SOLDIERSTRONG JOINS FACE THE FIGHT® COALITION TO COMBAT VETERAN SUICIDE

STAMFORD, Conn. – The national nonprofit SoldierStrong has been accepted as a member of the Face the Fight coalition, co-founder and chairman Dr. Chris Meek. This partnership unites SoldierStrong with a growing network of corporations, foundations, nonprofits, and veteran-focused organizations committed to raising awareness and providing support for veteran suicide prevention.

Face the Fight, launched in June 2023 by founding partners the Humana Foundation, Reach Resilience, and USAA, is an initiative to bring organizations together to reduce the veteran suicide rate. The coalition now includes more than 250 members working collectively to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and engage communities. Face the Fight-funded programs have also impacted more than 355,000 lives with proven interventions.  

“SoldierStrong is honored to join the Face the Fight coalition and stand alongside organizations that share our unwavering commitment to veteran welfare,” said Meek. “Veteran suicide is a crisis that demands immediate action and collaborative solutions. By joining forces with Face the Fight, we can amplify our impact and reach more veterans who need support during their darkest moments.”

SoldierStrong’s acceptance into the coalition compliments the organization’s mission to assist veterans in taking their next steps forward in life after service through the donation of revolutionary medical technologies to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities across the country. These technologies include the BraveMind virtual reality system, developed by Dr. Albert “Skip” Rizzo and his team at the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies. Used to treat post-9/11 veterans experiencing the devastating impacts of post-traumatic stress (PTS), the technology recreates 14 different scenes of combat scenarios and places veterans squarely back into their traumatic memories through a process known as prolonged exposure therapy. 

Through this partnership, SoldierStrong will contribute its expertise in veteran mental health while gaining access to a broader network of resources and support systems for veterans in crisis.

For more information about Face the Fight and how to join the mission, visit wefacethefight.org.

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About SoldierStrong

Since 2009, SoldierStrong has assisted America’s military veterans in taking their next steps forward in life after service. Our mission is fully realized through the donation of revolutionary medical technology to Veterans Affairs medical facilities and individual veterans across the country. These revolutionary medical technologies include the SoldierSuit, a wearable robotic exoskeleton used to help paralyzed and injured veterans walk again, and the BraveMind virtual reality system used to treat post-9/11 veterans living with the devastating impacts of post-traumatic stress (PTS). To date, SoldierStrong has donated more than $7.3 million in advanced medical technology, including 30 SoldierSuits and 30 BraveMind systems. For more information, visit soldierstrong.org. 

 

About Face the Fight®

Face the Fight, launched in June 2023 by founding partners USAA, Reach Resilience, and the Humana Foundation, and strategic partners the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, has made strides by bringing together a like-minded coalition of organizations to help reduce veteran suicide through a multi-pronged approach that includes charitable giving, public education, and awareness. Face the Fight is committed to supporting every veteran, regardless of their unique needs and challenges, and aspires to dramatically reduce veteran suicide. 

Empowering Heroes: SoldierStrong Joins Forces with Patriot Mobile to Assist Veterans in Taking Their Next Steps Forward

Patriot MobileAt SoldierStrong, our mission has always been clear: to help our nation’s heroes – those who have sacrificed so much in service to our country – take their next steps forward in life after service. We are deeply committed to providing cutting-edge medical technologies to injured veterans, helping them regain independence and hope. We are honored to join forces with Patriot Mobile, a company that shares our dedication to supporting veterans and their families.

Patriot Mobile has long been a strong advocate for our military, veterans, first responders, and their families. As the nation’s ONLY wireless provider with a deep commitment to conservative values, Patriot Mobile has proven time and again that it is more than just a company – it’s a force for good. Since its founding in 2013, Patriot Mobile has not only provided reliable cell service across the nation but has also committed a portion of its proceeds to support organizations that defend our freedoms.

We are thrilled to have Patriot Mobile by our side in this important mission. Their support will help SoldierStrong continue to provide medical technologies that are transforming the lives of veterans living with severe spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and post-traumatic stress (PTS).

Thanks to the generous contributions from Patriot Mobile, SoldierStrong will be able to expand access to two groundbreaking technologies that are changing the lives of injured veterans: the SoldierSuit and BraveMind virtual reality systems.

  • SoldierSuit: These wearable robotic exoskeletons are designed to help paralyzed veterans regain the ability to walk, helping veterans regain a level of mobility and independence that many thought impossible after their injuries.
  • BraveMind: This virtual reality system is used to treat post-traumatic stress (PTS) by allowing veterans to confront and process traumatic experiences in a controlled, therapeutic environment. BraveMind has been proven to significantly reduce the symptoms of PTS in over 65% of users, providing veterans with the opportunity to heal and reclaim control of their lives.

Since its inception, SoldierStrong has donated over $7 million worth of medical technology, including 30 SoldierSuits and 30 BraveMind systems, directly benefiting veterans across the country. However, the journey doesn’t end here. With Patriot Mobile’s continued support, we will be able to expand these efforts and reach even more veterans in need of life-changing medical advancements.

Glenn Story, CEO of Patriot Mobile, expressed the company’s excitement about supporting SoldierStrong’s mission: “We are excited to help SoldierStrong be the hands and feet of Jesus to our nation’s heroes. The men and women who are injured in service to our country deserve access to the best medical care available, and Patriot Mobile is proud to help SoldierStrong in this effort.”

This collaboration exemplifies Patriot Mobile’s unwavering commitment to honoring and supporting our veterans. Their dedication to ensuring that injured veterans receive the best care possible aligns perfectly with SoldierStrong’s goal of providing innovative solutions that promote healing and recovery.

Dr. Chris Meek, co-founder of SoldierStrong, expressed his gratitude for the support: “The same integrity and dedication that Patriot Mobile’s people devote to their work and in service to others will make a difference in the lives of veterans living with severe spinal cord injuries and paralysis, as well as the debilitating impacts of post-traumatic stress. Without the support of organizations like Patriot Mobile, SoldierStrong would be unable to benefit the lives of so many deserving veterans.”

At SoldierStrong, we know that relationships like this one are key to making a lasting impact. With Patriot Mobile’s support, we are able to amplify our efforts to restore mobility, independence, and hope to those who have given so much for our country and freedoms.

To learn more about Patriot Mobile and shop their phone plans and devices, visit patriotmobile.com. 

Together, with the help of those like Patriot Mobile, we can continue to empower veterans and provide them with the tools they need to lead fulfilling, independent lives! 

Women’s History Month: SoldierStrong Salutes Women Warriors

Happy Women’s History Month! This month SoldierStrong acknowledges and pays respect to the tens of thousands of Women Warriors who have cemented the place of women in both military and American history.

Women are not only the next generation of fighters, but perhaps more importantly, are the next generation of leaders. At SoldierStrong, we are proud to donate revolutionary medical technologies which better the lives of countless female veterans across the country and are honored to uplift the experiences of Women Warriors. 

Meet U.S. Navy Veteran and SoldierStrong Ambassador Laura Cowen.

Laura was preparing to deploy to the Pacific when she was involved in a hit and run that left her paralyzed. But when she was told she would never walk again, she used those words as motivation and decided to stay positive. 

With the help of the SoldierSuit, her optimism paid off. She IS able to walk again, which she calls a “life-changing improvement.”

We encourage you to not only celebrate the contributions of our female service members, like Laura, but to find ways – both large and small – to contribute to a society that emboldens women to serve. 

To learn more about the history and role of Women Warriors in the United States, we encourage you to check out the Military Times article “Celebrating International Women’s Month: Emboldening the Next Generation of Women Warriors” penned by former SoldierStrong vice-chairwomen COL. Kimberly Moros and SoldierStrong Advisory Board member Meaghan Mobbs.

If you are inspired by Laura’s optimism (and the stories of the many other female veterans who have served our nation!), we invite you to contribute to SoldierStrong throughout the month of March to honor their bravery in answering the call to service and to help ensure that we can continue to positively impact the lives of injured and paralyzed female veterans for years to come. 

A contribution of $5, $25, $50 or even $250 dollars can make a tremendous difference today!