Highlights

East Coast Tour - Day 3

2012-01-21T22:47:49Z

Had an incredible visit at the Warrior Transition Command at Ft. Campbell yesterday. Have met with my key Advocate several times before but she set up our meeting with the entire Cadre of Transition Support Staff for the entire Battalion. They are very excited about supporting our potential activity at Bluegrass Station and now the developing requirements for Help Desk support at Ft. Knox. They were also very interested in the model we've established at the National Training Center, and the training we will be providing.

The Battalion has offered to provide a training center on base for Able Forces to set up a training center to support the Tranisiton Brigade FREE OF CHARGE. They are introducing Able Forces to the ACAP (Army Career and Alumni Program) on base. The program has available funding and resources that could support Able Forces program offerings. They have also iivited me to speak at the the upcoming March "Open House" which is a monthly "formation" for the entire transition Battalion (currently 570 WWs not including Cadre). Spent a wonderful afternoon at the VA Medical Center Huntsville with the Advocates we work with, whom Ive met with several times in the past. They're also very encouraged by the upcoming potential at Bluegrass and Ft. Knox, would like to assist us in setting up our training programs at the Medical Center. This was just a really great visit. Hung out with some Warriors waiting for appointments. Met an old 1st Sgt. that started his career with a tour in Viet Nam and ended his career with a tour in Iraq. Wonderful stories of the deployments in between. Man, I love this stuff!!!

OK, its the weekend. Leaving tomorrow for Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal.

East Coast Tour - Day 2

2012-01-21T22:43:01Z

Thursday was an incredible day. The OEF/OIF/OND office at VA Medical Center Louisville brought the 4 managers of the program to discuss Able Forces and how we can work together. They are very excited about the potential at Bluegrass Station and now the Help Desk potential at Ft. Knox. They would also like to assist us with setting up a training center in cooperation with University of Louisville.

We had a wonderful visit at the Ft. Knox Warrior Transition Brigade. They also are very impressed with our work on both the employment and training side. They are willing to provide us free of charge classroom space to offer our job preparation training which is dearly needed by over 450 WW soldiers in this Brigade. Met several WWs in the brigade including a Warrant Officer that's ready to go to Bluegrass.

Now packing up and getting ready for our 10AM visit to the WTU at Ft. Campbell before moving on to Nashville.

East Coast Tour - Day 1

2012-01-21T22:37:09Z

Great day Wednesday. Started the morning with a meeting at Special Operations Command (Bluegrass Station) Lexington KY. Met with a rep from NISH, 3 Lockheed Martin Program Managers, and the SOC Contracting Officer. We're all working to bring Wounded Warriors to support SOC requirements. They are all very enthusiastic about our opportunities to support the Command. After discussing the work of Able Forces and the support we provide our Warriors, the contracting officer said, "I want you to understand this, I have never said this to any contractor but I would love to work for Able Forces!". What a wonderful compliment on the work we do.

In the afternoon we met with Paul Green, OEF/OIF Advocate and Therapist at VA Medical Center Lexington. He is establishing contacts with a number of Wounded Warrior care givers that will be very important in our support of upcoming contracts at Bluegrass and Ft. Knox (upcoming help desk support I'll talk about later). He could not have been more supportive of our work and is very enthusiastic about our bringing a "very needed" WW training center to Lexington.

Now starting Day 2 and meeting a large group of WW Advocates at VA Medical Center Louisville, then traveling south to Ft. Knox for a meeting a the Warrior Transition Command, followed up by a meeting with L3-MPRI outside the gates of Ft. Knox. Another busy day.

Able Forces Is Hitting The Road!

2012-01-21T22:25:18Z

Skip and Kathy are so excited to be heading out on a week-long whirlwind tour or the East Coast. As they travel through Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Geogia they'll be visiting Able Forces work sites, meeting with our donors, chatting with Able Forces employees, and speading the word about the great work Able Forces is doing. Keep checking back over the next few days to read about their adventures.

Able Forces Selected To Manage The National Veterans Center

2011-12-27T20:09:20Z

Able Forces has been selected as the Managing Partner of the National Veterans Center in Washington DC. Funded by a grant from the HSC Foundation and a part of the Foundation's National Youth Transitions Center, the National Veterans Center will occupy the 2nd story of a newly renvoated 7 story, $40 million Transitions Center. The National Veterans Center will include a fully equipped training room that will have the flexibility to be configured in classroom style with desks and chairs, theater style with rows of chairs, and meeting style with a center table and chairs. Additionally, the Center will have a lounge area where veterans can informally meet to provide peer support and share networking opportunities.

During this first year, Able Forces fully expects to support several hundred veterans drawn from the DC Metro area seeking employment and who will benefit from our job preparation opportunities. These young veterans will participate in a series of trainings and seminars that help them set goals, obtain necessary skills and enroll in college classes or obtain employment. In particular, the Veterans Center will offer coursework, seminars, and training on (1)Employment Preparation, (2) Computer Operations, (3) Basic Software Usage, (4) Office Equipment, (5) Life Skills, (6) Getting into college, and (7) being a leader on campus. The Student Veterans of America will assist Able Forces in it's college curricula preparation.

Able Forces Honored to Support Pinnacle 5

2011-11-29T22:11:49Z

The Founders of Able Forces (Skip Rogers and Joe Cunningham) have been working with the former Sgt Major of the Army Jack Tilley (SMA) for the last 6 years and are members of the Board of Directors for his his non-profit organization; the American Freedom Foundation. SMA Tilley has partnered with 4 recent Military branch NCO leaders like himself to form Pinnacle 5, a non-profit company focused on educating major corporations in their efforts to employ veterans.

They have produced a video that is being aired Nationally regarding their work and Able Forces is a featured non-profit organization highlighted in the video. Able Forces is truly honored to be associated with these Military leaders. Click HERE to view the video.

10th Anniversary 9/11 Able Forces Ride A Mile Charity Event Video

2011-10-20T16:41:28Z

A huge THANK YOU to our friend Robert Swope, emmy-award winning Producer and President of Sunrise Entertainment for his filming and producing a video of our September 11th 10th Anniversary Charity Event. Awesome job Robert!! It was an incredible day with a focus on recognizing all those 1st Responders and Military personnel that have given so much to preserve the freedoms we all enjoy. I hope you can take a moment and see this moving video of a day that we are so proud to have been apart of.

Click HERE to view the video.

Able Forces Interview: Channel 3 Winchester VA Talk of the Town

2011-10-18T16:03:16Z

Skip Rogers; Co-Founder and Executive Director of Able Forces was interviewed by Barry Lee, Host of Winchester VA's Talk of the town on 11 October 2011. Skip discussed the Mission of Able Forces, upcoming events, and their efforts to exand their Employment and Job Preparation Training efforts to now include the need for financial contributions and assistance for Crisis help. This effort will enable Able Forces to provide limited financial assistance for food, transporation, and immediate crisis needs.

To view the interview click HERE and select Episode 29. The interview is at 8:20 minutes of the program.

Able Forces Provides Testimony For House Armed Services Committee

2011-10-18T15:40:58Z

Recently, the HSC Foundation in partnership with the House Armed Services Committee and the offices of Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) hosted a congressional briefing in Washington, DC to discuss the issues facing returning veterans with disabilities. The briefing was video'd and can be viewed by clicking HERE and scrolling down to the video link. Able Forces testimony is at 18:05 minutes. Skip Rogers as Co-Founder and Executive Director of Able Forces provided testimony. He is a Board Member of the HSC Foundation's National Youth Transition Collabrative with Able Forces being selected as a primary non-profit providing services at their National Veterans Center in Washington DC.

Day of Remembrance

2011-10-04T18:25:24Z

On Sunday, September 11th, Able Forces sponsored a Remembrance Event to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The event, held at Grove's Harley Davidson in Winchester Virginia, began with a ceremony featuring the Wall of Honor, celebrating the young men and women in the area who have given their lives in service. The featured event was a morning Motorcycle Rally taking riders through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley with an emotional slow-roll through the grounds of the VA Medical Center, in Martinsburg West Virginia. The afternoon featured entertainment and music by local artists and those from Nashville; booths of crafts, food, and a variety of military organizations; and games and fun for the entire family. Special thanks to all those who came to participate in this great event. Check out our photo album under Photos to see more fun images from the event.