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a higher calling
THE PURSUIT FOR VETERAN CHAMPIONS By Trilogy® at Verde RiverTM Member Kathy Gallowitz, LtCol, USAF, Retired Way back in 2010, the Ohio National Guard’s Family Readiness office sent out 200 letters to churches asking for help assisting Guard members and their families. They hoped the appeal to support those who served overseas as well as local men and women who served across all branches of the military would elicit a big response. Nobody replied. Since that unfortunate endeavor, I’ve made it my mission to improve things. As the director of the Ohio National Guard Community Outreach Office and founder of Vanguard Veteran, I’ve coached hundreds of faith leaders to become effective champions of our veterans and military families. This is a subject important to me, as I’m a veteran with a long life and career in the military. I grew up moving around the world supporting my father’s Navy career and then served nearly 30 years in the Air Force as a public affairs officer and nurse. My husband is a retired career active-duty soldier and Army combat veteran. Because of my career and experience, I’ve grown deeply aware of the needs of today’s military veterans – especially the lives they lead after their service to this country. Through my business, Vanguard Veteran, I work hard to equip civilians to become Veteran Champions, improving quality of life, workforce, and community. More specifically, this means helping employers source, hire, and retain veteran talent and hosting Fallen Comrades Ceremonies to foster understanding about the sacrifices of military service and help military-connected persons heal. To put things into context, of the nearly 2.6 million U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan veterans: • 15% struggle with PTSD. • 40% have difficulty finding meaning/purpose in life. • 55% feel disconnected from the civilian world.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT. LIVE HAPPIER.®
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