first responders.

“The event has grown steadily each year with the exception of 2020, but last year was the biggest one yet,” Thomas said. “That’s a testament to how well-supported the tournament is among the Florida Keys communities and their local businesses.”

The tournament’s success over the years also has met Thomas’ expectations for its creation, amassing more than $200,000 through 2021 for Post 3911’s relief fund. Through the fund, Post 3911 has continued to help Key West’s veterans’ population, which includes sizeable donations annually to Volunteers of America (VOA), a social services organization providing transitional housing to homeless veterans in Key West.

“Volunteers of America provides some housing for homeless veterans, and its semi-long term,” Thomas said. “What we’ve done is support them financially over the years. We also help the homeless veterans themselves, helping the individuals get on their feet once they leave there by giving them furniture, clothes and stuff of that kind.”

Though Thomas stepped down as program director after the ninth annual tourney last year, he will remain a fixture during the planning and undertaking of the event, adding that he believes it will be the best one to date.

“It will be bigger and better than ever,” Thomas said. “This year, the super prize for heaviest mahi has been increased to $20,000 or a brand new Toyota Corolla.”

The 10th annual tournament is scheduled for June 17-19, and it will be open to the general public as always.

Further information can be obtained by visiting www.vfwpost3911.org.

This article is featured in the 2022 May issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., senior writer for VFW magazine.

When President Joe Biden signed a law on Oct. 13, 2021, that designates a 1,300-mile trail called the September 11th National Memorial Trail, it served as the culmination of two decades of planning for David Brickley.

Brickley, who heard the news while on a business trip in Austria, fused his gratification with the memory of the project’s genesis in the wake of one of America’s darkest days.

In September 2001, Brickley served as director of Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation. He was to join a 13-state conference on trails and greenway infrastructure from Sept. 15-18 in Arlington, Virginia, when the Sept. 11 attacks happened.

“When 9/11 hit, we had a conference call among ourselves, and it was agreed to proceed with the conference, partly as a reflection that we couldn’t be beaten down,” said Brickley, who was awarded the Bronze Star during his deployment to Vietnam in 1969.

Brickley, a Life member of VFW Post 1503 in Dale City, Virginia, welcomed the multi-state representatives into a conference room at the Crystal City Marriott by having his park rangers pass out small U.S. flags at the entrance.

“I wanted to establish a mood of resiliency and patriotism in the wake of these senseless terrorist attacks,” Brickley said. “At the end of the conference, I said we needed to find a way to merge our love of trails and greenways with this horrific event that happened just days before and just blocks from where we were meeting.”

With overwhelming support, Brickley formed the 9/11 National Memorial Trail Alliance, a Prince William County nonprofit, a year later. The goal of the Alliance was to create a multi-state trail system that linked all three September 11 memorial sites – the National September 11 Memorial in New York City, the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington.

“We have had tremendous support from local and state governments ever since,” Brickley said. “Our volunteers are the backbone, and they come from all backgrounds, which includes the mother of a beautiful daughter lost in the Flight 93 crash and a New York City firefighter who survived the collapse of both towers [of the World Trade Center.]”

Brickley’s vision took the form of a triangle on the map, which linked all three sites in what runs 1,300 miles long altogether. In order to actualize the vision, however, Brickley had to find answers for several concerns.

From finding ways for the National Park Service to manage the multi-state trail to linking other existing trails and historic areas together, Brickley sought help from local and state governments in order to materialize the concept. With help and support from Virginia Sen. Charles Colgan and later Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, concerns became possibilities for Brickley.

“I wrote to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, and his chief of staff called me back and said, ‘The governor really loved the idea, because it could be the state’s longest trail, crossing the mountains to Pittsburgh,'” Brickley said. “He even provided initial funding toward our project.”

After laying out the blueprint for a trail system, the next task was to find a link between the Flight 93 crash site and the West Allegheny Passage, which is part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, extending from Pittsburgh through West Virginia down into Virginia.

The link needed to encompass a 21-mile gap, which led to Brickley’s partnership with CSX Corp., a U.S.-based holding company focused on rail transportation and real estate, among many other ventures.

It was Brickley’s brother-in-law, Ben Swecker, who discovered an abandoned railroad corridor owned by CSX Corp., that could shorten the gap.

“We didn’t have funds when we started to negotiate to buy the land,” Brickley said. “I wrote CSX Corp.’s CEO Michael Ward a letter to remind him that 2016 would be the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Then I asked him if it wouldn’t be a wonderful gesture to donate 12 miles of the corridor.”

A month after the letter was written and sent, Brickley received a response from Ward, who was glad to help the cause by having CSX Corp. donate all 12 miles of the land toward the project.

After more than 16 years to find land and piece together the trail, Brickley’s next step was to seek designation as a federal trail to protect and solidify the land’s purpose in the future.

Through his connections, Brickley had U.S. Reps. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Don Beyer (D-Va.) introduce a bill to make the 1,300-mile trail a federal landmark in 2020. The bill subsequently passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 423-0, which was then followed by the Senate’s unanimous consent.

“It was a great example of what can happen when both political parties work together,” said Brickley, who has since remained with the Alliance as its president emeritus. “In this case, the goal led to this system that connects five states and is a multi-use, on-road and off-road trail to honor the heroes of 9/11, as well as show the resilience and perseverance of Americans since the founding of our country.”

Though Brickley remained in Austria during the signing of the bill into public law by Biden on Oct. 13, he professed his appreciation for the President’s interest and involvement with the Alliance.

“Biden spent over an hour with our Alliance members talking about trails and greenways,” Brickley said. “He was engaging and understood how important it was to remember those heroes of 9/11 and ensure their memories are never forgotten.”

Now that the September 11th National Memorial Trail has earned federal designation, Brickely added that the next step is to continue working with the National Park Service in making the trail 100 percent off-road.

Today, the trail remains 50 percent off-road, allowing those who venture along it the options to drive, cycle or hike. Since 2001, hundreds of thousands of people have ventured on the trail, according to Brickley, with a few hundred people completing the full 1,300 miles.

“We’ve been greeted by the communities along the trail, and it really shows a sense of patriotism,” Brickley said. “It is still a work in progress, but our goal is to eventually have an entirely off-road trail. It’ll probably take decades, but it’s open now, and it’s a wonderful symbol of America.”

This article is featured in the 2022 May issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., senior writer for VFW magazine.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce that Freddie John Falgout Post 3665 in Raceland, Louisiana, was selected to receive the 2022 VFW Fred C. Hall Memorial Outstanding Post Special Project Award, a prestigious award that recognizes VFW Posts for notable and exceptional community service projects.

VFW Post 3665 was selected for its tireless work aiding and supporting its hometown in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in the fall of 2021. When the town took a direct hit, knocking out critical infrastructure, Post members jumped into action, opening the doors of the Post to provide shelter, collecting fuel, nonperishable foods, water, tarps and cleaning products to distribute to the community.

Going above and beyond, Post members fully committed to the recovery efforts and worked with other nonprofit organizations to provide more than 2,000 hot meals to the community. Because of their efforts, 84 brand new mattresses found their way to the homes of people impacted by the hurricane.

“Service to others is a founding tenet of the VFW, and what Post 3665 was able to accomplish in the chaos and destruction following Hurricane Ida is a perfect example of the VFW doing what it does best,” said VFW National Commander Fritz Mihelcic.

VFW National Commander Mihelcic will present VFW Post 3665 Commander James Prestenbach with the 2022 VFW Fred C. Hall Memorial Outstanding Post Special Project Award on Wednesday, July 20, during the 123rd VFW National Convention being held in Kansas City, Missouri.

When Afghanistan War veteran Tony Mayne retired from the Army after more than 20 years, he vowed to continue serving fellow Rangers by sharing his invaluable knowledge.

Understanding the complexities of a journey from service member to civilian, Mayne resolved to help the Rangers population through a “Ranger For Life” concept he began developing while serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment’s public affairs staff in 2014.

“I knew Rangers were not aware of the resources available to them due to my day-to-day interactions,” said Mayne, who deployed with C Co., 3rd Ranger Bn., 75th Ranger Regt. during the initial airborne assault on Objective Rhino in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, on Oct. 19, 2001.

Mayne knew the Army’s “Soldier for Life” program was a good starting point, but he believed service in the 75th Rangers provided the foundation for success.

“We look at ourselves as Rangers first,” said Mayne, a Life member of VFW Post 665 in Columbus, Ga. “Soldier for Life can work if it is tailored to the unit level. That’s why we developed the Ranger For Life concept as a retention and transition program.”

The program, which the 75th Rangers officially established in 2019 to both help with civilian transition and expand retention through the Phalanx program for Rangers who want to remain in the Army, follows a holistic approach comprised of five key elements for transition. For Mayne, who retired in April 2020, those five elements became the pillars upon which his Columbus-based company, Ranger For Life LLC, was created in July 2020.

“Employment and education are the easy parts of transition,” Mayne said. “Our Ranger For Life holistic approach is comprised of the big five – networking, continuing education and initial employment, VA integration, financial literacy and holistic strength training of the body, mind and spirit.”

Operating out of the Ranger Outreach Center in Columbus since its inception in 2020, Mayne’s company has continuously developed contacts and boasts a diverse array of professionals, businesses and organizations ready to assist Rangers with their transition.

As its CEO, Mayne also has partnered with GallantFew Inc., and Three Rangers Foundation to enhance the effectiveness of providing Rangers with a pathway to success as they enter the civilian world.

“GallantFew, Three Rangers Foundation and Ranger For Life LLC have a 100 percent employment placement and/or enrollment in a chosen field of study for the more than 400 transitioning Rangers we have seen six months prior to Expiration Term of Service,” said Mayne, who has served as GallantFew’s programs director since April 2020.

Mayne attributes the growing success of the partnership between these veteran-based organizations to networking, a staple of his Ranger For Life concept and one learned from his time at Clemson University and The Ohio State University, respectively.

“Like at universities, we are building the alumni network,” Mayne said. “Every successfully transitioned Ranger is a spokesperson for the regiment – that is recruiting. A well-transitioned Ranger is a potential Ranger volunteer – that is relationship building through mentorship.”

From transition support for the individual to training solutions scalable for large-sized organizations, Mayne believes his Ranger For Life approach can help navigate a post-military career without hiccups.

“It’s not mandatory for Rangers to see us, so once a Ranger takes the GallantFew self-assessment test, steps in the doors of the Ranger Outreach Center or signs up for our elite courses, watch out,” Mayne said. “A Ranger who seeks assistance has already overcome the biggest hurdle in transition – fear of the unknown.”

In spreading the word, Mayne also created A More Elite podcast in May 2021, which welcomes guests to share their personal journeys as examples of perseverance. The podcast episodes air every Thursday at noon ET on Apple Podcasts.

“Our desire is only to see our Rangers and their families continue to serve our great nation and thrive in the process,” Mayne said. “At the end of the day, we’ve got a lot of people who can make an impact across many industries. We want to put our Rangers front and center.”

For more information on how Ranger For Life injects the holistic wellness practices of Rangers into America, visit www.rangerforlife.com.

This article is featured in the 2022 April issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., senior writer for VFW magazine.