I walk in a commercial area filled with warehouses and strip offices. One catches my eye. The sign shows an image of a gas mask with “22” on one side and “KILL” on the other. Above the image, it says “One Tribe” and below “One Fight.” There is a U.S. Marine flag flying out front and a parking spot with a sign “Purple Heart Parking Only, All Others Will Earn This Spot.” Plus there is a giant RV parked on the side of the building with “22 KILL” in bright red letters emblazoned on the front and side. What kind of a place is this? A place where veterans play video games trying to kill each other? A place where men are proud of how many they’ve killed? Maybe it’s just like a VFW hall, a place where veterans hang out. To find out more, read on.
History
In 2012, the Veterans’ Administration released a Suicide Data Report that found an average of 22 veterans die by suicide every day. The 22KILL initiative started in 2013, at first just as a social media movement to raise awareness and later became an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in July of 2015.
In 2016, as its push-up initiative — later known as the #22pushupchallenge — swept social media, 22KILL began its transformation from awareness to suicide prevention. By the end of that year, the viral campaign and the fundraising that accompanied it allowed the nonprofit to donate over $500,000 to sponsor other veteran service organizations.
In 2017, 22KILL began to acquire and develop traditional and nontraditional mental wellness programs and now offers a myriad of services through Stay The Course, Tribal Council, Forge, Wind Therapy, WATCH and White Star Families.
Tempa Sherrill is the spouse of Marine Corps and Army Reserves veteran, AJ Sherrill, who served in Afghanistan during 2008-2009 performing tactical psychological operations. At the time of deployment, AJ had previously served 18 years as a police officer. When he returned home after being away for 15 months, his spouse and three children knew something was wrong. This was not the husband and father that they had sent to fight for our country. Someone else came home.
Many issues were experienced by the family in this post-war battle, including rage, emotional detachment, memory loss, anxiety, and depression. No longer could the family go to dinner, have friends over, or go to a movie as they had pre-deployment. After an arduous year-long wait, the VA was able to get AJ into individual therapy. The family tried several community counselors who were unable to understand the uniqueness of the military culture or deployment experience. Finding help felt hopeless at times. Tempa and her children had no idea how to deal with this new reality and the loss of the husband and father they once knew. Through her own individual counseling and struggle, Tempa felt a call for action. She left an 18-year teaching career to pursue her master’s in counseling and psychology with the dream of helping veterans and families.
Three years into this process, AJ’s career as a police officer ended when his employer found out about his post-traumatic stress diagnosis, and he was terminated. It was a huge setback for AJ and the family, but Tempa was more determined than ever to continue her mission. While still a student, she was hired at a local non-profit where she spearheaded the development of a veteran-focused program through collaborations with the clinical director on grants for providing veteran specific services — a demographic not previously targeted by the organization. Tempa and AJ lost thousands of dollars of personal income during this time and were financially devastated, but the mission was too important to give up on.
After six years of therapy, family healing, and a new career for AJ, he chose to donate his police retirement funds as seed money for the launch of a stand-alone nonprofit organization, Stay The Course Veteran Services. This was the realization of Tempa’s dream to exclusively serve veterans, first responders and their families in a safe, culturally competent environment using trauma-informed, evidence-based therapies through individualized combinations of individual, couples and family counseling sessions.
Mission
To create a community that raises awareness and combats suicide by empowering veterans, first responders and their families through traditional and nontraditional therapies.
Purpose
Restore the value of life by empowering veterans, first responders, and their families
Prevention begins with awareness. This means educating ourselves and the general public, opening up the conversation and learning to become comfortable with the uncomfortability and fear of being vulnerable. By doing this, we can identify the often avoided or unaddressed issues that can lead someone to thoughts of suicide and confront those issues as they come, rather than letting them accumulate into something much worse.
The next step is empowerment. One of the biggest challenges veterans and first responders face is finding a sense of purpose after service. 22KILL has built a vast network of organizations and resources across the country, and whether through its own programs or external sources, veterans, first responders and family members can find services for mental wellness and empowerment programs to help them find or rediscover that sense of purpose. The other side of this is engagement. Often, one may come to realize that all they really needed was the brotherhood and camaraderie that may have been absent from their lives since leaving service. The 22KILL "Tribe" allows service members to connect with like-minded individuals and gives them the opportunity to get involved with community events and projects and be a part of something great.
Stay the Course
Stay the Course is a program that serves veterans, first responders and families who have sacrificed for the country. Guidance, wellness and healing from invisible wounds is provided through evidence-based therapies for individuals, couples and families at little or no cost.
Counselors and staff are competent in military and first responder cultures, therefore provide a meaningful connection for families. The uniqueness of this program lies in the use of personalized, integrated therapies with veterans or first responders AND their families to help them interconnect as a family unit.
Veterans from any era or discharge status are eligible, along with any family member of a veteran or first responder. There are no session limits, and a minimum of six free sessions is provided to each client. Stay the Course seeks to overcome barriers that may prevent veterans, first responders and families from getting the help they need.
Tribal Council
There are no set topics, no agendas and no judgement. This is a monthly peer-to-peer virtual group meeting for veterans and first responders led by staff members from Stay The Course in an open-forum setting.
One Tribe Family
Being the loved one of a veteran or first responder brings about unique experiences. This group creates a safe space to share experiences and decompress from the world. It is an opportunity to build connections and create a tribe of support.
Medical Lounge
The Med Lounge is a place for doctors, nurses, techs, and other health care personnel to come together and talk in a safe, judgment-free environment.
Forge
This program introduces veterans, first responders and their families to the therapeutic benefits of the outdoors, while tapping into the camaraderie and supportive nature of the active outdoor community. Individuals will have the opportunity to join in group retreats and participate and connect with like-minded people through various activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, off-roading, range shooting, hunting and aerial gunnery shoots.
Wind Therapy
This program focuses on introducing veterans, first responders and their spouses to the therapeutic benefits of motorcycle riding, as well as the camaraderie and supportive nature of the motorcycle community. This multiphase program encompasses the Learn2Ride academy for new riders, group rides, retreats, events and rallies.
Workshops
A current ongoing workshop is QPR Gatekeeper or Suicide Intervention Training. Past and possible future workshops include:
Art Therapy
Music Therapy
A.S.I.S.T. (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
Survival Training
CPR
Resume Building / Interview Skills
Guest Speakers
VA Benefits Classes
Creative Writing
Resource Fairs
WATCH
W-A-T-C-H (We Are The Children of Heroes) serves the children and families of America’s fallen first responders and military heroes who have died since 9/11.
OUR MISSION Create a network of hope & empowerment for the children and families of America’s fallen first responder and military heroes.
OUR VISION Prevent further trauma for families of America's fallen heroes by providing hope, empowerment and new happy memories for their children. Show them that they are not alone in their grief by connecting them to others just like them, who are dealing with the same life challenges. Connect them in a safe and comfortable setting, where they can open up, share their feelings and begin to heal. Create inspirational activities and opportunities for joy, friendship, education, therapy and communal healing.
WE WILL:
Provide support and resources to assist the children and families of fallen heroes in rebuilding their lives and finding purpose in life.
Honor and remember America's fallen heroes and their sacrifices in all we do.
Change the culture of negativity and hate directed toward America's law enforcement officers because they, their children and families deserve better from the public, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the public.
Work to reduce the number of deaths by suicide of our first responders and military personnel.
Serve and provide support to those families left behind due to the death of their hero, (all manner of death; including line of duty, killed in action and suicide).
WHO CAN APPLY
Families with children of fallen heroes post 9/11/2001
FIRST RESPONDER FAMILIES The widow/widower (or guardian) with children of a first responder who was killed/died post 9/11 while serving as a first responder, or who died from injuries sustained while serving as a first responder.
MILITARY FAMILIES The widow/widower (or guardian) with children of a military service member who was killed/died post 9/11 while serving in the military or who died from injuries sustained while serving as a member of the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force or U.S. Coast Guard.
White Star Families
The White Star designation recognizes families who have lost a service member to suicide, whether they were military or a first responder. 22KILL honors the sacrifices of both the service member and their family by providing outreach and support programs. These include family counseling and workshops, resource education, need assessments, peer retreats and other services as necessary.
The Honor Ring
The 22KILL Honor Ring is a black band worn on the index finger as a silent salute to all veterans and first responders - past and present. The Honor Ring is not simply a fashion statement, it’s a symbol of respect and support.
The ring is worn on the index finger because that makes it more easily identifiable. When you see someone else wearing an Honor Ring, it's an instant connection. You know that they either served or support those who served, and that you both support the same cause. Recognizing other members of the Tribe is always a great reminder that we are never alone, and we fight this battle together.
It also makes a good conversation starter. When asked about the ring, it is an opportunity to educate others on the issues that service members face and the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health; and to open up a conversation on a topic that otherwise tends to be avoided or ignored.
Glad you liked it. 😀
How have I missed this? Good story. Thanks for telling it. Especially now.