Mental Wellness - and the suffering of perhaps the greatest President

You might be stunned to learn that Abraham Lincoln often suffered bouts of "melancholy" and even talked about suicide.  He quoted dark poetry and told jokes to raise his own spirits.  If Facebook had existed back then imagine what he might have posted!

Sometimes suicide seems the best way to relieve suffering, to cease being a burden to others, a voice that drowns out all else.  This is why the Spartan Pledge is so important, so critical.  A warrior that makes a promise to another warrior keeps that promise - period.

Just imagine how different the world would be today if Abraham Lincoln had ended his own life.  His mission to end slavery surely powered him through that melancholy.  What's your mission?  A warfighter without a mission is a dead warfighter.

Run Ranger Run helps us spread the word about The Spartan Pledge and more.  Three years ago this past week Ranger Cory Smith finished his epic journey of 565 miles from Columbus Georgia to Indianapolis Indiana.  He ran, he walked and he biked to bring awareness to the difficult journey a soldier experiences becoming a civilian.  His miles saved lives, and yours can too.

This brief video talks about the importance of Run Ranger Run.

Please share this widely - and consider helping us with our mission.  https://www.crowdrise.com/mongersmarauders/

Learn more about GallantFew here.

Volunteers Needed for Research Study! “Partner Post-traumatic Stress and Growth”

Volunteers Needed for Research Study!
“Partner Post-traumatic Stress and Growth”

Description of Project: This study seeks to better understand the
different ways that military spouses/partners respond when they or
their spouses/partners experience highly stressful or traumatic
events. If you choose to participate, you will be asked to complete an
online questionnaire about your current thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors related to your response to a highly stress/traumatic event
experienced by yourself of your spouse/partner within the past five
years. It is anticipated that this survey will take approximately 30
minutes to complete. If you choose to participate, you will be
eligible for a drawing to receive 1 of 2, $50.00 Visa gift cards.

To participate: You must be a military service member or spouse and
are currently living in the United States. You must speak English and
you must also be between the ages of 18 and 65 years old. Also, you or
your spouse/partner must have experienced a highly stressful event
within the past five years.

If interested, please click https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8MDFB7H

To learn more, contact the principal investigators of the study,
Jeremy Jinkerson at 662-617-0497 or jjinkerson@email.fielding.edu or
Athena Hubbard at 303-990-2149 or ahubbard@email.fielding.edu.

This research is conducted under the direction of Dr. Daniel Holland,
Fielding Graduate University, Department of Psychology and has been
eviewed and approved. Posted with permission.

Gary Gordon Medal of Honor Memorial - Larry Moores

On February 3, 2015 I interviewed US Army veteran Larry Moores.  Larry was a platoon leader in the 3rd Ranger Battalion during the Battle of Mogadishu, better known as Black Hawk Down.  Watch the YouTube interview below.

Here's the Facebook page that Larry mentions.

Jump straight to a donation to support the memorial.

You can also listen to the audio through iTunes or Podbean.  Be sure and catch some archives and tune in each Tuesday at 2pm Central for the live broadcast.

Run Ranger Run 2015 has begun!  Are you on a team?  Check out the participants across the USA and overseas.