I recently had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Veteran Brian Alvey at his office in Franklin, Indiana. Brian enlisted in September 1991 and served just over 20 years in the U.S. Army. He started out as a medic, and even spent some time as an infantry instructor and drill sergeant but most of his years in service were as a paratrooper in the Indiana 151st Long Range Surveillance unit.

Following September 11, 2001 (9/11), Brian did several tours in Afghanistan, both on active duty and later as a contractor with the Department of Defense. Those years proved to be hard on Brian, both physically and mentally. One incident, causing a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), forced him to take early medical retirement. Brian returned home to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), TBI and chronic pain in much of his body. After several years of dealing with these issues on his own, he discovered the Brian Bill Foundation in St. Petersburg, Florida. Brian decided it was time to face the mental and physical trauma, caused by all of those years of war, and signed himself up.

The Brian Bill Foundation is a non-profit organization established to honor Navy Seal Brian Bill, a member of Naval Special Warfare Development Group, as well as all his fellow Special Operations Warriors who have died in service since 9/11. The foundations Warrior Healing Program is a 4-day therapeutic retreat for Special Operations Forces active-duty service members, veterans, and their spouses who have been deployed since 9/11 and suffered mild TBI’s, PTSD, and chronic pain. The program takes place on a horse ranch and uses several cutting-edge therapeutic modalities that includes working with the horses.

Brian said this program saved his life and he is now on a personal mission to help others find resources as well. He stated, “It’s a miracle that I’m here, and I don’t want others to go through that.” Brian went on to say,

“What’s instilled in us, as non-commissioned officers in the US Army, is that you help other people. It’s about the guy to your right and to your left. You negotiate an obstacle, and you help everyone else negotiate that obstacle. You do it as a team. When you get out, everyone disperses, and the team is gone. What we are doing is trying to bring the team back together. Who better to take care of us, than us? If I can help just one guy not to go through the same stuff I went through, it’s worth it.”

While looking for help, Brian realized that there are many organizations that he didn’t trust to use their funds properly. He decided to do what seemed reasonable and started his own non-profit organization, called Warrior 110, in 2019. Since that day, 100% of the donations he has received have gone towards assisting combat veterans with treatment for PTSD and TBI. The purpose of the organization is to raise both awareness and funds for these individuals in need.

According to current statistics, there is an average of 22 veteran suicides every day in the United States. Every November, during the week of Veterans Day, Brian and a group of fellow veterans participate in a 110-mile Ruck March as a way of bringing awareness to this staggering statistic. The march begins in New Albany, Indiana, on the banks of the Ohio River, and ends at the Veterans Memorial Monument in Franklin, Indiana. The group marches 22 miles a day, for five days straight, each carrying a 45lb rucksack. This year, they will begin their journey on November 9th and finish up on November 13th. They encourage anyone who would like to join them for the last 10 miles to meet them on Saturday at the American Legion Post 233 in Edinburgh, Indiana. You are also welcome to meet up with the group at the Memorial Monument in Franklin later that day to celebrate another march completed.

For the past two years, the donations collected during the Warrior 110 march were given to help support other organizations who are actively assisting Veterans and their families. The first year all donated funds went to the Homeless Veterans and Families (HVAF) organization. Their mission is to eliminate homelessness among veterans and their families through education, prevention, supportive services, and advocacy. Last year, Warrior 110 helped send individuals to the Brian Bill Foundation in Florida using the funds raised. The non-profit has also been able to financially assist a veteran with program costs and airfare to the Warriors Heart, a 30-day addiction treatment center near San Antonio, Texas.

Brian, who now has two sons of his own, Joseph and Dominic, serving in the armed forces, said that you must do a continuous evaluation of yourself to ensure that you are doing ok. He said, “You can’t just say, ‘I’m good now’. It’s not that simple. You have to keep doing the things that help you to be ok.”

To find out more about getting assistance from Warrior 110 with PTSD and TBI, or to make a donation, contact them at:

www.thewarrior110.org

www.facebook.com/warr110r/