PREVENT Initiative: Executive order to combat veteran suicide

WASHINGTON — The Independence Fund applauds President Trump for his commitment to serve America's wounded Veterans and their families. Today's Executive Order solidifies the critical importance of Veteran suicide prevention which continues to take the lives of 20 Veterans each day.

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The "President's Roadmap to Empower Veterans to End the National Tragedy" (the PREVENT Initiative) will empower Veterans to pursue an improved quality of life, coordinate existing suicide prevention efforts, prioritize related research activities, and engender collaboration across the public and private sectors.

The Independence Fund is at the forefront of these activities and through its unique partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Operation RESILIENCY reunites wounded Veterans from the hardest hit units in the Global War on Terror.

Sarah Verardo, Chief Executive Officer of The Independence Fund stood alongside the President, and former members of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert Musil and Army Sgt. Nick Armendariz witnessed the signing of this historic Executive Order. Musil, who is still on active duty, has seen the need for increased suicide prevention efforts first hand. He lost 15 of his former soldiers to suicide, almost as many as the 18 he lost in combat over his numerous combat deployments — a tragic reality for those who served in combat. Musil and Armendariz will attend the first Operation RESILIENCY reunion retreat with nearly 100 of their battle buddies from Bravo Company.

"We owe it to our Veterans to ensure they're not forgotten when they come home. The PREVENT Initiative serves as a new call to action for all of us," says Verardo. "They may return from battlefields, but their wars are not over. For many, another battle begins when their purpose in the military ends. The PREVENT Initiative and Operation RESILIENCY reignite that purpose."

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The Independence Fund stands shoulder to shoulder with the White House, leaders in the House and Senate, VA leadership and champions from the public and private sectors to assist Veterans in suicide prevention, through the PREVENT Initiative, the MISSION Act, and other efforts targeted to meet the unmet needs of America's Veterans.

Established in 2007, The Independence Fund is a national Veterans Service Organization dedicated to meeting the unmet needs of catastrophically combat-wounded Veterans, Caregivers, and their Families through mobility programs, adaptive sports, advocacy, and Veteran suicide prevention.

Associated Press