REBOOT™ is a three-week workshop, provided by the National Veterans Transition Services, Inc., that helps veterans ease back into civilian life after military service. Recently, the not-for-profit has partnered with Social Venture Partners.
Launched by Retired Rear Admiral Ronne Froman and Retired Master Chief Petty Officer Maurice Wilson in July 2010, REBOOT was created after its founders became aware of the increasing number of former service members not adjusting to the “real world.” The concept is that if you have to go through boot camp to be acculturated for the military, there should be a similar program when you leave the service as well.
To date, nearly 300 San Diego service men and women have benefited from this program just within its first year of testing. REBOOT’s regional plan is to re-train about 2,500 veterans in 18 months.
Statistics show that ex-military suffer from high jobless rates, as well as higher rates of homelessness, substance abuse and many other reintegration challenges. REBOOT gives San Diego’s veterans the tools to combat these challenges and to succeed. REBOOT is the only reintegration program of its kind that helps veterans’ re-adaption to a life of independence post service.
Due to a generous contribution from the Gary and Mary West Foundation and others, REBOOT has been able to run one workshop per month with 18 students. REBOOT would like to increase the number of workshops available to four each month and eventually, operate at 12 workshops each month. Each workshop is $2,500 per student. REBOOT workshops are available free of charge for employed veterans and active duty personnel of all wars, as well as their spouses.
With the conflict in Iraq winding down and the military poised to leave Afghanistan, the numbers leaving the military service will only increase. Please consider donating to REBOOT to help San Diego’s veterans rejoin our community as successfully as possible.
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