"Being a mentor means being there for a vet struggling to fit back into an unstructured civilian life after years of service in a highly structured military life. I have found immense satisfaction in being there for these vets and helping them transition back into civilian life. Our brothers need us, and we need them!"

"For our Veterans there is nothing like connecting with and relying on a fellow Veteran. Our mentor program is connecting Veterans to a network of fellow Veterans who can provide support, advice, or simply a listening ear. Mentors may act as a coach, guide, role model, advocate, recovery support, mental health support, life support, or just simply an ally. Being a mentor is simply about being there for a fellow Veteran. It is about making sure no Veteran feels alone, in a way that only a fellow Veteran can. Mentoring is a form of peer support which is a key factor in helping people through crisis. Mentors are also key in assisting in developing necessary navigation and survival skills, adjusting to civilian life, and in improving quality of everyday lives."

"I will be frank; it’s not always easy to be a mentor. But then it’s not easy to be a veteran struggling with issues like addiction, PTSD, family rejection, and jail time. As a mentor, we listen, encourage, support, and at times, we gently push our mentee to succeed. You don’t have to be a counselor like I am to be a mentor; you just need to care about your fellow brothers and sisters in uniform and be ready to receive excellent training and support as you learn to be a mentor."

"The camaraderie that comes from a successful Mentor/Mentee relationship brings out the best in both individuals. This is the result of common purpose and goals, combined with trust, sincerity, openness to fruitful and honest handling of difficulties, and a shared desire to succeed....The key ingredient in this relationship is the shared Veteran status of both."

"I have mentored 4 Vets, 3 Marines, and one Army, all are now my friends, and I value my relationships with each. I have received much more from them than I have given. Each knows that our relationship is confidential unless there is a problem; this is rare in my experience. I see my role as setting an example of what a man is supposed to be, despite my imperfections. We do lunch, breakfast, phone/text talks, and make myself available for a ride."