Giva Salutes: The Mission Continues

At Giva we search for organizations, large and small, that are doing a great job of changing the world around them for the better; and we are pleased to salute them here!

The Mission Continues provides "new missions," such as volunteer work at nonprofits, for veterans adjusting to civilian life. Founded by Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, who returned from Iraq in 2007 after his honorable discharge, he used his own combat money to create the nonprofit, which turned into a federally approved organization soon after.

This community encourages veterans to "Commit to service, camaraderie and pursuit of happiness at your home front." The nonprofit's three main programs, The Mission Continues Fellowship, the Service Platoon, and the Service Mission program, all aim to help veterans become leaders in their communities through community service.

In The Mission Continues Fellowship, veterans serve a nonprofit organization for 20 hours per week for 26 weeks. A wide array of host organizations are available, ranging from helping mentor refugee youth to building shelters for other veterans. When the veteran chooses to become a Mission Continues Fellow, the veteran pledges her or his commitment to use military-based skills and become a leader for the community.

The Mission Continues introduced their second program, the Service Platoon, in 2013. This program recruits a local community of veterans to come together as a team and tackle societal issues in their local area. Whether the veterans are working together in Houston's Fifth Ward to help at-risk youth discover their educational potential or growing a community garden in Chicago, their continual efforts to benefit the society in which they live make a huge difference upon that community.

Finally, The Mission Continues also implemented their Service Mission program. In these programs, veterans work together to tackle immediate issues facing their society. If homes must be rebuilt as a consequence of natural disaster, The Mission Continues veterans are the first ones out there on the front line, dedicating their time, effort, and talent selflessly to their country once more.

More information about The Mission Continues and how to get involved may be found on its homepage.