The word service is defined as an act of helpful activity or aid. Want to see a dangerous combination? Let that service come from the heart of a person who has little or no concern for oneself, especially with regard to fame, position, money, etc. The service we offer is paramount to our mission, because, many times, in this service is where we find the needs of our Warriors we are able to meet. It may be one of our best kept secrets, but every resource we offer was born out of the need of a Warrior. Their need opens doors for our mission to serve other Warriors just like them, therefore, we find ourselves walking alongside countless other Warriors…positioned where we can step in when the need arises. In this cycle, we’re now seeing more and more Warriors step up, pressing in to their sphere of influence, ready and willing to use their resources, story, and experience to serve the needs around them, whenever they arise and whatever they may be.

Leaders are those who have the capacity to be an example for others to follow. Leadership is something that is hard to define, in fact, it is most often defined by experience. You know good leadership when you experience good leadership, and the opposite is true as well. John Maxwell says it best, “Leadership is influence. Nothing more. Nothing less." We meet Warrior after Warrior after Warrior who doesn't yet comprehend the leader that they can be. They hold potential in their hands. Sometimes, that is clouded by trials and turmoil, while others by fear and failure. The more we press into our mission, we find that our Warriors are looking for that leadership that is not false or copied; genuine; real. If we want to see culture exponentially impacted, it's going to come on the shoulders of Warriors who take their very real and very unique experiences and use them to take care of those around them. This leadership, regardless of position, title, or rank, will be the leadership that others will not only want to follow, but will also strive to become as they grow as leaders. 

How do you raise the bar when it comes to vulnerability? I know. Good question. First, we have to really understand that it is. Vulnerability is our capacity to be emotional exposed. It involves a person's willingness to accept the emotional risk that comes from being open and willing to love and be loved. The fear of vulnerability is a very common fear and it often comes with a great deal of uncertainty. If you look back on your life, you can probably affirm the fact that the most influential leaders in your life, those who left ripple effects in your life, probably possessed or exhibited courageous vulnerability. They let themselves be seen. They risked what you might think or feel, knowing that the benefits of their story far outweighed the risk. As an organization, we're made up of normal, everyday people who either chose to give themselves in service to our country or those whose love for our Warriors drives them to sacrifice for their good. We're convinced that the lasting, exponential difference we want to see in this world can be achieved, and it hinges on those one-on-one conversations between normal, everyday people. That conversation that comes out of that 3am text message that is sent from that Warrior that is wanting to end his life or that response to a simple “how are you doing" that is actually honest, leading to a Warrior getting the help she needs and deserves. We are convinced that vulnerability, when protected by trust, learned through experience, modeled in relationships, and coupled with resource, is the missing piece to puzzle that is the vital war being waged for the mental well-being of Warriors around the world. 

Everybody influences somebody. You probably don't have to look far to see how you were influenced and who did the influencing. You may, however, struggle to see just how you influence others. Influence is your innate capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something. How do you influence those around you? How do you effect your family? Your friends? Your coworkers? Whether good or bad, you are both influencing and being influenced. You may have heard of the term six degrees of separation. It’s the idea that all people are six or fewer social connections away from each other. That's mind-boggling when you think about it. This is just one reason our influence is something that we have to hold to a higher standard. When you influence one, they influence one, then that one influences another, and so on. See the pattern developing? Many times, we feel as if our influence gets drowned out by the chaos, negativity, and noise around us. We have seen time and time again that Warrior who has all but thrown in the towel when it comes to his or her desire to fight for change. As far as we're concerned, this ends now. We're pressing in like never before, working to help you see something worth fighting for. And, whether they realize it or not, that Warrior, family member, friend, co-worker, etc. is desperate for you and me both to use our influence to the extreme. Big cultural shift from big cultural issues are only going to happen when influence is wielded in a form that is a change from accepted or traditional.

It's no secret that the work of the mission comes with a cost. While much of the relational work we do can be done with little to no costs, the direct support we give, the events we do, the resources we currently have, the dreams we laid out above, the day to day operations, the growing and vital digital presence through our app, website, YouTube, podcast, etc., and everything else we do takes funding. Here are a few things to know about how we are funded:

• We are supported almost exclusively through donations and sponsorships. 
• Less than 1% of our budget income is generated by our online store proceeds. 
• We do not solicit donations from currently serving Warriors. 
• Our financials are managed through Carr, Riggs, and Ingram CPAs and Accountants out of Shreveport, Louisiana. 
• Monthly recurring donations are becoming the sustaining lifeblood of non-profit organizations. 
• One time donations and sponsorships account for the majority of our budget. 
• We use an online giving application called Harness Giving. We began this partnership mid-2022.

2022 Income - $177,605.53
2022 Expenses - $177,343.75

FOLLOWING THE TREND FROM 2020 TO 2022, AND TO MATCH THE GROWTH WE PLAN TO EXPERIENCE, WE ARE INCREASING OUR BUDGET FOR 2023 TO $200,000.