Programs and results
What we aim to solve
PROBLEM 1 - MILITARY TRAUMA • Since 9/11 an estimated 3,321,125 veterans have been in this position, planning or attempting their own suicide. • Our Founder, Mike Waldron, served in the initial invasion of Iraq in the Marine Corps Infantry. Five years after combat he began experiencing severe symptoms of PTSD, which lasted for years to come. During that time life became very difficult to live, the only thing he looked forward to was going to sleep. • During this time, the VA published a study stating 22 veterans killed themselves every day. Mike felt like he nearly became one of those 22 veterans. 23rd Veteran now describes a veteran who has felt death was a viable option, but they are still here and helping other veterans. PROBLEM 2 - TRANSITION FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIAN LIFE • 65% of veterans leave their first job within two years
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
23V Recon
23V Recon is a fun and challenging life-changing experience for veterans. It begins with a team of local veterans on a trip to an outdoor adventure in a distant state. Here we begin to build the strong camaraderie we often miss after leaving the military.
With our new team, we participate in instructor-led workouts three times each week. We get our heart rate up so that our brain releases Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). With BDNF available, we participate in our brain-retraining program for 30 minutes following each workout. Doing so builds strong positive memories, influences happiness through positive psychology, and most importantly leaves us with a strong team of veterans and civilians within our community!
Four weeks into this program civilians are introduced and become fully participating members of the team, following all the same rules as the veterans.
Dedication and commitment is a requirement to take advantage of this free program! We have strict rules and solid leadership. Happiness is not an entitlement, you have to earn it!
Bladesmithing
Our bladesmithing program is designed to capture the attention of working-class veterans who aren’t seeing the value of art-therapy. With the motivating end-result of possessing a usable piece of sharp-art created themselves through sweat, fire, and focus, our veterans are more likely to join the group setting and get to know other veterans and members of the community. After completing our 5-week course, the veterans are invited to join our partnering nonprofit Forging Community where they can continue the historic craft at their leisure.
Community Engagement
Clarity is not found in your average post-trauma seminar. 23rd Veteran breaks the mold of trauma education with material that a teenager can easily understand. Our engagement and education allows those living with trauma and their loved ones to truly understand why they may be experiencing the thoughts, emotions, anxiety and depression in their life, and what they can do about it. Our unique 5-minute cartoon explaining the evolution of trauma has been shown at mental health seminars, military units, and universities nation-wide. While focusing on pre-deployment and post-deployment seminars, this engagement encompasses employers, universities, television, radio, and community groups all looking to create a successful environment for our veterans.
Where we work
Awards
Best Venture Impacting Veterans 2018
IVMF Syracuse
External reviews

Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of participants attending course/session/workshop
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Veterans, Health
Related Program
23V Recon
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
14-week course: week #1 Outdoor Wellness Adventure builds camaraderie; weeks #2-14 physical fitness & positive psychology + community events. Includes civilians who join week #5.
Number of clients who show a measurable decrease in PTSD symptoms
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Health, Veterans
Related Program
23V Recon
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
VETERAN GRADUATES ONLY survey comments with the following pertinent data: change in quality of life; change in trusting others; change in getting along with others; and change in level of happiness.
Total dollars received in contributions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Health, Veterans
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2021 is a projection
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
MISSION:
• Provide happier, healthier lives for veterans living with trauma.
VISION:
• Give U.S. veterans a future of hope, opportunity, community, and inner peace.
OBJECTIVES:
• 23V Recon: A 14-week holistic program (camaraderie, physical fitness, and positive psychology) to help our veterans transition from military to civilian life.
• Bladesmithing - A sharp art therapy program that motivates veterans to get out of their homes and build relationships in the community while creating a functional piece of art
• Community Engagement: Provide education on post-traumatic stress, why it's common in the military culture, and how to create an environment more conducive for veterans. Host Nearly Naked Ruck Marches in cities where we run our 23V Recon program in order to connect the community with our programs and recruit veterans.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
23V RECON (RECONDITIONING PROGRAM):
23V Recon is our primary objective. It's our "brain reconditioning" program providing a profound impact for veterans and civilians. We utilize brain science, combined with camaraderie, physical fitness, and positive psychology to retrain our negative triggers from combat stress to relate to new positive events, establishing a mindset that is far more successful in the civilian world. This is a groundbreaking approach to serving veterans with traumatic experiences and early results have shown it to be extremely successful.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
23rd Veteran provides engagement seminars on combat stress. We teach why our brains are supposed to change during traumatic situations, why we carry that with us, and what the community can do to create a friendlier environment for veterans. This education is provided to corporations, universities, community groups, U.S. Congress, and government organizations. We also specialize in providing this very useful and destigmatizing education to military units before they deploy.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
RECONDITIONING CAPABILITIES:
We've published the "23V Recon Playbook", which acts as a manual for coaches and veterans in the program. The book allows for easy expansion and execution of the program by laying out the foundation for:
• The rules
• The workouts
• The positive psychology sessions
• The memory retraining portions of the program
The "Playbook" has been used and refined through 28 weeks of execution. The 4th Version of the playbook has been used in expansion to 4 cities in 2022.
COMBAT STRESS SEMINARS CAPABILITIES:
Our Executive Director has been speaking around the country for military units, corporations, community clubs, mental health conferences, universities, and U.S. Congress. The seminars are continuing to be improved and refined for education, entertainment, and significance. The feedback received is amazingly positive and used to improve future seminars.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Performed nine 23V Recon groups:
• 80 graduates
• 97% report living a happier, higher quality of life
(as of Dec 2021)
• Running in 3 major US cities - Duluth, MN; Minneapolis, MN; Philadelphia, PA
Performed 306 Combat Stress Seminars:
• Educating 18,597 audience members
• Provided pre-deployment training to 1,113 military members
• Provided seminar to members of Congress in Washington D.C.
Received National Awards:
• 2nd place in Veteran Business Growth Challenge with 102 competitors nation-wide
• Named the nation's "Best Venture Impacting Veterans" by IVMF Syracuse at the Veteran Edge Conference in 2018
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
23rd Veteran serves any military veteran who has experienced trauma during their time in the military. Some examples include, but are not limited to, physical injury, mental strain due to combat, sexual abuse, death of comrade, etc.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Paper surveys,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our community partners,
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us,
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
23rd Veteran
Board of directorsas of 2/15/2022
Nathan Helder
ALLETE
Term: 2021 -
Nathan Helder
ALLETE
Mike Waldron
23rd Veteran
Doug Bowser
CertaPro Painters of Akron
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data