The Winners of Stars Earn Stripes (Part 1)

NBC launched a new show called Stars Earn Stripes in which eight celebrities, many of whom are reality TV veterans, compete alongside military veterans in a variety of military training exercises.  Each of the celebrities is supporting a cause that champions military veterans and their causes.  Although the controversial show waged an extended battle to even make it to air, the real winners in both publicity and cash, are the charities each celebrity is supporting.

Dolvett Quince, of Biggest Loser fame, was the first knocked out of the show.  He was supporting Got Your 6, which is a euphemism for the common military phrase, “Got Your Back.”    Got Your 6 supports the idea of military-civilian interaction and transition.  The organization has teamed up with the San Diego Padres for their August 19 Salute to Veterans game.  The organization attempts to touch on all areas of military-civilian life including jobs, education, housing, health, family, and leadership.  As such, it offers a number of ways you can “Show Your 6” aside from simply tax-deductible donations, such as hiring a veteran, volunteering, giving blood, and making care packages.  Donations fund a variety of projects and other veteran organizations.  Dolvett Quince was teamed up with former U.S. Marine Sergeant, Andrew McLaren.

One of the organizations Got Your 6 supports is near-eliminated Terry Crews’s charity, the Pat Tillman Foundation.  Like Crews, the namesake of the Pat Tillman foundation was a former football star before putting his NFL career on hold to join the military. The organization began with an endowment to Arizona State University, Pat Tillman’s school, and now provides scholarships to military veterans around the country. Terry Crews is teamed up with former U.S. Army Master Sergeant and Green Beret, Dale Comstock.

The first episode teamed two celebrities and two veterans into four-person teams.  Dolvett Quince’s partner, Todd Palin, is supporting the Armed Services YMCA Alaska.  As a counterpart to the YMCA, the organization strives to promote social, education, and fitness programs for veterans.  Similarly, the Armed Services YMCA of San Diego provides similar local services.  The San Diego organization provides a number of services for children, such as helping them adjust to one parent’s deployment and connect to other military children.  Additionally, the Armed Services YMCA of San Diego provides medical support for injured veterans and community-based programs for military personnel.  Todd Palin is teamed up with former Marine, Iraq War veteran, and current police officer, J.W. Cortes.

Terry Crews was teamed up with former Olympic athlete Picabo Street, who is supporting Hiring Our Heroes, part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  Hiring Our Heroes hosts job fairs around the country and helps veterans with reintegration into the civilian workforce by offering job counseling and personal branding.  Based on data from 2010, California is home to over 100,000 unemployed veterans who are trying to make the transition from life in the military to civilian life.  Picabo Street is teamed up with former Navy Seal, Brent Gleeson.

These are only half the organizations represented on the show to support military veterans.  If you are a veteran who could use assistance, a V.A. accredited attorney can help you obtain the benefits you deserve from the V.A. and other organizations.  If you are a civilian looking for a worthy cause, perhaps one of the above organizations is right for you!

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