RUCK FOR THE 22

At any given time, there are over 16.2 million veterans from the six service branches of the Army, the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Airforce, the Space Force and the Coast Guard that reside throughout the United States. Of these, roughly 35,600 are homeless. Looking still deeper, you can find statistics that quote almost 6,400 veterans had taken their life in 2021 alone, with it rising each year. And the alarming rate among female veterans has gone up by 24% compared to male veterans. This equates to around 22 veterans a day taking their lives. 

These numbers suggest that suicide and rates of ideation are super high in our community. A community that, when compared to the rest of the US, is only roughly 6% of the population. We are a few and we are hidden in plain sight. Given these sad stats, I wanted to do something for the community I am a part of and do something for myself. I too struggle with past experiences from my time deployed and find that it is easy to feel isolated. 

With this in mind, I began a personal challenge to ruck 2 miles each day carrying a pack loaded with 22 lbs. as well as wearing my old combat boots. The action was meant to showcase what veterans go through to those on social media, and to bring awareness to the facts. It did this and so much more. I gained an outpouring of private messages from veterans who needed to talk and wanted to feel heard. 

Each day, which was mostly rainy and only occasionally not, I got up early and completed the miles through my neighborhood. People stopped to ask what I was doing, and I got to share. My heart was opened, and a few old wounds were exposed, but also patched over in a way. If I can do this for 22 days, I can certainly keep going for many more. Which is all veterans need. A person to listen to them, someone to care. Reaching out to me through those same messages, strangers have become friends as they asked me how I was doing. 

If you know of a veteran in your life, make sure to say hello and be willing to listen for a few extra minutes. It really can mean the world of difference to the silent few, for we are many and we are all around. If you look hard enough. A link for the National Veterans Association is on the ‘Other Stuff’ tab located here on the website. You can donate and or check out the services and resources they offer for veterans. 

Being a veteran is something I am proud of and wouldn’t trade for the world.