The Buddy-to-Buddy Volunteer Veteran Program was developed at the University of Michigan in partnership with the Michigan Army National Guard; faculty from the Veterans Administration Health System and Michigan State University; and veteran advocates to address the unique challenges facing Citizen Soldiers. These soldiers often deploy multiple times and are isolated from those with whom they served once they return to their home communities. The Mission of the Program is to use trained Volunteer Veterans to help OEF/OIF/OND military service members to overcome the stigma around asking for help and link those who are facing challenges throughout the deployment cycle with appropriate resources that will optimize their quality of life.
Peer-to-Peer Support from Trained Volunteer Veterans
Behind the Buddy-to-Buddy Volunteer Veteran Program is a simple concept: Military Service is unlike any other human experience. No one knows more about the issues facing a service member – in combat or on the home front – than a fellow service member. Volunteer Veterans are recruited to the Program from a variety of veteran service organizations and the community. They receive training in communication skills and available community resources to help them assist other service members in managing the many challenges that may arise throughout the deployment cycle.
How Buddy-to-Buddy Works
The Buddy-to-Buddy Volunteer Veteran Program is a free and confidential program that operates throughout the entire state of Michigan. Volunteer Veterans are assigned to National Guard armories, and offer resources and assistance to any soldier from those armories. Volunteer Veterans also provide outreach in their local communities and respond to calls for assistance from any OEF/OIF/OND veteran. The Program trains Volunteer Veterans to link service members with the support, assistance, and resources they might need throughout the deployment cycle. Volunteers help service members address issues ranging from accessing financial, legal, benefit, or educational assistance to identifying mental health providers for emotional or relationship concerns. The primary goal is to intervene early, before identified concerns or stressors escalate into crises.
Anyone can call the Buddy-to-Buddy Volunteer Veteran Program to seek assistance, make a referral, or to inquire further; however, we are only able to offer resources to military service members, veterans, and their families in Michigan. Michigan OEF/OIF/OND service members and veterans can call the program directly to be confidentially connected to our Volunteer Veterans. Others can call to refer a Michigan OEF/OIF/OND service member who might benefit from the program.
We provide services to:
- Michigan OEF/OIF/OND Veterans and service members
- Members of Michigan Army National Guard
- Reservists residing in Michigan
We can help connect a service member with resources in following areas:
- Education
- Employment
- Financial
- Legal
- Medical
- Mental health
- Substance abuse
- Relationship issues
- Other identified resource needs