Today is November 11th also known as Veterans Day. One of the beautiful acknowledgments that often comes to veterans like me, is the phrase, “thank you for your service.”

I appreciate the gestures. Sometimes it is difficult to hear because I was just doing my job.

Here’s the deal. The people I meet who say, “thank you for your service,” are genuine. However, many articulate and refer to my service and protecting our freedoms.

Some of my battle buddies did not serve during combat. Does that mean their service was less? We’re they not protecting our freedoms?

Though I was in combat, I did not experience it the same as Vietnam Veterans, or Iraqi Freedom Veterans.

When I was building the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Paralympic Military Sport Program, I was asked by military installations to vetting community organizations that desired. Leadership was cautious about organizations only wanting to support combat-injured veterans. The reason being is that philosophy divides the troops.

I can’t tell you how many times I heard a vet say, “well, I wasn’t injured in combat,” after being thanked for their service.

It is also not a sustainable business practice. When the wars end, there are no more combat-related vets to support.

So, on this Veterans Day, think about what each veteran, whether out of service or on active duty who made it beyond 180 days in the military, has in common. The commonality for me is our oath of service.

We all raised our right and swore to, “protect and defend United States Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic and to bare true faith and allegiance to the same.”

When we separated from service no one ever came during our “exit interview” to un-oath us. My question becomes when was the last time you read the US Constitution?

This Veterans Day may be the way we can thank a vet is by downloading the US Constitution and read:

• The Preamble
• The Articles
• The Amendments

Once you complete that, go and thank a veteran for protecting and defending the US Constitution.

That would, in my opinion, be appropriate.

Have a great Veterans Day and go forth and inspire your world.
— JR

#usarmy #combatveteran #intersectionality

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John Register, Gulf War Army Veteran and Paralympic Silver Medalist Living in Post Traumatic Growth.

rough hardship and move on to a more productive life than before they experienced trauma. Despite having what society might call a “disability,” these people have soldiered through life and have moved into Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) — loosely defined as a set of positive changes which result from surviving a traumatic experience.

As a founder of the United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Military Sport Program, I repeatedly experienced veterans using sports to overcome PTSD and transition into their “new normal.” I routinely heard exclamations of “I am doing more with one leg than I ever did with two!” or “I sense more without eyesight than I ever did sighted!”

The time I spent with service members in this program taught me 5 key ideas that help a person transition into their PTG.

1. Discovery: Discovery of new opportunities, such as sports.

2. Connection: Connecting with others who have experienced similar trauma and creating a strong bond with them.

3. Resilience: Understanding that there is no “rebound,” but instead taking a proactive step toward achieving your goals, even if that means trusting someone else to help with the process.

4. Appreciation: Appreciating that life is still yours to live, and being thankful for your life.

5. Commitment: Commit to a process, a system, a belief that tomorrow is better than today.

This Veterans Day, we remember the great men and women who have served and still serve in our armed forces. We also recognize those who struggle with PTSD and want to ensure that programs are in place to facilitate their transition into Post Traumatic Growth.

For a free download of my infographic on PTG click HERE.

John Register

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