On average, there are about 22 veterans who commit suicide every day. And this unfortunate circumstance has been an ongoing issue since time immemorial. Although efforts have been made to lessen the burdens of one of the country’s most honorable and heroic individuals, it remains to be a problem to this date. And as someone who has seen and experienced it all, Chad, the founder of Battle22, addresses himself to the problem and decides to create a platform that supports and improves the lives of veterans across the country.
As a veteran himself, Chad exactly understood everything that a military man goes through after experiencing the traumas on the battlefield. As a matter of fact, it took some time for Chad to get back on his feet. But instead of completely succumbing to his circumstances while almost losing everything in the process, he decided to create an avenue where similarly-situated individuals can find solitude amidst the chaos and traumas they experience nearly every day. Thus, Battle22 came into existence.
Passionately created by and for veterans across the United States, Battle22 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the lives of America’s heroes. It serves as a safe space where veterans can break free from their inner demons and slowly walk away from the painful memories they have collected over the years on the battlefield. To put it simply, the organization seeks to improve the lives of military men by establishing a holistic support group for veterans who struggle to cope and move forward with the realities of the world.
Pounding the pavement with its mission to provide therapeutic solace for America’s heroes, Battle22 moves forward with its healing process by delivering curative activities, solidifying suicide prevention, and spreading awareness. From hunting, skiing, off-roading, and hiking to camping and fishing, the organization offers a wide variety of activities designed to help veterans adjust to their new lives and allow them to slowly forget about the traumas trapped within themselves. On top of that, Battle22’s noble pursuits of helping veterans across the states are made possible with the organization’s revenue-generating arm dedicated to funding its therapies and facilities.
But underneath the promising success of Battle22 lies a founder whose painful experiences as a veteran led him to create a safe space for similarly-situated individuals.
Having served in the United States Army for over 19 years with two combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Chad had his fair share of trials battling his traumas. After his almost two-decade stint in the army, Chad had difficulty adjusting to a life that carried the memories of his past. In 2014, Chad and his wife had an accident that almost killed the love of his life. And to make matters worse, in the years 2017 and 2018, Chad and his wife lost everything while being diagnosed with countless ailments all over his body. Admittedly, life has been tough for Chad. But instead of allowing these misfortunes to overpower him, he used these unfortunate circumstances to fuel him for the challenges that lie ahead. And as he continued to fight for his life, he decided to help other veterans cope by creating Battle22.
Having to deal with painful memories and traumas for the rest of one’s life is no easy feat. But despite everything he has faced, Chad stands tall amidst countless defeats. Through his experiences and Battle22, he hopes to inspire other veterans to continuously fight and move forward to living a life filled with happiness and health.
To know more about Battle22, you may visit its website.
