As we kick off PTSD Awareness Month, we are reminded that many veterans and military spouses are carrying burdens we cannot always see. Trauma, transition, uncertainty, and the strain of rebuilding after service can affect confidence, clarity, and economic stability in ways that are often overlooked.
June is PTSD Awareness Month, a reminder that trauma does not always look the way people expect it to.
PTSD can come from combat, military service, childhood experiences, abuse, grief, medical trauma, accidents, violence, first responder experiences, or other life events that leave a lasting wound beneath the surface.
It does not always announce itself loudly.
Sometimes it looks like withdrawal. Sometimes anger. Sometimes exhaustion, hypervigilance, anxiety, or simply someone trying their best to make it through the day.
The truth is, we rarely know what someone else is carrying or why. That is why compassion matters. Patience matters. And creating space for people to be human matters.
At the same time, military families continue to face real employment barriers. Military spouse unemployment remains persistently high, veterans are too often under-employed below their actual skill level, and the economic losses tied to missed opportunity, interrupted careers, and unstable income can affect entire households. The result is not just lost wages, but lost confidence, delayed career growth, and added stress on families already carrying a great deal. Not to mention, the added pressure of deciding to stay in the service or leave is heightened when they can’t put food on the table.
That is why we are asking our network to help us spread the word about Vanguard Rising. An opportunity that could make a real difference for a veteran or military spouse you know.
Vanguard Rising is a skills-first lab where veterans and military spouses can explore career options through real projects, team-based work, and meaningful experience. It is designed to help participants build confidence, strengthen skills, gain demonstrated capability, and discover where their experience can take them next.
For many veterans and military spouses, the next step is not always clear right away. Vanguard Rising creates a structured environment where they can learn, contribute, grow, and move toward meaningful opportunity with more clarity and support.
If someone in your network could benefit from a chance to explore career paths, gain experience, and be part of something practical and supportive, we would be grateful if you would share this opportunity with them.
While we have nine career tracks and several employer specific tracks, we are looking to fill these teams in the next two weeks: Data Analytics/Logistics, People Operations, Software Development, Grant Writing and Finance.
Thank you for helping us connect more veterans and military spouses to stronger pathways forward.
Best,
With gratitude,
Robyn
Learn more or refer someone here:
Cohorts are ongoing at Vanguard Rising.
