Veterans

The Veterans Initiative

Military personnel understand the importance of the right clothes. A camouflage uniform, body armor, a helmet – these are life-saving apparel items.  And putting on that clothing can be a metaphor for the transformation from civilian to warrior.

The re-entry into civilian life can be just as dramatic.  But the uniforms of the civilian work place are not government-issue.

Men and women discharged from the military face unique challenges.  There’s a tremendous mental and emotional adjustment when transitioning from the culture of a military at war to a civilian society largely insulated from life-threatening hostilities.  Challenging economic times and high unemployment rates – combined with the stress of coping with disabilities, both physical and mental – hamper the efforts of some veterans to start new lives.

These veterans deserve the same thoughtful support after their service that they received preparing for that service – and Dignity U Wear can help. It is with great enthusiasm that we announce our new Veterans Initiative – a program that supports nonprofit agencies working with veterans by supplying the wardrobes they’ll need to begin new chapters in their lives.

We approach this project with gratitude and humility.  It isn’t possible to adequately compensate veterans who sustain significant injuries in the line of duty, nor do we think buying new suits and clothing for these brave men and women should be labeled as charity work. But it does represent a tangible way we can help them transition back to civilian life while at the same time acknowledging our debt to them.

One of our partners, the Wounded Warrior Project, gives injured soldiers the assistance they need. Programs include education, counseling, mentoring, job placement — and thanks to Dignity U Wear and our “Suits for Soldiers” program, new clothes.

According to Wounded Warrior Project Manager Ty Dixon, new clothes help soldiers change how they think about themselves. “In wartime, the last thing on their minds is their appearance,” she said. “They go days without bathing or shaving. They’re not really looking down the road.”

Warriors often resist wearing appropriate business clothes, said Dixon, and argue about the need for them. “When you’re trying to reconstruct your life, buying a new suit isn’t high on your priority list,” she said.

But the transformation she sees in them once they’re properly attired is dramatic. They carry themselves differently, she said. They feel proud. New clothes help them recalibrate their hope for the next chapter in their lives.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans also offers veterans assistance in rebuilding their lives through its “Stand Down” program – named after a battlefield term for getting exhausted soldiers to a place where they can rest and recuperate from combat. The NCHV’s Stand Down has the same purpose – to get former soldiers off the streets for a while. Dignity U Wear wants to help by providing the veterans with whatever clothing they need to get jobs, stay warm, or even simply feel stronger and more hopeful about their futures.

Dignity U Wear believes that when soldiers leave behind the tools of war, they deserve to be given a new set of instruments. They will always be soldiers or sailors or Marines, but it’s important for them to flourish as civilians as well – as parents, spouses and providers. Dignity U Wear encourages them toward these crucial roles by helping them blend back into society.

Men and women of the armed services spend months and years as powerful agents of change – but their power isn’t limited to the weapons they hold. Dignity U Wear is proud to be working with veterans organizations such as Wounded Warriors and The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, and hope that in time, these warriors can begin to feel their internal power – the strength that comes from a job well done, a life well-lived, and a future that promises the world. It’s a power that comes with dignity.

Click here to see a video about our Suits for Soldiers Program.

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