When you just can't keep living life the way you've been living, you have two choices...
Our friend Phil Myers is a former Navy EOD Technician and is dedicated to being a voice that serves to bring awareness to ongoing and relevant issues within the military relating to mental health.
You see, Phil came face to face with his own choice a few months back and he made the choice to fight for change. At what only could be described at a life changing intersection, standing there with nothing but the clothes on his back and the thoughts in his head, he chose to take a step. And he has been stepping ever since. How? You might ask. By the fact that his first step was on that landed him on the Appalachian Trail, and every single step after has led him on the hike of his life. Currently, he is just over halfway through his roughly four month journey.
Why the journey? Because, after everything depression, alcoholism, bi-polar, hospital stays, etc. he decided it was time to truly find himself, to fight for his own healing, to fight for the healing of those around him with similar experiences. His public journey is one that is inspiring not just us, but others who may be silently watching every step he takes. Phils honesty, integrity, and vulnerability are a foundational example of what we mean when we say "Influence your world" and his willingness to put his experiences out there for all to see, risking everything for his own good and the good of other Warriors who are struggling.
Phil came to us as a member of our current Warrior Advisory Team, and little did we know how much more he would bring to the table. With all of his experiences, all of the pain, all of the heartache he has faced, even WANTING to give up...he has not. He keeps fighting. He keeps moving. And we are stoked to see what happens in and through him as he comes out on the other side of this season.
This is a post from his FB Page:
What if I told you I gave up? But you wouldn’t know because I hid all of this behind my larger than life smile that so many know me for.
I tried. I was ready to end my life, and have wanted to several times over these past three years. I didn't want to, but I couldn’t see any other way through the pain, or see that things would ever get better.
Almost overdosed in 2019 and I still don't know how I woke up, diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, Bipolar Depression II, on top of drinking so much it lead to a ruptured stomach ulcer that I also hid, and even showed up to work while going through withdrawals, again hiding it to not draw attention or appear weak.
For some reason I’m still here, and I’m hoping to find the answers to why and how I fit into the world on this 2,200 mile walk in the woods.
I'm out here hiking to hopefully find the combination that’ll help me keep a promise that was made to change and not become a number (even though the odds with PTSD & Bipolar are stacked against me). With every step I’m not only finding what happens when you keep going, but hope to give others hope that things can get better if they keep going too.
Check out Phil on FB and IG:
https://www.facebook.com/phil.myers.334
https://www.instagram.com/amanicadventure/
Meet Phil Myers
A 2,200 Mile Walk in the Woods
June 7, 2021
Meet Kenny Bish
September 14, 2021 • Bravo Zulu
We love it when Warriors do amazing things, but what really speaks volumes about the character of a Warrior is when they give the credit to other Warriors for the amazing things that those Warriors do. Kenny Bish, currently serving downrange, has not only dealt with and owned his own story, but he also continues to prove his leadership abilities through the way he selflessly serves, cares for those around him, and gives credit where it is due. Well done Kenny, well done. This is what he had to say on his Social Media platforms recently. "As most of you know I conducted a mission to help evacuees escape Kabul, Afghanistan at the end of August. For almost two weeks I was extremely lucky to be attached to a person that I now see as family, but also as a leader and mentor. This picture was taken as we were stuck in a holding pattern above Ramstein AFB for 2 1/2 hours. A woman passed out after breastfeeding her infant baby and stopped breathing. My brother TSgt Moquete immediately reacted by grabbing oxygen off the interior of the aircraft and began resuscitating the woman. Performing life-saving skills. Layed her on the ground, placed her legs on an aircraft chair, and turned her head to the side. The woman's breathing became shallow as the aircraft landed. I stood by as the loadmaster had to land the aircraft and I still had to do my job doing flight denial. Upon landing he carries the woman off the aircraft to seek immediate and further medical assistance at the fire truck; probably saving her life. It wasn’t the fact that he did this act but how fast and how much he cared for these refugees that we had only picked up from Kabul no less than 9 hours prior. I grabbed this photo as I was so proud to call this man a leader of mine. These are the unsung heroes that unfortunately won’t receive the gratitude they whole heartily deserve. This is the reason I still serve because of the man standing next to me in Sgt Moquete. Pray for this woman and the rest of the Afghanistan Citizens who escaped that day."
Meet Bree Carroll
September 10, 2021 • Bravo Zulu
We are so proud of our friend Bree Carroll. Bree joined our team a few years ago to help us create the ultimate experience at our events and has become a great advisor for our team since. In 2020 Bree was recognized by Armed Forces Insurance as the Air Force Spouse of the year for 2020-2021. The week she was recognized in DC with Branch winners from all branches of service for all her amazing work and shared about her platform. While Bree is an Engineer, Event Planner, and podcast host (Hearts & Stripes), she has recently founded an initiative to address Military Marriages. This August Bree celebrated the 2nd Annual Military Marriage Day with thousands of military couples around the globe serving in all branches and duty statuses. Military Marriages are unique and Bree wanted to work with DOD, Non-profits and others to increase resources and understanding of what it takes to thrive in this environment. The AFI Military Spouse of the Year Program recognizes military spouses around the world doing great things for our installations, our families, and our communities. We are honored to have Bree a part of Striker Nation and Every Warrior! Bree’s support team is her husband, Donovan (attached to AFGSC Staff) and her 3 amazing kids. We are so proud of everything you are doing and cannot wait to see what you do next Bree!
Thirteen Heroes
August 28, 2021 • Bravo Zulu
U.S. Marine, Sgt Johanny Rosario (25) U.S. Marine, Cpl Hunter Lopez (22) U.S. Marine, LCpl Kareem Nikoui (22) U.S. Marine, LCpl Rylee McCollum (20) U.S. Marine, LCpl Jared Schmitz (20) U.S. Marine, LCpl David Lee Espinoza (20) U.S. Navy, Maxton Soviak (20) U.S. Marine, SSgt Taylor Hoover (31) U.S. Marine, Cpl Daegan Page (23) U.S. Army, SSG Ryan Knauss (23) U.S. Marine, Cpl Humberto Sanchez (22) U.S. Marine, Sgt Nicole Gee (23) U.S. Marine, Ricky Thompson (21) The names above represent 13 lives given in the ultimate display of selflessness, one that every Warrior knows is a possibility. Five of these names found their way onto birth certificates the same year the war in Afghanistan started. 20 years later, life ended with the end of the war. 11 were men, 2 were women...separated by only a span of 11 years. Several had posted pictures from their deployment within hours of the bombing. Giving candy to children. Holding an Afghan infant. Standing with fellow troops. Even a status update of an expectant father. Talking about his military service, one family member of one of these Warriors said "He wanted to be in a situation where he actually made a difference." We believe that can be said of every life represented here. Their stories, their lives, like countless others before them, are true stories of selflessness, bravery, courage, love, and legacy. Their stories are stories that will forever be etched in the hearts and lives of those around them. And because of the difference they made in those hearts, we say "Well Done." Whether an expectant father, the son of a police officer, the son of a medic, an older brother, a younger sister, or any other form of relational bond imaginable, the shock, disbelief, horror, sadness, sorrow, anger and grief are only evidence of lives that truly influenced others.