Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Adopt a US Soldier

Choosing your Soldier
Thousands of men and women are enrolling themselves into the military, some without a choice, without contact with the outside world and without the support of a family. Adopt A US Soldier is a non-profit organization that helps connect soldiers with people who will show them support, love and kindness while they are in the service.  This program is active in over 100 countries and is ran solely by volunteers.

Without the support of someone to lean on, many soldiers suffer from depression, thoughts of near death, fear, loneliness and uncertainty. This is the reality for many US soliders who don't have family to return home to, don't receive "I miss you" letters from friends and don't have a welcoming home party to come home to.  A simple letter, gift, or photo can make a soldier's day from a million miles away.  Building a friendship for life can start with one simple step; a letter.

It's important to remember that you soldier may take time to warm up to you and you may not hear back from your soldier right away, or at all.  The mission is to send soldiers supplies and support they need, not to just gain a pen-pal.  The reality is, these soldiers need to be taken care of and the Adopt A US Soldier program provides an option called Project Frontline. Project Frontline gives you an opportunity to send a one-time note or care package to a soldier. You can send as many times as you want, but this is a great way to get started. You can also adopt more than one soldier.

Being a Soldier
If you are a US Soldier, here is your chance to get adopted. Go onto http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/ and fill out a soldier form to get your adoption started with a supporter. You can be paired with someone who understands you by including your favorite hobbies and interests. You also can include a list of items you may need or want such as a favorite snack, board game, clothing or book.

This is a great way to connect with someone from the outside world and to have your own personal support system.  It isn't required that you give thanks or write back, but it's greatly appreciated to connect with the person who is showing support.  This is a support system for you and you can use it however you would like.

Adopt A US Soldier, "Your Support Makes A Difference" at http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/

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