Monthly Veteran Resource Spotlight: The Mission Continues - Rebuilding Purpose Through Community Service
- Aug 15
- 6 min read
Part 2 of our ongoing series highlighting valuable resources for Louisiana veterans and their families
For many Louisiana veterans, the transition from military service to civilian life can feel like losing a fundamental part of their identity. The camaraderie, the sense of mission, the knowledge that your work makes a tangible difference—these core elements of military life don't simply transfer to the civilian world. That's where The Mission Continues steps in, offering Louisiana veterans something invaluable: the opportunity to rebuild their sense of purpose through community service right here at home.
A Mission Born from Understanding
Founded in 2007 by former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, The Mission Continues emerged from a deeply personal understanding of veteran transition challenges. After returning from Iraq, Greitens experienced firsthand the disconnect many veterans feel when they leave military service. When he drove off the base for the first time, he passed a Wendy's drive-through with a long line of people and thought to himself that nobody knows what's going on overseas, and wondered if anybody cared.
This moment of isolation led to action. He called a couple of his buddies he served with, and they decided to do something about it. They put in money from their disability checks, and he contributed his combat pay from Iraq to start The Mission Continues.
The Louisiana Connection: New Orleans 1st Service Platoon
Making a Real Impact in the Crescent City
The New Orleans 1st Service Platoon is a team of veteran and non-veteran volunteers that focuses on supporting the revitalization and empowerment of the Lower Ninth Ward community in an operation dubbed "Operation Restore Lower 9th." This isn't just volunteer work—it's strategic community rebuilding that leverages the unique skills Louisiana veterans bring to the table.
The Lower Ninth Ward suffered some of the worst flooding in the greater New Orleans area, and as one of the city's poorer outlying neighborhoods, government help, services and national media attention have not been focused on this neighborhood. The NOLA 1st Platoon supports local nonprofits and community leaders invested in revitalizing and empowering the Lower Ninth community to support and sustain the growth of this neighborhood by addressing the long-standing barriers that have made this community stagnate to recovery and restoration.
What Makes The Mission Continues Different
Not Charity—Challenge
What's unique about The Mission Continues is that they're not offering charity or a handout—they're offering a challenge. This approach resonates with Louisiana veterans because it honors their capabilities rather than treating them as beneficiaries.
The Mission Continues is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization that aims to empower military veterans to apply their skills and leadership abilities to benefit under-resourced communities. They're building a movement that empowers veterans to continue their service and leadership in under-resourced communities.
The Numbers Tell the Story
The Mission Continues has activated 80,000 veteran volunteers, executed 7,000 service projects, and served 3,800 community organizations. For Louisiana veterans, these numbers represent real opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their home communities.
Programs That Transform Lives
Service Platoons: Your Local Team
As of March 2023, service platoons are active in 40 cities across the nation, including New Orleans. Led by volunteers who are veterans, they coordinate projects tailored to local needs. For Louisiana veterans, this means working alongside fellow veterans on projects that directly impact Louisiana communities.
Leadership Development Opportunities
The Mission Continues offers veteran-focused courses on how to lead in local communities and engage in personal development practices. These aren't generic leadership courses—they're specifically designed to help veterans translate their military leadership experience into civilian community impact.
Fellowship Programs
Through an intensive six-month service and leadership program, veterans begin to rebuild their own sense of purpose at home while also strengthening their communities. At the end of the fellowship, the objective is that they go on to full-time employment or full-time education, and they have an ongoing role in service, meaning they're finding a way to continue to be of service in their communities.
Real Impact on Veteran Well-Being
What Louisiana Veterans Are Saying
The results speak for themselves through veteran testimonials:
"Personally, TMC helps me to feel more in touch with my community. After separating, I felt like I lost part of me and didn't have a place in society. When I go to service projects, I feel like I have a secure place in my community."
"TMC has given me skills that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I am able to be around people without feeling anxious or invisible. I even have been able to pass the skills I've learned to my children."
"Being a platoon leader set me up for my current employment—where I am able to re-purpose my service from country to my community. I am a community leader and state organizer now because of it."
Measurable Results
73% of veterans who recently participated in a TMC program or event believe they are able to achieve goals they set for themselves; 68% of all veteran respondents believe they are able to achieve goals they set for themselves.
Why Louisiana Veterans Matter to The Mission Continues
Skills That Translate
Louisiana veterans bring exactly what communities need: leadership under pressure, teamwork capabilities, problem-solving skills, and a mission-focused mentality. The Mission Continues helps veterans rebuild a sense of purpose as they make their transition back home.
Community Partnership
The Mission Continues partners with hundreds of organizations around the country to create opportunities for fellows to serve, working very closely with other nonprofit organizations. For Louisiana veterans, this means access to a network of service opportunities across the state.
How Louisiana Veterans Can Get Involved
Ready to Continue Your Mission?
Getting Started:
Visit their website: missioncontinues.org
Find your local platoon: Connect with the New Orleans 1st Service Platoon
Attend a service project: Experience the organization firsthand
Apply for leadership programs: Take your community impact to the next level
Louisiana-Specific Opportunities:
New Orleans 1st Service Platoon: Focus on Lower Ninth Ward revitalization
Statewide projects: Connect with veterans across Louisiana
Leadership development: Build skills for civilian career advancement
Community partnerships: Work with established Louisiana nonprofits
Beyond Service: Career and Personal Development
Professional Benefits
The Mission Continues isn't just about community service—it's about veteran development. They have a rigorous approach to measurement and focus on results, which has led so many corporate partners, family foundations, and civic groups to invest in The Mission Continues.
Leadership Skills Development
They provide high-potential leaders with valuable insights, tools, and connections. For Louisiana veterans, this means building a professional network while making a community impact.
The Ripple Effect
Building Stronger Louisiana Communities
Former military service members with a desire to engage more deeply in their communities are invited to partner with other local veterans to complete service projects together that enable them to learn about pressing local issues—and form strong bonds with each other.
Inspiring the Next Generation
The Mission Continues deploys veterans on new missions in their communities, so that their actions will inspire future generations to serve. Louisiana veterans participating in The Mission Continues become role models for both civilian community members and fellow veterans.
Your Next Chapter Starts Here
For Louisiana veterans struggling with the question "What's next?" The Mission Continues offers a powerful answer: your next chapter involves the same elements that made your military service meaningful—mission, teamwork, leadership, and impact—just in a new setting.
The Mission Continues wants to be a transition from being a veteran to being someone who is a citizen-leader in their communities who continues to serve and to inspire.
The Louisiana communities you've sworn to protect need your leadership. The Mission Continues is your pathway to continue that service in a way that builds both stronger communities and a stronger you.
Whether you're in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, or anywhere across Louisiana, The Mission Continues offers you the chance to answer the call to serve once again—this time as a civilian leader making a lasting impact in the communities you call home.
This is part of our monthly series highlighting resources available to Louisiana veterans and their families. Have a resource you'd like us to feature? Contact us to share your suggestions for future spotlights.
Next Month: We'll be highlighting the Women Veterans Alliance, an organization dedicated to supporting the unique needs of Louisiana's women veterans. Stay tuned for more ways to maximize the benefits you've earned through your service.
