Fellows in Their Own Words: Building a Foundation in Hawai'i
by Chris Marvin, Veterans Outreach Coordinator, Hawai'i

It is an immense privilege to serve as part of The Mission Continues project. I am honored to be able to participate as a fellow and simultaneously to advance the interests of the organization as a Veterans Outreach Coordinator. I have spent the past months laying the ground work for The Mission Continues in the state of Hawai'i. Hawai'i is a fertile area for a project like The Mission Continues because of the strong and diverse military presence, as well as a large veteran population. Currently, marines from Marine Corp Base Hawaii and soldiers from Schofield Barracks have been heavily involved in the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. Frequently, those service members and veterans who sustain injuries find themselves back in the islands for recovery or to begin their lives after the military.

As a combat wounded veteran from Operation Enduring Freedom, I have been the recipient of much good will and charity. But this is not what attracted me to The Mission Continues. I was, instead, drawn by the opportunity provided by The Mission Continues to give back to my community and to my fellow wounded veterans. The idea of giving back is what I attempt to promote with our partner organizations, and I hope to instill this ideal in each veteran who participates in the project. It gives me great pleasure to know that because of the work I have done in my fellowship, each veteran who takes on a Mission Continues fellowship in Hawai'i will be able to give back to our community as well.

The advancement of The Mission Continues project in Hawai'i continues each day. I have successfully established relationships with many local partner organizations. And recently, I have arranged for the placement of our first fellow in Hawai'i; a very deserving and capable Army veteran named Readen Clavier. Readen will be volunteering at a high tech research and development company in Honolulu called Archinoetics. He will be working in the field of electronics, as well as assisting with a program -- funded by a federal grant -- to study traumatic brain injuries.

During the remainder of my fellowship, I hope to place as many veterans into fellowships as demand and funding will allow. I have encountered many eligible candidates for The Mission Continues. Although not all prospective fellows have the immediate availability to participate in the project, most are anxious to begin a fellowship as soon as the time is right for them. Interest also continues to be high among the local organizations, many of whom are excitedly awaiting their first fellow. Some of the local organizations have even begun to search for and recommend veterans to me for fellowship application.

Hawai'i has much to offer in volunteer opportunities. Among the local organizations that I have contacted are two nationally recognized military historical sites, multiple organizations dedicated to aiding veterans, some local chapters of national non-profits, and a few Hawai'i-based enterprises – all of which are extremely excited to participate in The Mission Continues. A healthy and ongoing relationship with partner organizations is crucial to the success of The Mission Continues in any community. Not only will this provide ample volunteer opportunities for fellows, but it will also help to spread the word and the mission of this project to individuals who could participate in or help support the project. This type of grass roots publicity is invaluable to my operations in Hawai'i, because eligible veterans often come from unexpected places.

I also hope to expand the scope of The Mission Continues in Hawai'i. The 14-week fellowship is an ideal baseline for the project, but it doesn’t always suit the schedule of the fellow nor the volunteer needs of the organization. Flexibility is the key to placing veterans into meaningful and productive positions. Taking flexibility a step further, I hope to introduce the idea of active duty military participation in The Mission Continues in Hawai'i. Many wounded service members have long, tedious recoveries. Injuries and time constraints may prevent these individuals from functioning in a typical military work environment. However, many of these individuals could spend a portion of their time in a volunteer capacity, while working around their recovery. By working closely with the military units that care for our injured service members I hope to provide adapted Mission Continues positions to active duty members.

Being involved in The Mission Continues has brought me a great sense of pride. Pride both in my military service and in the sacrifice that others have made for our country. It is truly inspiring to meet soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen, who – despite fighting for our country and suffering injuries – are still anxious to give of themselves so selflessly. I am also extremely pleased with the reaction that our partner organizations have displayed when approached about helping The Mission Continues project. And it is humbling to think that without the work I am doing in my fellowship, these worthy organizations might never meet with these honorable veterans. The Mission Continues has a bright future in Hawai'i, and I am proud to be a part of its beginnings here.

Aloha.