[Fire Watch Council Meeting] [00:00:03] >>> GOOD EVENING. I THINK WE WILL GET STARTED. WE WILL TRY TO KEEP IT SOMEWHAT INFORMAL. SOMETIMES WE CAN GET TOO FORMAL AND THEN IT ENDS UP NOT WE DON'T GET TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND HAVE A DISCUSSION. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE. I WILL INTRODUCE COLONEL BUCK BERNI WHO WILL INTRODUCE GENERAL FLEMING AND HE WILL START OFF WITH SLIDES AND JUST GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF FIRE WATCH. BUT WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK. WE WANT YOUR INPUT AND OBVIOUSLY QUESTIONS AND THAT TYPE OF THING AFTERWARD. WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION POINT FOR THAT. MY NAME GAVIN ROLLINS. WE HAVE HERE TONIGHT OUR COMMISSIONER CHAIR WHO IS MARINE. NOT EX MARINE. FORMER MARINE. ONE A MARINE ALWAYS A MARINE. AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER GUESTS HERE TONIGHT. BUT OUR COUNTY MANAGER AND VARIOUS COUNTY STAFF THANKS FOR BEING HERE. I'M WILL INTRODUCE BUCK BURNEY. IT'S A FIVE COUNTY COALITION. THERE'S REPRESENTATIVES CLAY COUNTY, DUAL, NASHUA, ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND BAKER COUNTY. AND ALL FIVE OF THOSE HAVE AN APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE. CLAY COUNTY COMMISSION APPOINTED BUCK BERNIE AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE. HE VOTES ON ISSUES OF GOVERNANCE FOR THE FIRE WATCH. AND THEN I'M THE COUNTY'S LIAISON. COUNTY COMMISSION LIAISON TO FIRE WATCH COUNCIL. JUST WANTED TO CARE FIVE THAT. COLONEL BERNIE SERVED ON THE CLAY COUNTY COMMISSION WHILE I WAS OVERSEAS IN AFRICA FOR A YEAR AND DID A GREAT JOB ON THE COMMISSION. AND I CALLED HIM AND SAID, HEY, DO YOU WANT ANOTHER JOB. HE HAS LIKE FIVE OR SIX JOBS. HE SAID WELL IF IT'S HELPING VETERANS I'M WILLIN TO STEP IN AND STEP UP TO PLATE. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. HE'S A VETERAN, OBVIOUSLY HIMSELF. FLEW MULTIPLE HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU HAVE IN F-15 AND VARIOUS? >> 3,000 HOURS IN VARIOUS AIRCRAFT. AS A PILOT HE -- WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE HIM ONBOARD. AND HIS HELP AND HE ALSO WORKS WITH EMBRY-RIDDLE AND OTHER ORGANIZATION. COLONEL BERNIE IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING FORWARD. START OUT WITH THE PLEDGE. AND THEN HARRY, DO YOU MIND DOING A QUICK PRAYER FOR US AND THEN THE PLEDGE. PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. >> GARY, DO YOU MIND. DO A QUICK PRAYER FOR US. >> THANKS. >> BOW YOUR HEADS, PLEASE. >> LORD, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU GIVE US EACH AND EVERY DAY. WE ASK THAT YOU PUT YOUR HAND OVER ALL OF OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE SERVING,BLESS OUR FAMILIES AND KEEP THEM SAFE. IN GOD'S NAME AMEN. >> AMEN. >> IF YOU WILL JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE TO OUR GREAT FLAG. I WILL LET YOU PASS THOSE OUT. AS COMMISSIONER RAWLINGS PASSES THOSE OUT. LET ME ADD MY WORD TO WELCOME EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF BUSY SCHEDULE THAT WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT. BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONES THAT WILL HELP US TAKE THIS PROGRAM TO THE LEVEL THAT I THINK IT NEEDS TO GO TO, WHICH IS TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN VETERAN'S LIVES THAT ARE REALLY STRUGGLING. AS I OPEN UP TONIGHT. I GIVE YOU BACKGROUND. I'M DEFINITELY HONORED TO BE ON THIS TEAM WITH GENERAL FLEMING. GENERAL FLEMING AND I GO WAY BACK. WE WERE BOTH OUT OF HEADQUARTERS. HE WAS THE ONE STAR AND INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE LEADER. JUST HONORED TO BE ON THIS TEAM WITH HIM. WHEN I LOOK BACK ON MY CAREER, I TELL EVERYBODY I'M THE B STUDENT. ON THIS TEAM, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT. I REMEMBER IN HIGH SCHOOL WE SAT IN HIGH SCHOOL AT GRADUATION BASED ON YOUR GRADE POINT AVERAGE. SO WHEN WE WENT TO GRADUATION. MY PRINCIPAL HAD TO HAVE BINOCULARS TO SEE BECAUSE I WAS SO FAR TO THE BACK OF THE ROOM. BUT THEN WHEN IT COMES TO THIS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR RANK IS. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR POSITION IS. [00:05:01] IT'S WHAT YOUR HEART IS. AND I TRUST THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT THAT YOUR HEART IS, THAT YOU REALLY HAVE A DESIRE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN VETERAN'S LIVES. AND I THINK YOU WILL FIND WHEN GENERAL FLEMING GETS UP AND BRIEFS YOU WILL SEE WE'VE DONE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK. WE BROUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THE TABLE. BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN US SEVERAL MONTHS TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT, I APPLAUD YOU FROM CLAY COUNTY TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND WORK WITH US, WORK WITH US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COUNTY ALONG WITH THE OTHER FOUR COUNTIES. OKAY. AGAIN, I APPLAUD YOU FOR BEING HERE. I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT ENOUGH. AND THE SHEET THAT WE PASSED OUT IS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN GENERAL FLEMING WILL GO OVER MANY OF THOSE THINGS WITH YOU TONIGHT. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LONG. BUT WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU IS TO BE OPEN AND HONEST AND THERE'S NO DUMB QUESTIONS; RIGHT? BUT I WILL SAY THIS. I WILL SAY THIS. THAT YOU'RE HERE AND ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ANSWER THOSE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE OF WHAT IT HAS TAKEN TO GET TO THIS POINT. IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK. TO GET HERE. NICK IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. AND HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TONIGHT. BECAUSE OF CONFLICT WITH DUVAL COUNTY HIM AND RORY DIAMOND. YOU ALL KNOW WHO RORY IS. CITY COUNCIL MEN THEY ARE DUVAL COUNTY MEETING IN GENERAL FLEMING AND MYSELF ARE DOING THIS ONE. YOU'VE MISSED NOT. THE FACT THEY ARE BOTH ON THE SAME NIGHT. SAME MEETINGS. YOU JUST GET THE A-TEAM AND THEY HAVE THE B-TEAM. IS THAT ON RECORD? OKAY. >> GOT YOU. >> AS YOU LOOK AT THAT PIECES OF PAPER BEFORE GENERAL FLEMING COMES UP AND GIVES YOU JUST A QUICK POWERPOINT LET ME DO THIS. WE REALLY DO PERFORM YAILT YOU BEING HERE. WOULD YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND TELL US YOU ARE FROM AND WHO YOU REPRESENT. I WILL INTRODUCE GENERAL FLEMING IN A MINUTE. THIS GENTLEMAN UP HERE. YES, YES. WHEN I GROW UP I WANT ARMS LIKE YOU. OKAY. WHAT'S NOW NAME? >> MY NAME THE RAY. I WAS ARMY. RANGER AND I LIVE HERE IN MIDDLEBURG NOW. I WENT THROUGH MY STRUGGLES AND JUST KIND OF IN THAT HEALING PROCESS BUT PRETTY DANGER GOOD AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OF MY WIFE AND ALL THAT HELP AS WELL. READY TO HOPEFULLY HELP OUT. REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. >> >> YOU ARE HIS BETTER HALF. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> YMCA FIRST COAST. I'M CONNECTED TO THIS WORK AS A MEMBER OF THE GEORGE NATIONAL GALL GUARD SERVING AS COMPANY COMMANDER. THIS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART BECAUSE OF THINGS I'VE EXPERIENCED DURING MY TIME SERVING. EL THINK PIECE OF PUZZLE THAT I THINK WOULD BE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU. >> THANKS FOR COMING. >> ALL RIGHT. SIR. >> ROBERT ROBERT PHILIPS WITH THE VETERANS TREATMENT CORE. EYE I'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR EIGHT YEARS. WE'VE LOST I'VE KNOWN PERSONALLY THREE. THE LAST ONE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. IT HEARTS YOUR HEART WHEN YOU HAVE GUY THAT SPEND SOME 20 ODD YEARS IN NAVY. MASTER MECHANIC. HE'S A FATHER OF TWO, TEENAGER DAUGHTERS, A HUSBAND OF A WIFE AND HE GOES HOME AND BLOWS HIS BRAINS OUT. NOW IT'S NOT FUNNY AND IT'S NOT FOR GIGGLES OR ANYTHING ELSE. I TAKE OFFEND TO THAT. WE'RE THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. WE HAVE OUR VETERANS DOING THIS. ANYWAY, I WILL PASS IT ON TO EXCELLENT SERVICE COUNSELOR. >> I'M VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER FOR CLAY COUNTY. I WAS I WAS STATIONED AT THE PENTAGON. WHEN AT THE PENTAGON THE CHIEF OF OPERATIONS WAS -- WHICHES ADMIRAL BORDER HE COMMITTED SUICIDE WHILE WE WERE THERE. AT THE TIME, THEY TOLD US TO PRETEND LIKE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. WE HAD TO PRETEND LIKE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. HE WAS NEAR AND DEAR TO US. HE WAS THE CHIEF OF OPERATIONS. I'M GLAD WE HAVE THE PROGRAM RECOGNIZING SUICIDE AND LETTING PEOPLE BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT AND GET THE HELP THEY NEED. >> HOW IS EVERYONE DOING. TRAY VEAGN FOUNDER OF OPERATION BARNIBUD. [00:10:02] RETIRED MARINE. I WAS AT ROCK BOTTOM MYSELF AND MY WIFE AND COUPLE OF BUDDIES CAME TO MY START TRANSFORMATION OF MY LIFE ROUGHLY SIX YEARS AGO. WENT THROUGH IMPATIENT TREATMENT. AA, CHURCH, GOD, EVERYTHING TO THIS POINT. AND HOW WE HELP OPERATION BARNIBUS WE GET PEOPLE STRUGGLING FIND PURPOSE AT ROCK BOTTOM. AND COMMUNICATE WITH KIM QUITE A BIT AND FIND A MENTORSHIP. HOME IF NEEDED AND EMPLOYMENT AND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TONIGHT. >> I KNOW YOU FROM SOMEWHERE. >> I SEND YOU THE TAX BILL. >> I'M THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER FROM DISTRICT ONE IN GREEN COVE. I REMEMBER WHEN GAFFIN BROUGHT THIS IDEA BACK TO US. AND THEN MADE US AWARE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF HOW WE WERE LOSING VETERANS AT SUCH AN ALARMING RATE. I THOUGHT THAT THIS ORGANIZATION WOULD CERTAINLY BE HOPEFULLY AN ANSWER AND I'M PLEASED TO SEE THE PROGRESS THAT'S MADE IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. >> RETIRED NAVY, RESCUE SWIMMER. I FEEL LIKE I HIT MY ROCK BOTTOM BEFORE, TOO. THANKS TO MY WIFE AND A DOG. KIND OF CHANGED MY LIFE. BASICALLY HERE BECAUSE I SEE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT DOING THE RIGHT THINGS FOR VETERANS. THAT'S WHILE I'M HERE. HOPEFULLY THIS SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP VETERANS. I'M NOT JUST ANOTHER FUND-RAISING SCHEME SOMEONE PAYS $19 TO HELP SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATION. WHETHER -- THERE'S SO MANY PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT SOMEONE WAS SAYING YOU GET -- I GET PISSED OFF TO BE HONEST. THERE'S SO MANY ORGANIZATION OUT THERE AND THERE'S STILL PEOPLE THAT ARE LOSING THEIR LIVES. WHAT IS -- IS IT THIS ONE? IS IT THE NEXT ONE THAT GETS STARTED? OR FIRE WATCH WORKING WITH THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT AND ARE THEY WORKING THE SAME ORGANIZATION, EVERYBODY TRYING TO DO THEIR OWN THING AND NO ONE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING. THAT'S WHERE I SEE IT. WHAT MY WIFE AND I WANT TO DO TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE. WE BECOME YOGA ININSTRUCTORINGS MOVING AND BREATHING AND THAT DEFINITELY HELPS EASE YOUR MIND. WE'RE JUST HERE TO HELP, WHATEVER WE CAN. KEEP MYSELF ON TRACK. >> THAT'S AWESOME. >> SIR, THANKS FOR THOSE COMMENTS. >> OKAY. >> I'M ACTUALLY OUT OF MARION COUNTY. I JUST GOT ON THE BIRDWELL FOUNDATION FOR VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. I'M A 6-YEAR FIREFIGHTER. I DID PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT. ON THE FIRESIDE. VETERANS ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. MY OTHER HALF IS 22-YEAR MARINE VETERAN WITH 7 COMBAT TOURS. WE DEAL WITH OUR FAIR SHARE OF PTSD. BIRD WELL FOUNDATION PEER-TO-PEER TO GET FIRST RESPONDERS VETERANS PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH WHAT THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH. OUR CHAPTER EXPANSION STARTING MARCH 12ST DUVAL DUVAL CLAY COUNTY. THAT'S MY AREA. I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS COMING TOGETHER. LIKE HE SAID I'VE WORKED WITH SEVERAL OTHER VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS. AND THEY HAVE THEIR THING AND THEY HAVE THING THERE'S NO INNER CONNECT TO -- THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS THAT OUR VETERANS NEED. THANKS. >> THANKS FOR COMING. >> I'M GARY NEWMAN. I'M VICE PRESIDENT WITH THE VIETNAM VETERAN OF AMERICA FLORIDA STATE COUNCIL. MOST OF MY WORK IS INSIDE PPRIS. THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA. FIVE DIFFERENT PRISONED. I WORK WITH THE VETERAN. WE HAVE THE SAME SUICIDE ISSUE ON THE INSIDE AS YOU HAVE HERE ON THE OUTSIDE. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> I'M ANALISA PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER FROM CLAY COUNTY. I'M HEAR TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND HELP TO PROMOTE. >> ONE QUICK COMMENT. ONE QUICK COMMENT IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE -- THIS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION. I THINK GENERAL FLEMING WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN MORE DETAIL. THE GOAL FOR IT NOT TO ONE MORE ORGANIZATION. THAT'S WHY WE WENT WITH PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO DO IS [00:15:02] COORDINATE RESOURCES. AND SO TREY HAS BEEN IN THE TRENCHES ALREADY DOING GREAT WORK. THE BIRDWELL FOUNDATION ALREADY DOING GREAT WORK. THE GARY AND HARRY AND ALL -- THE VETERANS COURT THERE'S SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS, THE Y THAT ARE ALREADY DOING GREAT WORK. BUT THE CHALLENGE AND IS TO COORDINATE THOSE EFFORT AND THEN ALSO TRACK IN A WAY THAT WE CAN SEE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS. IF ONE IS SAFE AND WORTH IT. WE ALSO WANT TO TRACK IT IN A WAY WE CAN SEE, IS THERE MEASURABLE PROGRESS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA. I WANT TO ADDRESS THAT. I AGREE WITH YOU. WE DON'T NEED ONE MORE VETERAN'S ORGANIZATION. THIS IS COMMUNITY WIDE AGREEMENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS AND HELP COORDINATE THOSE RESOURCES AND EFFORTS AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE LOT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND SUPPORT FROM THROUGHOUT FROM JACKSONVILLE FROM ST. JOHNS FROM THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES. THERE'S A GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT TOO THAT SOMETIMES HELPFUL. NOT THE ONLY ANSWER. WE KNOW THE VA HAS FAILED US MANY TIME. THERE'S CHALLENGES THERE. IT'S THAT WE'RE ALL STEPPING IN. I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. I KNOW GENERAL FLEMING WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. >> GOOD WORK. >> IF YOU GOT -- >> THERE'S GOOD PEOPLE IN THE VA. YOU'RE RIGHT. >> THERE ARE SOME GOOD PEOPLE IN THE V RA. >> AND PROGRESS BEING MADE FOR SURE. >> OKAY. IF YOU GOT PENCIL AND PENN. I'M BUCK BERNIE. B-U-C-K B-E-R-N-I-E. >> 904-860-6024. YOU GIVE ME -- 904-860-6024. I WILL BE GLAD TO TAKE YOU LUNCH. CRYSTAL IS MY FAVORITE. THEY ARE GOING BANKRUPT. WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM. I WILL BE GLAD TO TAKE YOU TO CRYSTAL. BUT I WOULD LOVE, LOVE TO GO EACH LUNCH WITH YOU AND HEAR MORE YOUR CONCERNS SO YOU KNOW THIS. I TRULY, TRULY BELIEVE THIS. EVERYTHING RISES AND FALLS ON LEADERSHIP. AND YOU COULDN'T ASK FOR BETTER LEADERS THAT HAS A HEART FOR PEOPLE HAS A HEART FOR THE MILITARY FOR MILITARY FAMILIES THAN THE LEADER YOU HAVE SITTING TO MY RIGHT. I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS. THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU FIND OUT ABOUT PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE GOING NEVER NEW THAT. JOHN, I'M ON THE PHONE. THIS MORNING WITH A TWO-STAR GENERAL. HE GOES, YOU DO KNOW THAT GENERAL FLEMING HAS A MASTERS FROM HARVARD. I SAID I'M DONE. I'M DONE. I'M RESIGNING. I'M RESIGNING FROM THE MEETINGS. BUT THE REST OF OUR RORY, NICK, THEY ARE JUST PEOPLE WITH A GREAT HEART. AND I PROMISE YOU THEY ECHO EVERYTHING THAT EYE ALREADY HEARD. THEY REALLY DO. THE GOAL IS FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND BRING OUR IDEAS AND THE IDEAS THAT MAYBE THE LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS ALREADY BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE THAT YOU GIVE YOUR INPUT AND GO I DON'T THINK THAT WILL WORK. TRACY ISN'T HERE YET. SHE'S A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST THAT I SAID TRACY, I'M NOT DOING MEETING WITHOUT YOU. I HAD SEVERAL LUNCHES WITH HER. SHARP, SHARP. SHE HAS DONE THIS TRAINING FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. AND I GO TRACY, WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT'S GOING TO HELP US RUN THE MEETINGS AND MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS. BUT WE NEED EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT WILL STEP UP AND GIVE US THE INPUT AND WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME AND BRING AN ORGANIZATION THAT YOU HAVE, SIR, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. BUT IF WE DON'T COMMUNITY INDICATE AND WORK TOGETHER, THEN WE'RE ALL OUT THERE DOING OUR OWN THING AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN MAKE AS MUCH A DIFFERENCE IF WE CAME TOGETHER. SO I PROMISE YOU, OUR HEART IT'S NOT ABOUT MONEY. I WILL TELL YOU THIS. THAT I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING ANY MONEY SCHEMES. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY OF THAT. GENERAL FLEMING WILL TALK ABOUT HOW OUR FUNDING AND ITS REALLY UNIQUE. OKAY. OUR DESIRE IS TO REACH OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN VETERANS LIVES. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ZERO FOR THE NUMBER OF SUICIDES. LET ME TELL YOU MY QUICK STORY. THIS IS NOT WHY I'M UP HERE. IT JUST SO HAPPENED WHEN COMMISSIONER ROLLINGS CALLED ME I HAD LOST MY BEST FRIEND FOR LIFE. I GOT HIM IN THE MILITARY. HE SPENT 37 YEARS IN THE GUARD. AND LAST YEAR, LAST YEAR HIS WIFE CALLED ME ON SATURDAY MORING AND SAID WE LOST MARTIN. I HAD JUST VACATIONED WITH HIM. [00:20:01] WE WERE BEST FRIENDS SINCE SECOND GRADE. I HAD NOT A CLUE THAT ANYTHINGS GOING WRONG. HE WAS RETIRED. PLAYING TENNIS EVERY DAY. DID HAVE A SMALL DRINKING PROBLEM. OKAY THAT I THINK PROBABLY ELEVATED IT IN MY OPINION. BUT HAD NO CLUE. LEFT BEHIND A WIFE AND HIS SON HAD COMMITTED SUICIDE TEN YEARS EARLIER. THE SAME WAY THAT MARTIN COMMITTED SUICIDE. YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THESE FACTORS AND SOMEONE'S LIFE AND I GO YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. WITH WE STOP THEM ALL? I DON'T THINK SO. BUT WE CAN MAKE A HUGE DENT IF WE WILL COME TOGETHER WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDES AND I TRUST -- I HEAR ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS. I THINK AFTER YOU HEAR GENERAL FLEMMINGS I PROMISE YOU THAT OUR HEARTS ARE RIGHT, AND THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE TRYING TO INITIATE IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP BUT IT WILL NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE DON'T HAVE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR PART IS. SO WOULD YOU WELCOME BRIGADIER-GENERAL. WHAT YOU LAUGHING AT, SIR? [APPLAUSE] I'M TRYING TO PROMOTE YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> COULD I GET THAT? >> THE POWERPOINT UP. >> OH, OKAY. I'M MIKE FLEMMING. ENLISTED MARINE AND OFFICER IN THE MARINE CORPS AND THEN THE FLORIDA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD. AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE FIRE WATCH. AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS AND EVERYTHING. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THERE'S NOT A MONEY SCHEME. NONE OF US ARE BEING PAID. WE REALLY LOOK AT THIS FROM THE HEART STANDPOINT. I WORKED FOR VETERAN NETWORK AN ORGANIZATION STARTED BY COHEN. HIS SON HAD A GOOD EXPERIENCE IN MARINE CORPS. HIS FATHER ASKED HIS SON WHAT HE COULD DO FOR VETERANS. AND HE SAID MENTAL HEALTH ONE OF THE CHALLENGES. AND SO THEY STARTED CLINICS ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. 15TH CLINIC WILL BE OPENED UP IN JACKSONVILLE. IN THE PROBABLY NEXT WEEK. AND WE TRY TO REMOVE ALL BARRIER FOR MENTAL HEALTH. POST 9/11 VETERANED A MILITARY FAMILIES. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THAT, PLEASE COME I WILL STAY HERE AS LONG TONIGHT AND GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION ON THAT. THIS D REAL CHALLENGE. AND IF WE ALREADY KNEW THE ANSWER TO VETERAN SUICIDE THIS WOULD BE IMPLEMENTATION GROUP. WE WOULD SIMPLY TAKE WHATEVER THE FIVE BEST WAYS TO PREVENT VETERAN SUICIDE AND WE JUST IMPLEMENT THEM ACROSS THE REGION. BUT THE CHALLENGE IS WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE FACTORS. WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. WE DON'T KNOW THE SOLUTION. RORY DIAMOND THE CEO OF CANINES FOR WARRIORS AND CITY COUNCILMAN IN JACKSONVILLE. HE HAD SEEN ON DAILY BASIS AS WORRIERS WOULD COME TO CANINE FROM WARRIOR GET UNITEDED WITH THEIR DOGS AND REALLY CHANGE THEIR LIVES. OUT OF HUNDREDS OF WARY THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE PROGRAM THEY'VE HAD ONE SUICIDE. RORY FELT THAT WAS TOO MUCH. AND HE START LOOKING AROUND THE UNITED STATES TO SEE THERE WERE PROGRAMS WHERE COMMUNITIES HAD TAKEN CHARGE AND OWNED THE CHALLENGE OF VETERAN SUICIDE. AND HE COULDN'T FIND ANY COMMUNITY THAT SPECIFICALLY HAD DONE THAT. A LOT OF COMMUNITY ARE DOING GREAT THINGS. BUT NONE OF THEM HAD SAID WE WANT TO TAKE THIS PROBLEM AND OWN IT. SO HE STARTED MEETING INTO LAST SUMMER WITH COMMISSIONER ROLLINGS COMMISSIONER FROM FIVE COUNTY AND TALKED ABOUT PUTTING SOMETHING TOGETHER. WHAT WAS BORN OUT OF THAT THE FIRE WATCH. AND MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT THE FIRST THING WHEN I WAS PRIVATE IN PARIS ISLAND. IT'S THE PERSON THAT STAYED AWAY WHILE EVERYBODY IS ASLEEP. AND THE FIRE WATCH LOOKS OUT FOR THIS FELLOW WARRIORS. AND THAT'S WHAT WE FEEL LIKE WE WANT TO DO WITH THE FIRE WATCH. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE YOU THROUGH SOME STATISTICS AND ALSO CONTAINED OF THE PHILOSOPHY WHAT WE ARE DOING. SOME OF THE INITIAL PROGRAMS THAT WE THINK WILL BE OF VALUE. AND I THINK ONE OF THE TWO BIG THINGS WE WANT OUT OF THE FIRE WATCH, ONE IS THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT TONIGHT AND LATER ON THAT WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL ORIGINATE SOME PROGRAMS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO AMPLIFY WHAT OTHER VETERAN ORGANIZATION DOING GOOD THINGS AND MILITARY FAMILIES ARE DOING. AS COMMISSIONER ROLLINS TALKED ABOUT IT'S UNIQUE STRUCTURE I WILL GO MORE IN DEPTH WE'RE QUASI GOVERNMENT AGENCY. WE EACH SIGN AGREEMENT TO FORM FIRE WATCH. THE BIG ADVANTAGE OF THAT, THAT WE ACTUALLY CAN UTILIZE COUNTY RESOURCES FOR THIS. SO IF WE FIND A GRANT THAT'S [00:25:03] GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY WHETHER DUVAL COUNTY HERE IN CLAY COUNTY, WE CAN USE THE COUNTY STAFF TO DO THAT. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG ADVANTAGES. BECAUSE BY BEING A QUASI GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION THAT WE CAN UTILIZE THAT. WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. FIRST I WOULD LIKE -- FIRST THING TO DO IF I CAN GET THAT. THIS JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AGENDA. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT. REALLY WHAT FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO GET INTO IS THE CHALLENGES. AND APOLOGIES IF YOU CAN'T READ SOME OF THAT. MORE THAN 6,000 VETERAN SUICIDES EACH YEAR FROM2016. NEARLY 40,000 VETERANS ARE HOMELESS AND ALMOST A FOURTH OF VETERAN HAVE SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY THAT WE'RE PART OF THIS SUICIDE. IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE. AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING WHEN YOU SEE THERE, YOU'VE GOT THAT -- WE CAN GET YOU COPIES OF THE SLIDES. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RATE THERE AND I WON'T GO UP AND POINT TO IT. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT. THE VETERAN SUICIDE RATE FOR H IN FLORIDA IS OVERALL 33.#.PER 100,000. IT TO THE RIGHT THAT'S 18.8. VETERANS SUICIDE RATE TWO TIMES OF NON-VETERANS. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, IT'S EVEN WORSE FOR FEMALE VETERANS. IT'S ABOUT TWO TIMES THE RATE AND FOR MALE VETERANS IT'S ABOUT 1.4. OVERALL IT'S ALMOST TWICE. YOU SEE DOWN YOU GO DOWN TO THE ABOVE 55 VETERANS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SUICIDES THAT WERE VETERAN SUICIDE THAT'S THE BIGGEST CATEGORY. THAT'S SIMPLY A FACTOR OF THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE THE MOST VETERANS. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK TO RIGHT OF THAT, THE RATE OF 18 TO 34 IS THE HIGHEST SUICIDE RATE. WHICH IS 43.6100,000. THE FLORIDA SUICIDE RATE 15.2. IT'S ALMOST FOR THAT AGE RANGE 18 TO 34 IT'S ALMOST THREE TIMES HIGHER FOR VETERANS IN AGES 18 TO 34. THAN IT IS FOR NOT VETERAN. THAT'S AN ASTOUNDING STATISTIC. IT'S SO SOBERING. BUT ALL OF THOSE THE CHALLENGE -- IF WE DON'T ADDRESS THAT, THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE WITH THAT AGE GROUP IT WILL GET WORSE. IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. WE DON'T LOOK AT THIS AS A SPECIFIC CHALLENGE IN ONE -- DURING ONE PARTICULAR ERA. YOU KNOW WE HAVE SOME WORLD WAR II VETS. PRIMARILY THE VET OLDER VETS ARE VIETNAM ERA. DESERT STORM AND SHIELD HAVE CHALLENGES. COLD WAR HAVE CHALLENGES. AND AFTER 9/11, YOU HAD IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN CHALLENGES. SO TO SEE THERE IT REALLY GIVES YOU AN IDEA HOW CHALLENGING THIS IS. AND AGAIN AS A COMMUNITY WE WANT TO ADDRESS THIS AND SAY WHAT CAN WE DO IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA. WE WANT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER. WE WANT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE WAY THAT WE SUPPORT VETERANS. I THINK IT'S EASY TO SEE UNFORTUNATELY THAT THERE'S A BIG CHALLENGE. HOW DO WE WANT TO SET THIS UP? COMMISSIONER ROLLINS TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. EACH ONE OF THE COUNTIES IN THE FALL ASSIGNED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF BAKER, CLAY, DUVAL, NASHUA AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY. EACH ONE OF THEM COMMITTED SOME MONEY TO IT. WE HAVE ABOUT 100,000 DOLLARS THAT THE COUNTY HAVE PUT IN. WE HAVEN'T SPENT THE MONEY YET. WE DON'T HAVE PROJECTS. BUT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT US AS I SAID ADMINISTRATIVELY IF WE WANT TO GO AFTER GRANTS ANY NUMBER OF WAY THEY SUPPORT US. YOU HAVE A CITIZEN FROM EACH ONE OF THE FIVE COUNTY THAT THE COMMISSIONER OR IN THE CASE OF JACKSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL HAS APPOINTED TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY. AND THEN YOU HAVE COMMISSIONER OR CITY COUNCILMEN WHO IS LIAISON FOR THAT. THE FIVE OF US BUCK, MYSELF AND THREE OTHER MIKE GRIFFITH FROM BAKER COUNT. LYNN SHULTZ AND LORI MASON ARE THE VOTING MEMBERS FOR THAT. WE ARE SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SUNSHINE LAW. FIVE OF US ARE. BUCK AND I CAN'T REALLY GO TO CRYSTAL TOGETHER. AS HE WANTED. BUT WE WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER FOR THE ON BEHALF OF VETERANS. AND SO WE HAD AS THE WAY WE WANTED TO STRUCTURE THE FIRST WE HAD TO DO. WE HAD MEETING THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR SO WE REALLY ONLY BEEN EXISTENCE SINCE NOVEMBER THE 4TH. [00:30:02] AND WE PUT TOGETHER INITIALLY WE HAD TO HAVE SOME KIND OF STRUCTURAL. I WILL TELL YOU IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY EXCITING. WE HAD TO RULES COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE THE WAY TO DO BUSINESS. WE WILL HAVE A FINANCE RECALL THEM ACTION GROUP. BECAUSE THE FINANCE ACTION GROUP WHEN WE HAVE FUNDS THAT WE WANT TO EXPAND, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT CORRECTLY. ONE OF THINGS LONG-TERM YOU'LL SEE SOME PROJECT THAT WILL TAKE FUNDING FOR, BUT EVENTUALLY WHAT WE HOPE TO DO IS HAVE ABILITY TO PROVIDE MICRO GRANTS TO VETERAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION ARE DOING GOOD THINGS TO VETERAN THAT NEED TO EXPAND OPERATIONS OR MAYBE NEED TO HAND UP TO HELP. WE FEEL LIKE WITH THE VISIBILITY THAT WE HAVE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AMPLIFYING AND SUPPORTING OTHER VETERAN SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS. WE ALSO HAVE TWO OF THE BIG ACTION GROUPS BUCKHEADS ONE OF THEM. ONE IS VETERANS IN CRISIS. I WILL GET INTO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT. THE VETERANS IN CRISIS IS LOOKING IN LIKE THE LAST THREE DAY WHEN VETERAN SAID HE OR SHE IN CRISIS OR MAYBE A FAMILY MEMBER OR SOMEONE DISCOVERED THAT HOW DO WE AS COMMUNITY REACT TO THAT. WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE DO? WHAT ARE THE STEPS WE TAKE. I WILL GET INTO KIND OF HOW WE GO AFTER BASELINE FOR THAT. WE SALT LAKE CITY A COMMITTEE ON VETERAN ECO SYSTEM. WHAT ARE THE THINGS A PROGRAM THAT WE NEED TO DO WITHIN NORTHEAST FLORIDA TO ENHANCE VETERAN SUPPORT AND AGAIN ALSO HOW DO WE WORK BETTER WITH OTHER VETERAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION. WE ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY -- COMMUNICATIONS ACTION GROUP AND MIKE GRIFFITH HEADS THAT. WE WILL PROBABLY HIRE A SOCIAL MEDIA FIRM TO HELP US TO GET WORD OUT. AND WE WANT TO DO THINGS LIKE HAVING A PARTNER OF THE WEEK WHERE WE'VE AMPLIFY LIKE OPERATION BARNIBI KNOW ASTOUNDED AT THE WORK THEY ARE DOING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO VETERAN BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO AMPLIFY WHAT'S DONE FOR VETERANS. AS YOU CAN SEE THE STRATEGY REDUCE VETERAN SUICIDE NORTHEAST FLORIDA. REINFORCE THE FIVE COUNTY AIR MOST MILITARY COMMUNITY FRIENDLY COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES. AND COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THE MISSION HERE YOU SEE ONE OF THE BIG PARTS ABOUT IT WE WANT TO BUILD A 10,000 VETERAN PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK. AND WE HAVE SOME IDEAS ON THAT. I WILL GO OVER WITH THAT. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME OF THE GREAT WORK SOUNDS HIKE YOU DOING IN MARION COUNTY. COMMISSIONER TALKED TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. AND THEN WE ALSO WANT TO LACK TO SEE HOW WE CAN CONNECT VETERANS WITH RESOURCES. COUPLE OF YOU TALKED ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE THERE. MAYBE NOT CONNECTING VETERANS. THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG PART OF WHAT WE ARE DOING. AND THEN THE BELIEFS OBVIOUSLY WE CAN DO MORE TO LOWER THE SUICIDE RATE. WE'LL ALSO WHAT WE WANT TO VETERAN IN CRISIS MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE BEST CARE AVAILABLE THEN. BUT WHAT IS BETTER IS IF VETERAN NEVER GOES TOWARD THAT THAT THAT JEKTRY. IF THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH WORK, FAMILY, AND JOBS, WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES WITH THEIR FAITH. THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TOWARD ON TRAJECTORY TOWARD SUICIDE. THAT'S OUR GOAL. WE WANT 10,000 VETERANS CONNECTING WITH EACH OTHER. YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT THE VALUES THAT WE HAVE. YOU KNOW THE BIG ONE IS TRANSPARENCY IN THE SENSE THAT WE WILL BE DOING THING. ALL OF US JUST SIMPLY WANT HAVE A HEART FOR VETERAN AND WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR VETERANS. WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER. I AM NOT -- DON'T HAVE MEDICAL BACKGROUND OTHER THAN I'M MARRIED TO NURSE. THAT DOESN'T QUALIFY ME FOR ANYTHING. WHAT I KNOW HOW TO DO I'M PRETTY GOOD AT STRUCTURING AND CONNECTING PEOPLE AND ANALYZING THINGS AND HOPEFULLY PUTTING PIECES TOGETHER WELL. AND WE SEE PEOPLE WITH THE CLINICAL EXPERTISE ARE REALLY GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO THIS. YOU TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE. ALSO HAVING PEOPLE WITH A BIG HEART FOR VETERANS THE JUST AS IMPORTANT. WE WILL HAVE A ROLE FOR YOU. >> THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE KIND OF THE PROGRAM PLAN. AND I'LL TALK ABOUT ALL OF IT BUT WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE IT IN A WAY WE ARE VERY STRUCTURED. WHEN I BECOME THE CHAIR. IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO DO THAT. BUT FRANKLY I WAS BOTH INTIMIDATED AND ALSO ENTHUSIASTIC. I WAS INTIMIDATED BECAUSE HOW INVENT VETERAN SUE SUICIDE. BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY THIS WON'T WORK IF WE DON'T PLAN WELL IF WE DON'T STRUCTURE WELL. WHEN WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE LIKE EVERYONE IN THIS AUDIENCE WHO SAID PUT ME IN COACH I WANT TO [00:35:01] BE INVOLVED AND THEN FOUR MONTHS LATER YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING OR YOU'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO SOMETHING MEANINGLESS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STRUCTURE THINGS AND GOING AFTER BIG THINGS. WE'RE NOT IN THE -- WE'RE NOT HERE SO WE CAN SAY WE DID FIVE PROJECTS THAT HAD A MINIMUM IMPACT SO I CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF OR BUCK FEELS GOOD ABOUT HIMSELF OR COMMISSIONER CAN. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO BIG THINGS THAT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND SOME OF THE ONES I WILL TALK ABOUT YOU WILL SEE ON THE TOP THERE. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO THAT ARE -- THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH SIDE OF IT. THERE'S ONES VETERAN RESOURCE GUIDE. I WILL GET INTO THAT MUCH MORE IN DEPTH. BUT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND UNFORTUNATELY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IS WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS, A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO VETERANS, AND YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO TO GET THOSE RESOURCES. AND I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE. WE ALSO HAVE THE WATCH STANDARD PROGRAM. AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRE WATCH IS WHEN YOU ARE STANDING WATCH FOR SOMEONE ELSE. AND WE WANT TO CONDUCT 10,000 VETERANS. AND THAT'S NOT 1 VETERAN 9,999 OTHER VETERAN. MARINE CORPS AND ARMY CALLED FIRE TEAMS. FIRE TEAMS THE SMALLEST ELEMENT ON THE GROUND FORCE. IT'S NORMALLY FOUR OR FIVE SOLDIERS. WE LOOK AT YOU BE STANDING WATCH FOR EACH OTHER. LIKE JOHN DEER AND IT WOULD BE OFF TOGETHER AND HE WOULD STANDING WATCH FOR ME AND I WOULD STAND WATCH FOR HIM. WHERE WE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OR. WE COMMUNITY COMMUNICATE AND TALK TO EACH OTHER. IT'S TO ENHANCE THEIR LIVES OF THE VETERANS AND ALSO HELP US MAKE US A BETTER COMMUNITY. WE'LL HAVE NEWSLETTERS AND EVENTS AS YOU MOVE IN THE TOP AREA FOR THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALSO WANT TO DO CREATE VETERAN CHAMPION PROGRAM. WE HAVE SO MANY NON-VETERAN WHOSE WANT TO HELP VETERANS. AND HAVE TALKED ABOUT THEY MAY BUY SOMEONE LUNCH THEY SEE SOMEONE IN UNIFORM. THEY PAY FOR THAT OR TELL SOMEONE THEY APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE WHICH IS ALL GREAT. BUT WE WILL DEVELOP A PROGRAM WHERE VETERANS CHAMPION NOT NON-VETERANS REALLY HAVE ROLES. WE WANT THEM EITHER MAYBE THEY NEED TO HIRE A VET. MAYBE THEY NEED TO GET INVOLVE WITH VETERANS LIFE. MAYBE THEY WANT TO VOLUNTEER. BECAUSE TO BE A VETERAN CHAMPION ME MEANS CARE ABOUT VETERAN. WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE INVOLVED BUT DON'T KNOW HOW. ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO BETTER JOB A LOT OF TIME WHEN THERE'S VETERAN PROGRAM THE THOUGHT WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM FOR VETERANS WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT INFORMATION TO VETERANS. WHICH IS IMPORTANT. BUT THE VETERAN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES IS 4 OR 5%. THAT'S 95% OF THE POPULATION ARE NOT VETERANS. AND SO WHEN WE VETERAN WE NEED TO TALK TO NON-VETERAN POPULATION SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AND HOW THEY CAN HELP A VETERAN. BECAUSE MOST OF US EVERY DAY DON'T THINK WAKE UP AND SAY I'M VETERAN GOING TO K WHO. I'M VETERAN DOING SOMETHING. WE'RE PROUD OF OUR SERVICE BUT WE'RELYING OUR DAILY LIVES. I THINK DOING BETTER JOB OF INFORMING THE NON-VETERAN POPULATION OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND HOW THEY CAN SUPPORT VETERAN WILL BE A BIG PART OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE FIRE WATCH. WE'LL HAVE OTHER OUTREACH PROGRAMS. THAT'S REALLY AT THE TOP. I WILL GO MORE IN DEPTH COMMUNITY ASPECT OUTREACH. WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO VETERANS IN CRISIS, THE COMMITTEE THAT BUCK IS HEADING. AND IT'S THE FIRST THING THAT'S SAMSA IS THE THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. AND I WILL GO INTO THAT IN DEPTH. THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THE AREA OF SUICIDE. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VETERAN INTERCEPT MAPPING IN APRIL. AND WE'RE INVITING DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THAT -- IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IN THE VETERANS COMMUNITY TO MEET AND SAMSA TAKES THROUGH, DAY AND A HALF WORKSHOP. WHAT THEY DO IS ANALYZE OUR SYSTEMS TO SEE WHEN A VETERAN GOES INTO CRISIS, WHAT HAPPENS. HOW ARE WE COORDINATE? THIS IS AIL CROSS ALL FIVE COUNTY. IT'S A MEDICAL ASPECT. IT'S A LAW ENFORCEMENTS A ASPECT. VETERANS ASPECT. A LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO IT. I WILL GET INTO MORE IN DEPTH. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING IN APRIL. TO WE HAVE THAT. WE WILL HAVE EXPERT ACROSS FROM ALL FIVE COUNTY. HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, WILL BE THERE. WE REALLY THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. SAMSA RUNS THIS WORKSHOP. YOU HAVE WORK. YOU HAVE GROUPS WITHEN THAT. AND THEN THEY COME BACK TO US AND SAY WE THINK THESE ARE YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND HERE'S SOME RECOMMENDATION HOW IT CAN BE BETTER. BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO JUST LIKE ANYTIME YOU HAVE A PROBLEM FIRST THING YOU NEED O DO GET BASELINE. IF WE HAVE BASELINE FOR OUR VETERANS IN CRISIS, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO SERVE US WELL. THAT'S A FOUNDATIONAL ASPECT. [00:40:03] AND I APPRECIATE THE GREAT WORK BUCK HAS DONE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER. I TALKED ABOUT SAMSA. THE OTHER ASPECT IS DATA COLLECTION. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT HOW DO YOU GET DATA. THE DATA FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA. KIND OF GA ANICALLY TO TELL US ABOUT FLORIDA. BUT NO ONE WAS BREAKING IT DOWN BEYOND THAT. JUST THE STATE OF FLORIDA. SO WE WANT -- WHILE I'M CERTAINLY CONCERNED ABOUT VETERAN ACROSS FLORIDA. THIS IS ABOUT THE FIVE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA. FORTUNATELY THERE'S ANOTHER NONPROFIT THAT HAS GUILT A GRANT A DOING WORK IN FLORIDA. THEY WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FOR US. WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET DATA FROM THE LAST COUPLE YEAR FOR VETERAN SUICIDE. THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW IF WE'RE EFFECTIVE IF WE FIND OUT WHAT OUR CURRENT STATUS IS FOR VETERAN SUICIDE AND WORK TO IMPROVE THAT. THE DATA COLLECTION ASPECT OF THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I TALKED ABOUT GRANTS. WE DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM YET FOR THAT. . AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE HOPE WE WILL. WE'VE APPLIED FOR A SOME FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA. RUNNING THROUGH ISSEST RIGHT. NOW THERE'S A CHANCE WE WILL GET MONEY FOR THAT. AGAIN WE'LL BE VERY TRANSPARENT WITH THERE. WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING IN THE PUBLIC. WE NEVER WOULD ANYWAY. IF WE HAVE MICRO GRANTS THAT WE CAN GIVE SOMETHING OUT TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IT'S GOING TO BE ORIENTED WHAT WILL PREVENT VETERAN SUICIDE. I WOULD ARGUE A LOT OF THAT IS NOT JUST FOCUSED ON THE LAST VETERANS IN CRISIS. IT'S HOW ARE WE STARTING A YEAR OUT IN MAKING SURE THAT THE VETERANS GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. THIS IS THE VETERAN CRISIS INTERCEPT MAPPING THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. AGAIN, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN A VETERAN GOES INTO CRISIS. WHAT ARE THE RIGHT THINGS TO HAPPEN? PART OF IT IS ARE WE ASKING VETERAN EVERY TIME THAT THEY EITHER GO INTO CRISIS OR THEY HAVE -- ARE YOU VETERAN. THERE'S CERTAINTY SOURCES AVAILABLE JUST TO VETERANS. ONE OF THE ASTOUNDING STATISTICS TO ME IS THAT AS VETERAN AND MILITARY SATURATED IN A LOT OF WAYS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA. LESS THAN 30% OF VETERAN ARE REGISTERED WITH THE VA. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HOME LOANS, FROM A MEDICAL STANDPOINT. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REAL CHALLENGES. AND WE THINK WE CAN HELP WITH THAT, WITH CAMPAIGN TO DO THAT. BECAUSE PERHAPS IF WE GET EVERYBODY WHEN AN ORGANIZATION. NOT JUST ORGANIZATIONS THAT SOLELY SERVE VETERAN. IF THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. IF EVERYONE ASK ARE YOU VETERAN OR REGISTERED WITH THE VA. THAT WILL HELP. AS THE COMMISSIONER TALKED ABOUT YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT. THE VA HAS GOOD AND BAD POINTS TO IT. THAT'S WHERE THE PRIMARY RESOURCES ARE FROM OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. MY BROTHERS FATHER-IN-LAW GS NAVY VET. SERVED FOR ABILITY 2 AND A HALF YEARS IN DURING THE 50S. UNFORTUNATELY HE JUST PASSED AWAY COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. BUT LAST YEAR MY WIFE ASKED MY SISTER IN LAW IF MR. BURSINGER WITH THE VA. THEY SAID NO. PIE SISTER-IN-LAW WENT DOWN FOUND OUT THE VA HAD A LOT OF THINGS THEY COULD OFFER. THEY JUST SANG THE PRAISES OF VA. I SAID WHY DID YOU DAD NEVER SIDE WITH THE VA? HE SAID, WELL, HE ALWAYS SAID HE ONLY SERVED 2 AND A HALF YEARS. THAT'S A SHAME. BECAUSE NO ONE ONLY SERVES. YOU EVERYONE SERVE OR YOU DON'T. WHETHER IT'S DAY, TWO, OUR FOUR YEAR OR 40 YEARS. YOU SERVE. IF I SIGN UP FOR VA I'M TAKING MONEY FROM MAYBE A SOLDIER WHO LOST A LIMB OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE. SO THAT'S SOMETHING, AGAIN, THAT IF WE ARE -- IF WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE ASKING PEOPLE REGULARLY ARE YOU REGISTERED WITH THE VA? AND I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT US IN THIS ROOM. BUT EVERYONE ASKING THE QUESTION. THEY WILL BE MORE BENEFITS AVAILABLE AND PEOPLE CAN USE THAT. BECAUSE OTHER PART I WOULD ARGUE IS ALL OF GET OLDER. I'M GETTING OLDER TOO. WE OWE TO OUR FAMILIES TO DO THAT. AS I GET OLDER; I'VE TOLD MY FAMILY WHEN I GO BAD. PUT ME IN FRONT OF ESPN AND LET ME DROOL. I HAVE A PLAN. BUT I WANT THEM TO KNOW I'M USING EVERY BIT OF THE VA BENEFITS THAT I HAVE TO HELP THEM. BECAUSE MY CHILDREN I THINK WILL TAKE CARE OF ME. IF THE VA CAN OFFER THINGS FOR ME. THAT'S GREAT. I THINK THE REGISTERING IS PART OF THAT. AND THEN THIS CRISIS MAPPING SAMSA HAS GONE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. [00:45:02] THEY ARE IN NEW YORK THIS MONTH. THEY'VE BEEN IN LOS ANGELES. THEY'VE BEEN TO NUMBER OF AREAS. AND SO SAMSA WILL GIVE US AS I SAID UNDER BUCK'S LEADERSHIP HE WILL GET SOMETHING FROM THE SAMSA AFTER THEY HAVE THEIR WORKSHOP. AND THEN WE WILL GET A GOOD ANALYSIS OF WHERE WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY TO HELP VETERANS IN CRISIS. THIS IS THE -- I -- ALLUDED TO THIS EARLIER. WHEN I GOT OUT I OUT OF MILITARY 2010 WE STARTED SOMETHING CALLED VETERAN ON WALL STREET. WHICH LED SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS EYE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH IN JACKSONVILLE. IT ALWAYS FRUS MOOITED ME I KNEW A LOT ABOUT VETERAN SERVICES THAT I WILL NEVER NEED. WE'RE WORKING ON THIS AND IT'S A VETERAN RESOURCE GUIDE. IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT IT YET. IT'S CALLED MISSION UNITED. STARTED IN BROWARD COUNTY. STARTED BY VIETNAM VET. AND THEN GOT OUT OF THE ARMY AND BECOME VERY SUCCESSFUL ATTORNEY WORKING FOR HOLE AROUND AND KNIGHT. HIS DAUGHTER JOINED THE ARMY AND THEN ENDED UP HURTING HER SHOULDER. SHE HAD TERRIBLE TIME BOTH WITH THE ARMY AND THE VA GETTING HER SHOULDER FIXED. AND SO HER DAD SUPPORTED HER DURING THE WHOLE TIME PERIOD. SHE ASKED HER DAD THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I DIDN'T HAVE SOMEONE LIKE YOU WITH RESOURCES ANDIST JUST ON MY OWN? SO THEY STARTED SOMETHING CALL CONJUNCTION WITH UNITED WAY DOWN IN BROWARD COUNTY. IT'S 211 SPECIFICALLY FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES. VETERAN ACTIVE DUTY AND MILITARY. ANY MILITARY QUESTION YOU CAN CALL MISSION UNITED AND GET ANSWER FOR THAT. AND THEY WILL REFER YOU. THEY ARE NOT CREATING ANY KIND OF NEW PROGRAMS FOR MISSION UNITED. THEY ARE GOING TO BE CONNECTION POINT. THIS WILL BE LIKE KIM AND THE GREAT VETERAN SERVICES OFFICERS ACROSS THE FIVE COUNTIES ARE WORKING DAY AND NIGHT FOR VETERANS. THIS UNITED WAY, THOUGH YOU HAVE A NUMBER YOU CAN CALL WHETHER YOU HAVE QUESTION ON EDUCATION. QUESTION ON EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHAT 211 WILL BE. AND SO YOU CAN CALL THERE. BUT ALSO WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT QUITE OFTEN I USE THE EXAMPLE IF YOU ARE GETTING FURNITURE FROM AMAZON, YOU DON'T CALL SOMEONE AND ASK THEM TO DESCRIBE THE FURNITURE. YOU LOOK ON THE WEB SITE AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU TALK TO THEM. WITH THIS RESOURCE GUIDE WE WILL HAVE BASICALLY THE SAME INFORMATION UNITED WAY HAS. WE'VE GOT THE RESOURCE GUIDES OR THE RESOURCE INFORMATION FROM WOUNDED WARRIOR, CANINES FOR WARIES. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE. UNITED WAY AND WE WILL HAVE THIS ALL IN ONE SITE. BOTH VETERAN TO USE IT. WE WANT TO HAVE MILITARY PERSONAL AS THEY COME IN. WE WANT THE MASTER CHIEF AT THE BASES TO USE THAT AS REFERENCE POINT. WE TALK ABOUT BEING THE MOST MILITARY VETERAN FRIENDLY COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY COMPETITIVE FOR THAT. IF YOU MOVE HERE AND YOU'RE NEW HERE. HOW DO YOU FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN JACKSONVILLE ALL THE WAY FROM HOUSING FROM INSTALLATIONS WHAT'S AVAILABLE. IT WILL BE ON THIS RESOURCE GUIDE. WITH THE RESOURCE GUIDE ONCE IT IS PUBLISHED WHAT I HOPE TO DO WE GET FOUR OR FIVE E-MAILS SAY I'M INSULTED BECAUSE MY NONPROFIT IS NOT ON HERE. WE WILL PUT THAT ON THERE IMMEDIATELY. THE GO THROUGH JUST BE CHECKED OUT BY UNITED WAY TO MAKE SURE IT'S VALID NONPROFIT. BUT IT WILL BE ON THERE. WE REALLY FEEL LIKE THE RESOURCE GUIDE WILL BE A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING TO HELP VETERANS. AND CANINES FOR WARRIORS HAS OFFERED AND THEY WILL PAY FOR THE THIS WEB SITE. AND KEEP IT UP. WE REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS IS IMPORTANT. NOW YOUR NEXT QUESTION MAY BE HOW WILL YOU KEEP IT CURRENT? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. EACH CATEGORY THAT WE HAVE WE HAVE SOME VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL GO THROUGH IT ABOUT EVERY OTHER MONTH GO THROUGH THEIR SECTION WHETHER MENTAL HEALTH. HEALTH HOUSING, THEY WILL GO THROUGH AND MAKE SURE ALL THE WEBSITE'S ARE CURRENT. IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDED THEY WILL VET THEM. IT'S A TREMENDOUS PROJECT. YOU WILL HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THAT HAVE RESOURCE GUIDES. THIS WILL BE MASSIVE. THIS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. THIS IS GOING TO BE LIFE CHANGING. IT'S GOING TO HAVE EVERYBODY WITH THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE. THE LAST THING I WILL SAY ABOUT IT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I THINK FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE VETERANS BUT NOT SOLELY VETERANS THEIR CASE MANAGER ARE LITERALLY [00:50:03] DOING THE LORDS WORK TRYING TO CONNECT THEM WITH DIFFERENT RESOURCES. >> IF YOU ARE NOT VETERAN FOCUSED HOW DO YOU KNOW THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR VETERANS. WE HOPE THE CASE MANAGER FROM ALL THE NONPROFIT THAT ARE NOT JUST SOLELY SERVING VETERANS UTILIZE THIS. BECAUSE ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN NONPROFIT COMMUNITY TOLD ME THE SHAME OF VETERAN NOT USE VETERAN RAE SOURCES. QUITE OFTEN THE VETERAN USE UP USING RESOURCE A NON-VETERAN USES. THAT VETERAN NOT USING VETERAN SOURCE THEY OUT RESOURCES THAT ARE NON-VETERAN WOULD USE WHICH MEAN A LOT OF TIMES MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE DOESN'T GET SERVICE. WHEN THE VETERAN COULD HAVE USED VETERAN RESOURCE. WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS WILL BE SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. THE WATCH STANDARD PROGRAM. WHO CAME UP 10,000. A COUPLE THINGS. IMPORTANT TO THIS. IT WILL BE MORE THAN JUST SIGNING UP AND JUST DECIDING I WANT TO BE PART OF IT. WE HAVE CERTAIN STEP WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE. WE'RE WORKING HARD TO DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF TRAINING THAT INDIVIDUAL WATCH STANDARD WOULD HAVE. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO MAKE SOMEBODY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF SIGNS AND ACTIONS TO TAKE IF SOMEONE IS SUICIDAL OR MAYBE NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO ATTEND VETERANS EVENTS. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO TALK TO EACH OTHER. TALK TO THEIR FELLOW WATCH STANDARDS. AND TO THE RIGHT I WON'T READ IT ALL. THERE'S A WATCH STANDARD PLEDGE THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE. IT TALKS ABOUT STARTS OFF I PLEDGE TO MAKE IT MY MISSION TO STAND WATCH FOR MYSELF AND OTHER TO PREVENT VETERAN SUICIDE. IT GOES DOWN FROM THERE. THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS A SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS. THAT WE USE TO KIND OF AS A START POINT FOR THAT. BUT THE THINGS WE DO IS AS WATCH STANDARD ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS REGISTER WITH THE VA. WE THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF BEING PART OF THIS. WHEN THEY ALWAYS TELL YOU ON AIRCRAFT IF WE START LOSING OXYGEN IT GOES DOWN WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU DO? YOU PUT IT ON YOURSELF THEN YOU CAN HELP OTHERS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WATCH STANDARD YOU GET ALL THE HELP YOU CAN AND THEN YOU CAN HELP OTHERS. YOU HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS. YOU HAVE WATCH STANDARD PLEDGE. WE HAVE FIRE WATCH WEB SITE AND HAVE TO BE PART OF. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THAT. WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THAT. >> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FUNDING NONE OF US ON THE COUNCIL AND NONE OF THE LIAISONS ARE BEING PAID ANYTHING. WE EXPECT TO PAY ANYTHING. BUT THE FUNDING WE HAVE ABOUT 100,000 TO START WITH. THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THAT. WE'RE FORTUNATE CANINES FOR WARRIOR SUPPLYING THE WEB SITE. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LOAN EXECUTIVE FROM CANINES. VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. CANINES IS NOT GETTING MONEY FOR THAT. NO REIMBURSEMENT. THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT AND MADE THAT A PART OF THEIR MISSION. ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCES WE CAN GET STATE GRANTS FEDERAL GRANTS AND AGAIN THAT'S THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THIS AS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CAN DO THAT. HERE IN CLAY COUNTY IF YOU FIND PARTICULAR GRANT THAT WOULD APPLY HERE. THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF HOW WE OBVIOUSLY COUNTY MANAGER NAVY CAPTAIN WILL BE 100% BEHIND THAT. IF KYM FIND SOMETHING THAT WORKS WELL. THE COUNTY STAFF CAN WORK ON THAT FOR YOU. AND THEN ALSO THE OTHER PART, TOO WE REALLY FEEL LIKE IF WE FIND A PROGRAM OR SOMETHING WE CAN GO TO CORPORATIONS TO GET THEM. WE NEVER WILL GO AFTER AS LONG AS I'M CHAIR INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS FROM PEOPLE. THAT'S JUST NOT WHO WE ARE. BUT RIGHT NOW WE CAN GO OUT CORPORATION AND I THINK THEY WOULD PROVIDE MONEY. BE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC PROJECTS. I THINK IT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. WITH OUR CORPORATIONS IS IF WE DEVELOP A SPECIFIC PROGRAM THAT NEEDS FUNDING FOR VETERANS THEN WE WILL GO TO CORPORATIONS AND I THINK THEY WILL FUND IT. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING PUBLIC MEETING TO LOOK AND DETERMINE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT INITIATIVE THAT WE WANT TO HAVE. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TIME LINE. AS I SAID IT STARTED NOVEMBER 4TH WHEN WE ANNOUNCED IT AND WE HAD FIRST MEETING FIRST PART OF DECEMBER. AND YOU KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO JUST FIND OUR WAY. ELECT THE CHAIR. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ELECTED CHAIR. WE HAD TO PUT OUR COMMITTEES TOGETHER. WE REALLY ONLY BEEN IN EXISTENCE ONE, TWO, THREE MONTHS, I GUESS. DECEMBER -- WELL, A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN THREE MONTHS. AND OUR GOAL FOR THIS MONTH IS PUBLIC MEETING AND ALL FIVE COUNTIES. WE HAD THE ONE IN NASHUA. SAINT JOHN AND BAKER. DUVAL AND CLAIRE TONIGHT. AND WE'RE DOING THAT. [00:55:03] IT'S REALLY SMALL. APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. AS YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM IT'S -- WE HAVE OUR APP THAT WE HAVE AND THEN SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE WE SEND OUT WE'RE NOT REALLY BEING THAT ACTIVE IN SOCIAL MEDIA. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WORKS IT. MIKEHEAD OF COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE WILL DEVELOP A PLAN FOR THAT. AS YOU MOVE OUT TO THE RIGHT, YOU WILL HAVE THE LAUNCH THE PROGRAMS YOU SEE DOWN THERE. IN THE MIDDLE. THE SAMSA CRISIS WORKSHOP. WHAT WE HOPE TO DO IN Q-2 OF THIS YEAR IS TO LAUNCH OUR WATCH STANDARD PROGRAM. OUR 10,000-PERSON WATCH STANDARD. WE'LL HAVE THE STANDARDS FOR THAT. AGAIN, WE KNOW WHAT WE WANT TO DO. IN THE SENSE THAT WE WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE STAND WATCH FOR EACH OTHER. WE'RE WIDE OPEN FOR IDEAS ON HOW BEST TO DO THAT. >> AND THAT'S THE -- THE BACKGROUND FOR FIRE WATCH. WE ARE HERE SIMPLY TO HELP VETERAN -- TO END VETERAN SUICIDE IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA. WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS. WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS. A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HELP. I WOULD WELCOME THE FEEDBACK. COMMISSIONER, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING AND THIS IS COMPLETELY VOLUNTEER AND YOU PUT HUNDREDS OF HOURS INTO THIS. AND IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED. ONE THING WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY A GOOD TURNOUT. BUT THERE'S HUNDREDS OF VETERAN WHO AREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT. NICK COW HAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DOING THE DUAL MEETING. IF THERE'S A VETERAN GROUP YOU WOULD LIKE. PART OF IT IS AWARENESS. ESPECIALLY ONCE THE WATCH STANDARD PROGRAM COMES ONLINE. HE CAN GO OUT AND DO PRESENTATION AT DIFFERENT GROUPS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE AWARENESS. I WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT BEFORE WE FEEDBACK. ARE WE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE MICROPHONE AND DO ALL THAT. BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC MEETING? >> I WILL TAKE THE MICROPHONE. THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME UP. >> OBVIOUSLY IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T WANT TO SHARE ON PUBLIC RECORD THAT TYPE OF THING WE'LL ALL BE AROUND AND AVAILABLE TO TALK OFF-LINE WITH OUT MICROPHONES IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH THE GOOD OF ALL. FEEL FREE TO DO THAT ALSO. I KNOW SOME THIS CAN BE SENSITIVE. AND PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO SHARE PUBLICLY. >> WHO WILL BE FIRST? >> QUESTIONS? >> I WILL STAND UP. >> ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE NOTICED THROUGH VETERAN TREATMENT COURT IS CORRELATION BETWEEN GUYS GETTING IN TROUBLE, SELF-MEDICATING BECAUSE THEY HAD UNDIAGNOSED TBI. IF I'VE SEEN ONE I'LL BET THERE'S BEEN 50 OR MORE. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WHEN YOU BUSSED OUT AND THE VA IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. 30% PERHAPS IF YOU CAN GET THAT MONEY, AND WE'VE GOT GUYS THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS; THEY WILL GET IN FIGHTS. THEIR SPOUSE ABUSERS. THEY ARE DOING THIS. DRUGS. COME TO FIND OUT IF HAVE YOU BEEN CHECKED FOR TBI? >> WHAT'S THAT. >> NO. >> OBVIOUSLY. HAVE YOU EVER WITH BEEN IN ROADSIDE EXPLOSION? >> YEAH, WE HAD A LOT OF TIME YOUR HEAD OUT WITH RATTLE. IF WE COULD FOCUS ON THIS. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD DO IT OTHER THAN MAYBE GET THE VA TO SAY, YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU SEPARATE FROM THE MILITARY, CHECK YOUR HEAD. CHECK YOUR HEAD. BECAUSE I'VE SEEN COUNTLESS. ESPECIALLY ARMY MARINE CORPS THOSE TOO. YOU WILL HAVE SOME SERIOUS TBI. ON BEHALF OF THE VETERAN TREATMENT COURT I WOULD LOW TO INVITE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SHOW UP AND WATCH IT. THIS COMING THURSDAY 8:00, FOURTH FLOOR OF THE COURTHOUSE. COME ON UP. WE DO IT AND IN A VERY DIFFERENT MATTER. AND IT'S ALL FOR POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT. NO ONE TOUCHES OUR COLORS ACCEPT VETERANS. IT'S A VETERAN-RUN COURT. ANYWAY. THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE. I'M ACTUALLY HAPPY TO SEE ALL THESE FOLKS. THAT'S A GOOD RESOURCE TOO FOR VETERANS. HOW ARE YOU DOING SIR, APPRECIATE YOU SNEAKING IN. >> IN YOUR EXPERIENCE IS IT MOST UNREGISTERED WITH THE VA? >> NOT NECESSARILY. [01:00:01] BUT SOME WILL SAY, YEAH. I LITERALLY HAD TO GO TO THE VA. HE HAD TWO. [INAUDIBLE] I THINK PART OF THE CHALLENGE. >> IT IS THE CHALLENGE. >> I DIDN'T SERVE IN QUITE THE HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT SOME OF YOU GUYS HAVE. WHEN I CAME BACK THE ONLY THING I WAS THINKING ABOUT GETTING HOME TO MY FAMILY. I WASN'T THINKING ABILITY PAPERWORK AND ALL THAT CRAZINESS. I DID REGISTER WITH THE VA. SO I CAN GET TAKE ME OFF THE LIST. BUT I DO THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS SOMETIMES YOU JUST -- THERE NEED TO BE OF YOUR BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO.N- YOU'RE IN THE SERVICE MODE AND THEN OKAY NOW WE'RE HERE TO HELP. AND SO THAT'S I THINK THAT'S WHY ONE OF THE KEY THINGS IS TRYING TO GET THEM REGISTERED SO THERE'S MECHANISM FORGETTING THEM HELP QUICKLY IF NECESSARY. >> I DID HAVE ONE COMMENT. I KNOW FOR A LOT OF VETERAN I TALKED TO THEY GET SEEN BY VA WHEN HEY GET OUT. AND THEN THEY ARE GIVEN THE 10% OR 20% OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. AND THEY DON'T WANT TO GO REGISTER WITH THE VA. BECAUSE THEY FEAR THEIR BENEFIT ALSO GET TAKEN AWAY OR CHANGE. IT HAPPENED TO ME. I HAD 50% WHEN I GOT OUT. TEN YEARS LATER SHIT HIT THE FAN. I GOT 90%. BUT IT WASN'T CORRECT. WHAT THEY TOLD ME I HAD IT WAS WRONG. I CALLED THE VA, AND I SAID I'M 90% IT'S WRONG. I WANT MY INFORMATION TO BE CORRECT. AND I WAS TOLD AREN'T YOU HAPPY WITH 90%? I WAS FLOORED. SO THANK GOODNESS FOR GENTLEMAN IN CLAY COUNTY. I FORGET HIS NAME. A.J. WALKED ME THROUGH THE STEPS TO GET THINGS RIGHT. THERE'S GOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE. BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE FEAR THEY WILL LOSE THEIR BENEFITS. IT'S CLEAR AS DAY. BECAUSE I LOST BENEFITS AND HOW DOES YOUR HEARING GET BETTER FOR ONE? I HAVE NO IDEA. IT'S REALLY NOT THE VA WHEN I LOOK AT IT. IT'S THE ADJUSTORS OR THE DOCTORS THEY SEND TO YOU. IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT. PEOPLE GET THAT CONFUSED. THEY ARE CONFUSED BECAUSE THE VA TELLS YOU HAVE AND TREAT YOU FOR THIS AND MEDICATE YOU FOR THIS OR ACCUBUNKER. WHEN YOU GO TO ADJUSTER IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME. IT'S YOU CAN'T BE MAD AVA. IT'S THE GROUP DOWN THE STREET IN THE LITTLE OFFICE BUILDING GIVING YOU THE CHECK. THERE'S THE BIG PROBLEM THERE. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE CIVILIAN PART OF IT. I THINK AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WIFE, KNOWING WHERE TO GO FAMILY MEMBERS KNOWING WHERE TO GO, AND NOT FEELING LIKE THEY WILL GET THEIR SPOUSE IN TROUBLE OR GO BEHIND THEIR BACK IN ANY WAY. BECAUSE YOU WANT TO PROTECT THEM. BUT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO THE FAMILIES THAT THEY CAN HELP AND LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. >> OKAY. KIND OF TOUCH ON THE WIFE THING. YOU KNOW SO LIKE I SAID MY BETTER HAVE DID 22 AND BUNCH OF COMBAT TOURS. HE HAD TWO TBI'S WHEN THINGS STARTED TO GET OFF BALANCE I HAD NO IDEA WHATTEN BEING PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT TRAIN CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON. WHEN I STARTED AT BIRDWELL THAT WAS MY GOAL THERE'S SUPPORT GROUP FOR WIVES OR PARTNERS. BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. I'VE SPENT MONTHS READING BOOKS, JUST EDUCATING MYSELF ON TBI'S AND COGNITIVE THERAPY. AGAIN THERE WAS NOTHING -- I FOUND LIKE TWO GROUPS ON THE WEST COAST. AND YOU KNOW THERES REALLY NOTHING. THEY COME HOME AND IT'S TRANSITION PERIOD. AND I'VE SEEN GUYS THAT TRANSITION IN TEN YEARS BUT 30 YEARS LATER THAT'S -- THAT'S A NEED FOR RESOURCE AND THAT'S MY GOAL. WITH BIRDWELL TO GET FEEL FOR THAT. >> GOOD WORDS THERE. BACK UP TO THE FRONT OVER HERE. SO IF I VOLUNTEER; RIGHT LIKE [01:05:01] I'M VOLUNTEERING TO HELP OUT. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR ME? REALLY? >> AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A POOR ANSWER TO START WITH. BUT I WILL GIVE YOU THE CURRENT ANSWER. AND RIGHT NOW WHAT WE WOULD ASK YOU TO DO IS ONCE WE ANNOUNCE IT BY APRIL, IS TO STAND WATCH AND COUPLE OF THINGS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT. BUT THIS IS WHERE IF YOU -- IF YOU -- AFTER TONIGHT IF YOU THINK ABOUT SOMETHING, PLEASE GO ON THE WEB SITE. AND THEN SHOOT US AN E-MAIL. I WILL GIVE YOU ANYBODY WHO WANTS MY CARD. YOU CAN DO THE SAME THING. WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS IN OTHER WORDSES IF YOU, JOHN AND I WERE WE'RE VETERANS AND WITH BUCK AND FIRE WATCH. WHAT WE WOULD DO WE WOULD ASK TO COMMUNICATE US FIVE TO COMMUNICATE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. WE WANT ATTEND TWO OR THREE VETERAN GROUPS A YEAR. -- -- EVENT A YEAR. THERE'S A WEB NATURAL BETWEEN AN HOUR TO HOUR AND A HALF THAT WLOU WOULD TAKE WABINAR TRAINING TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE BEST WAY TO HELP AND BE SUPPORTIVE. AND THEN WE ALSO WOULD ASK YOU TO ADVOCATE TO RECRUIT FOR OTHERS. WE LOST A SOLDIER IN 2004. HIS MOTHER GAVE ME HIS BRACELET. AND ROBERT WISE. AND I KEEP WEARING IT TO REMIND ME THAT EVEN THOUGH I'M LONG RETIRED. I STILL OWE MY SOLDIER AND MAINE ARE. MAYBE NOT THAT TYPE OF BRACELET. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE FIRST IDEAS FOR THAT. BUT THE KEY IS WE FRANKLY DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT SO EASY -- I SAY EASY. THERE'S NO STANDARD, I JUST ALL I HAD TO DO WAS JUST SIGN MY NAME. LIKE -- YOU GO ONLINE AND GET A DEGREE FROM ANYWHERE. FOR $10 YOU CAN SAY I WENT TO WHEREVER. THAT'S YOU DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU EARNED ANYTHING. SAME WAY WITH THIS. WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT SO DIFFICULT IT'S LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO SCHOOL TO BE WATCH STANDARD. ON THE OTHER HAND WE WANT TO FEEL LIKE THERE'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT. THERE'S ARE JUST KIND OF THE START POINT OF THAT BUT WE WOULD LOW TO HAVE IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE IT MORE MEANINGFUL. >> SO OKAY. WE'RE ON A FIRE TEAM; RIGHT? SOMEBODY IN MY AREA BASICALLY CALLS THE HOT HIEN -- HOTLINE. YOU SAY THIS GROUP IN THAT AREA. NOW YOU ARE IN WITH THIS GROUP HERE. AND WE HELP ASSIST THAT GUY GET BETTER. HE'S A PART OF GROUP AND WE TOUCH BASE WITH THAT GUY. HOW DOES THAT WORK? >> INITIALLY I WOULD SAY YES AND NO TO THAT QUESTION. IN THE SENSE THAT WE HOPE INITIALLY IT WILL BE ORGANIC. THAT BECAUSE THE FIVE OF US KNOW EACH OTHER WE WANT TO DO THAT. BUT THEN ALSO WE'RE GOING TO GET SOMEONE WHO IS MAYBE WHOSE SPOUSE IS ENCOURAGED HIM TO CALL SAY YOU OUGHT TO BE PART OF THIS. YOU NEED TO GET THAT CAMARADERIE YOU HAD. WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER VETERANS THAT HAVE REGISTERED IN A PARTICULAR AREA, WE WOULD SAY, LOOK YOU HAVE FIVE OF US. WOULD YOU BE OKAY IF WE ADDED A SIXTH. THIS PERSON WOULD LIKE TO BE PART. COMBINATION OF BOTH. ORGANICALLY INITIALLY, IT'S GOING TO BE ME KNOWING SOMEONE OR YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO SIGN UP. YOU COME WITH YOUR BUDDIES TO SIGN UP. THEN WE HAVE ON THE FORUM, WILL YOU BE WILLING TO ADDITIONAL PEOPLE OR JUST WANT TO HAVE FIVE OF YOU? I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE COMBINATION OF YOU ALREADY KNOWING PEOPLE AND RECRUITING PEOPLE YOU KNOW THEN ALSO PEOPLE WHO LIKE I SAID YOUR SPOUSE, FAMILY MEMBERS ENCOURAGED THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT VETERAN TO BE PART OF IT. >> WHEN I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WHO FAMILIAR WITH COMBAT LIFE SAVER. THE MILITARY REALIZED -- I KNOW YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT -- WE CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH MEDICS ON THE BATTLEFIELD. ITS TOO EXTENSIVE TO HAVE ENOUGH EVERYWHERE. THEY DID THIS COMBAT LIFE SAVER COMBAT. YOU GET A LITTLE BIT MORE TRAINING. YOU'RE NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. THE BASIC FUNDAMENTAL THINGS OF GETTING SOMEONE BASICALLY STOPPING BLEEDING THE NUMBER ONE THING. THEN THERE'S A FEW OTHER THINGS. THAT'S WHAT I ENVISION. BECAUSE I HAVE NOW THE MILITARY LEARNING AND EVOLVING. WE GO THROUGH RESILIENCY TRAINING. DID YOU DO THAT -- DID THEY HAVE? >> THEY HAVE RESILIENCY TRAINING. AND IT IS HELPFUL. AS I JUST CAME OUT OF COMPANY COMMAND FOR TWO YEARS. AND WE HAD TWO SOLDIER IN CRISIS. [01:10:03] AND THE RESILIENCY TRAINING AND COMBINATION OF OTHER TRAINING THINGS I HAD, HAD WE WERE ABLE TO GET THEM HELP. BUT IT WAS STILL A SCARY MOMENT LIKE OKAY NOW I'M IN THIS MOMENT. AND I ACTUALLY FROM MISSISSIPPI TEXTED RORY ONE NIGHT ABOUT A CRISIS SITUATION. BECAUSE WE VERY TYING TO FIND THAT SOLDIER RESOURCES AND IT WASN'T IN OUR AREA. IT WAS IN A DIFFERENT AREA. I'M ENVISION THIS PROGRAM AS THEY'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TRAINING. NOT THEY ARE FULL-TIME FIRE WATCH SUICIDE PREVENTION PERSON. THEY'VE HAD JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TRAINING SO THEY KNOW WHAT THE DO WHEN CRISIS HAPPENS AND THEY CAN BE A FACILITATOR OF THAT AND SPREAD THE WORD. THAT'S I THINK PART OF IT. WE -- THAT'S THE PART OF THE PROBLEM JUST KNOWING WHAT THE DO AND WE'VE HEARD THAT I THINK FROM A LOT. AND THEN JUST RESILIENCY PIECE. WHAT I HAVE DONE WE ALL DO THIS I THINK KIND OF INFORMALLY AMONG OUR VETERAN FRIENDS. WHEN MY FRIEND WHO DEPLOYED WITH. I NOTICE I HADN'T HEARD FROM THEM. WE CALL THEM. THAT'S A NATURAL BEING FRIEND. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT'S KIND OF OTHER THAN JUST HEY I'M HERE FOR YOU. THAT'S WHERE RESILIENCY PIECE COMES IN. IT SEEMS BAD RIGHT NOW. IT COULD BE BETTER AND THAT TYPE OF THING. AND THAT'S HOW I ENVISION IT BEING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS. >> LOCAL WATCH STANDARD CONCEPT. SMALL GROUPS THE POWER OF SMALL GROUPS THAT WILL BE A BIG PIECE OF THIS. I APPRECIATE YOU MENTION THAT. I'M INTERESTED HOW THE MEMBER COUNTY ADVOCACY GROUPS KIND OF WHAT'S YOUR VISION OF THE COMPOSITION OF THAT AND ALSO MEETING FREQUENCY. >> GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU, JOHN FOR SETTING THAT UP. >> WE HAVE THE COUNCILMEMBERS BUCK AND MYSELF AND THREE OUTS AND OUR LIAISONS. AND WE'LL BE WORKING ON LIKE THE 10,000 CONNECTION WE'LL HAVE THE SAMSA AND ALL THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT. BUT WHEN WE END UP HAVING 10,000. GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL COUNTY ADVISORY COUNCILS WE'LL HAVE IN MY MIND AT LEAST TWO PRIMARY MISSIONS. ONE, IT'S TO BE THE VOICE FOR THE BIGGER THING. WE HAVE -- WE WANT 10,000 CONNECTIONS. THE WAY THAT CONNECT VETERANS IN CLAY COUNTY IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN IN BAKER COUNTY. SO WE WOULD HAVE THE -- WE WOULD HAVE THIS PROGRAM AND WE GIVE IT TO EACH ONE OF THE COUNTY ADVISORY COUNCILS. WE WOULD HAVE A OVERALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN THAT WOULD BE RUN. BUT IT WAS INTERESTING IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY A GENTLEMAN VETERAN A TEACHER AT CREEK SIDE. HE SAID, YOU KNOW A LOT OF VETERANS DON'T HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA. PARTICULARLY OLDER VETERANS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA. WHEN YOU THINK YOU TOLD EVERYONE THROUGH TWITTER OR WHATEVER OR FACEBOOK. YOU HAVEN'T. AND GO DOWN AND TALK TO PEOPLE. AND THAT'S WHAT WILL HAVE TO HAPPEN. AND THE ONLY WAY KIT BE DONE. IT CAN'T BE DONE FROM FIVE OF US IN MEETING. IT'S THE INDIVIDUAL ADVISORY COUNCIL. THAT'S HAVE THAT. ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WE HOPE TO START THE VA HAS SOMETHING CALLED THE COMMUNITY CLERGY TRAINING PROGRAM. AND YOU KNOW VETERANS DON'T GO TO LIKE CHAPEL FOR CHURCH. THEY ARE WHEREVER THEY ARE IN THE COMMUNITY. MY MOTHER LIVED IN MIDDLEBURGH SINCE THE EARLY 90S. UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR. BUT SHE WAS IN THE CHURCH AND ALL THAT. AND SO WE HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD JOB OF PREPARING FAITH LEADERS TO TALK TO THEIR MEMBERS WHO ARE VETERANS. BECAUSE I THINK IF I WENT TO MY PASTOR WHO I'VE BEEN IN THE SAME CHURCH LIKE 20 YEARS. I TOLD HIM I HAD MARRIAGE PROBLEMS HE COULD CERTAINLY HELP ME WITH THAT. BUT IF I STARTED TO DIVERGING. I HAD THIS THING HAPPEN IN MILITARY. HE WOULDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT TO DO. I DON'T BLAME HIM FOR THAT. HE DOESN'T KNOW -- THERE AREN'T THAT MANY VETERANS. IF HE KNEW IF WE TOLD HIM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE VETERAN EXPERIENCE WHICH IS COMMUNITY CLERGY TRAINING PROGRAM. PLUS WE SAID, LOOK IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT WE WANT YOU TO DO THESE THREE THINGS. THAT'S THE AWE DO IT. IF WE WORK AT THAT AND OUR LEVEL THE COUNCIL LEVEL AND THEN GO TO CLAY COUNTY AND SAY WE LIKE TO SCHEDULE CLERGY TRAINING PROGRAM SOMETIME IN MAY THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO CHURCHES, SYNAGOGUES, THE MOSQUE, WHATEVER IS HERE IN CLAY COUNTY TO DO THAT. THAT'S KIND OF ONE. THE OTHER ONE IS WHATEVER UNIQUE TO CLAY COUNTY. YOU MAY LOOK IN CLAY COUNTY AND SKY YOU WANT TO WORK ON X WHATEVER THAT CONCERN OR ISSUE AND THEN THAT, AGAIN THAT'S THE BEAUTY, THOUGH OF US HAVING IT. THE COUNT YOU HAVE IN ADDITION TO COMMISSIONER ROLLINS; YOU HAVE THE COUNTY STAFF CAN LOOK AT GRANTS, CAN HAVE IDEAS AND DO THAT FOR YOU. IT'S -- I SEE A DUAL MISSION FOR [01:15:04] THE INDIVIDUAL COUNTY COUNCILS TO SUPPORT AND BE THE ADVOCATES FOR THE BIGGER -- KIND OF THE BIGGER PROJECT TO GET THEM INTO THE COUNTIES AND THEN THE INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES HAVE PROJECT. >> COMMISSIONER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? >> ON THE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTED H YOU ON THE RESOURCE GUIDE? >> I AM NOT. I'M DISAPPOINTED ON THAT. YOU WILL REACH OUT CAN >> THERE YOU GO. >> PERFECT. THAT'S ONE IMMEDIATE TAKE AWAY. >> THE INDIVIDUAL COUNTY ARE GOING TO SET UP HOW THEY WANT TO RUN THEIR. THEY WILL BE UNDER BUCK'S GUIDANCE. AND THEY WILL DO THAT. THOUGHTSES GOING EVERYWHERE. I LIKE WHAT I AM HEARING. EVERYTHING ABOUT FIRE WAX IN MY EYE I SEE MORE OF OVERWATCH IN THE COMMUNITY. PROVIDING VOLUNTEERS POSSIBLY IF YOU DO PROVIDE INCENTIVE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHATEVER THAT MAY BE. BUT AS FAR AS THE NONPROFITS IN THE AREA IF YOU COULD MAKE POSSIBLY SET STANDARD AS FAR AN OVERWATCH POINT OF VIEW. OKAY THEY MADE 35,000 THIS YEAR. THAT GAVE 31,000 TO VETERANS. OKAY. WE'RE WORKING WITH THESE GUYS. AND IF NONPROFITS AREN'T UP TO THOSE STANDARDS, THEN HEY, THEY WILL NOT GET THE SAME INCENTIVES AND IT WILL BE UNDERSTOOD. FROM MY EYES, LIKE YOU GUYS SAID, YOU'RE SITTING HERE AND BOARD OF COMMISSION'S OFFICE THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. IN THE TRENCHES THAN IS -- IT TAKES THE BEAT COP. YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE STREETS. CHRIS SHARED HIS STORY. CHURCH MEMBER CALLED ME AND SAID I GOT THIS GUY SLEEPING IN THE WOODS BEHIND THE CHURCH. WHAT DO ARE WE GOING TO DO? THIS BEFORE WE HAD LIVING LOCATION. I HAD TO CALL AND GET A ROOM UNDER MY NAME AND GO TAKE HIM THERE AND LET HIM SOBER UP FOR THREE DAYS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH. IF A FIRE WATCH COULD HELP WITH RESOURCE. FOUND OUT FROM JOE HAMILTON THEY HAVE VET HOUSE. WE'RE ALLOWING ONE OF THEIR VETERANS TO LIVE AT OUR LOCATION RIGHT NOW BUT I'M LIKE, MAN I NEED A VET HOUSE. I NEED SOMEWHERE TO SEND THESE PEOPLE. BUT LET ME BACKTRACK AND SINCERITY AND GENUINELY CONCERNED. THE 911, THE IMMEDIATE CALL I GOT A GUY HE'S IN THE WOODS. HE'S INTOXICATED. HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I FEEL THE WAY THAT I APPROACH VETERANS IN THAT SITUATION, WITH MY BACKGROUND WHETHER IT'S YOUR ARMY RANGER OR YOU'RE A DESK GUY, WITH MY MILITARY EXPERIENCE, I HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO DO A QUICK ASSESSMENT AND TELL IF IT'S -- IF HE'S DEALING A TRAUMATIC EVENT OR IF HE'S JUST DEALING WITH THAT WHICH I FIND IN THE MAJORITY OF VETERANS IS THAT JUST SEPARATION OF THAT CAMARADERIE. THEY FEEL LOST. THEY HAD SUCH A CONNECTION IN THE MILITARY. THEY DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE. WHETHER IT'S THEY COME HOME FROM WORK AND THEY SITTING IN THEIR ROOM WATCHING TV BY THEMSELVES OR WHATEVER. NO MATTER WHAT IT BE. WHETHER IT'S THE TRAUMATIC SITUATION OR THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT WAY TO HANDLE EACH SITUATION. FOR ME IN OPERATION BARNIBUS I TREAT EACH INDIVIDUAL SITUATION LIKE IT'S A SPECIFIC ONE. AND I GO FROM THERE. I WANT TO COVER MIKE AN INDIVIDUAL BROUGHT TO ME ARMY VETERAN, I SAID I'M DOING SOME YARD WORK ONE DAY. HE WAS KIND OF LOST. AND HE CAME OUT DID SOME YARD WORK WITH ME. OUR TEMPLATE IS I GO TO A FACE TO FACE. DO A QUICK ASSESSMENT. SEE WHAT KIND OF NEEDS THEY NEED. WHETHER IT'S I NEED TO TAKE THEM TO ER. I NEED TO CALL 911. I NEED TO TAKE THEM TO VA, WHATEVER IT MAY BE. THIS -- THIS INDIVIDUAL SAFE. I SENT HIM TO A PROJECT SANCTUARY. [01:20:01] IT'S A RETREAT THAT WE SENT FAMILIES TO UP IN THE MOUNTAINS. BEAUTIFUL, ME AND MY WIFE ARE GOING THERE TO VOLUNTEER HERE SHORTLY. HE CAME BACK FROM THERE AND THIS IS IN THE BEGINNING OF OPERATION BARNIBUS STAGES. ID PRESIDENT HAVE A MENTORSHIP PLAN SET UP FOR HIM WHEN HE GOT BACK. SO I SENT HIM ON RETREAT. >> HE COMES BACK. AND I'M DEALING WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE I'M EXCITED. GETTING CALLS ALL LEFT AND RIGHT. I THINK I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING. BUT MIKE SITTING OVER HERE. I SENT HIM ON RETREAT AND I HAVEN'T CALLED HIM IN FOUR MONTHS. LUCKILY, PROJECT SANCTUARY THE PLACE I SENT HIM THEY HAVE ASSIGNED MENTOR AND THEY CHECK IN WITH THEM MONTH. THIS INDIVIDUAL CALLS MIKE AND ASKED HOW HE'S DOING. JUST SO HAPPEN HEAD HAD BEEN DRINKING THAT NIGHT. AND HE THAT MENTOR TALKED HIM INTO CALLING 911 AND HE ADMITTED HIMSELF INTO ER. HE GOT BAKER ACTED. I FIND OUT ABOUT THIS. I'M WAITING TO PICK HIM UP FROM THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. AND THEN I TALK TO HIM. I SIT DOWN AND TALK TO HIM. I TELL HIM MY STORY. HE TOLD ME HIS. I PERSUADE HIM BACK TO VA. HE ADMIT HIM FIRST DOCTOR COMES ROLLS EYES AND HE'S THE CONSIDER THAT WON'T DESCRIBE WHAT HE THINKS SISH HE HAD AN ISSUE WITH. AND LONG STORY SHORT. HE WAS BASICALLY VA BAKER ACTED. THEY HELD HIM FOR THREE DAYS THERE. IN THOSE THREE DAYS WE LINED UP IMPATIENT AND WAITING FOR HIM ONCE HE GOT OUT. WE WANT IMPATIENT TREATMENT. AND I STILL CHECK IN WITH HIM TO THIS DAY. SO MY POINT BY EXPLAINING THAT STORY MENTORSHIP IS HUGE. AND IT CAN'T BE DONE BY JUST ONE PERSON. I THINK THE FIRE WATCH PLAN IS AWESOME. THE WAY I SEE IT YOU GUYS THE OVERWATCH YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF AREAS OR PEOPLE YOU LIKE OR TRUST IN AREAS. WHETHER IT BE OPERATION BARNIBUS OR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS IN THE KEYSTONE HEIGHTS AREA. AND YOU MAKE SURE THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF THEIR FOLKS IN THAT AREA. ALSO MARY WASN'T HERE WHEN YOU -- SHE MISSED THE LAST MEETING THAT I GOT TO SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AT. I WANT TO INTRODUCE MARY. IT'S TEMPLATE WE'VE BEEN USING. WHAT I ENJOY WE'RE OUT OF THE BOX OF WE DON'T HAVE REGULATION. WE DO HAVE BI-LAWS WE CAN HELP PEOPLE AT THE DROP OF A DIME. KIM GIVES ME CALL. I CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR THIS FAMILY. WHAT DO YOU GOT? AND I WILL LET YOU SHARE YOUR STORY. MARY. WE BASICALLY WENT TO MARY'S AIDE DID ASSESSMENT. GOT HERLYING LOCATION. WORKED ON EMPLOYMENT. AND I WOULD LIKE HER TO STAND UP AND INTRODUCE HERSELF TO YOU. LONG STORY SHORT SHE'S DOING GREAT. AND HER KIDS ARE HERE SOME OF THEM ARE SLEEPING. MISS MARY WEAVER. >> HI. AS HE SAID I'M MARY WEER. I DID 14 YEARS IN THE NAVY. I HAVE 13 AND 11-YEAR-OLD. IST MARRIED IN THE MILITARY SHORTLY AFTER GETTING OUT I GOT A DIVORCE. AND I WASN'T GETTING THE SUPPORT I NEEDED FROM THE OTHER PARTY. SO ONCE I GOT OUT I HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING A JOB. I FOUND A JOB. BUT THEN IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN FOR MYSELF AND THE GIRLS. SO THEN BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME SUPPORT I HAD IN THE MILITARY. I THOUGHT I COULD HANDLE EVERYTHING WHICH MYSELF. THEN EVERYTHING STARTED TO SNOWBALL. AND THEN I HAD OLDER VEHICLE. I HAD TO SAY OKAY WILL I PAY THE RENT OR TAKE CARE OF THIS VEHICLE. I NEED THE VEHICLE TO TAKE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL. TO GO TO WORK. AND IF I DON'T GO TO WORK I DON'T GET PAID. SO THEN WE THE LANDLORDS WORKING WITH US. BUT FINALLY LIKE, NO. I DON'T WANT TO WORK WITH YOU ANYMORE. I CALLED AROUND I NEVER HEARD OF OPERATION BARNIBUS. I CALLED DIFFERENT PLACES. ONE PLACE I CALLED THEY ARE YOU WAITED TOO LONG. WE CAN'T DO NOTHING FOR YOU. I'M LIKE, OKAY. WELL, I GOT HOLD OF KIM GLOVER. I CALLED THE CRISIS HOTLINE. AND THEN I MET WITH TREY. AND TREY CAME OUT SPOKE TO ME AND EXPLAINED THE WHOLE SITUATION TO HIM. AND I DIDN'T HAVE NO PLACE TO [01:25:02] GO. IT WAS JUST MYSELF, MY FAMILY UP NORTH AND JUST ME. SO HE SPOKE TO ME. HE MET US AND THEN I HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WILL I DO WITH MY STUFF. HE CAME OUT WITH A COUPLE OF HIS CHURCH MEMBERS. THEY MOVED MY STUFF INTO STORAGE. AND GOT US SET UP AND HE HAD A TRAILER. WE WERE IN STATE PARK FOR A LITTLE WHILE. BUT WE HAD A ROOF OVER OUR HEAD. AND THEN WE ALSOED A AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE PROJECT SANCTUARY. WE WANT TO COLORADO AND SPENT THE WHOLE WEEK THERE. WE HAD AN AMAZING TIME. I GOT AWAY FROM MY REALITY. WHILE THERE, THEY SPOKE TO US THE KIDS HAD THEIR OWN SPACE WHERE THEY WENT THEIR LITTLE THING AND THEN WE CAME BACK AND THEN WE HAD PSYCHIATRIST THERE. THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF RESOURCES THAT WERE JUST A BLESSING TO FEEL LIKE I WASN'T ALONE IN MY SITUATION. BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I WAS ALONE. I FEEL LIKE JUST ME. AND WHAT CAN ANYBODY ELSE DO FOR ME. IF I CAN'T EVEN -- I FELT LIKE FAILING MY CHILDREN. BUT THEN ONCE I GOT AHOLD OF TREY AND ALL THE PEOPLE PROJECT SANCTUARY, STUFF HAPPENS. YOU KNOW IT'S OKAY AND I'M HUMAN. AND THERE WERE DAYS WHERE I WAS LIKE ITS EASIER TO NOT WAKE UP THAN TO WAKE UP AND TO DEAL WITH WHAT I WAS DEALING WITH. BUT HE STILL CHECKS ON US. HE SENT E-MAIL HOW ARE YOU DOING. HOW IS EVERYTHING. IT'S BEEN A BLESSING. IT'S BEEN A BLESSING. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WOULD BE HAD I NOT BEEN INTRODUCED TO TREY AND HIS ORGANIZATION. >> THANK YOU FOR SHARING. I DIDN'T WANT HER TO SHARE TO PROMOTE BARNIBUS. MY POINT BEING TO ME THIS ISN'T -- IT ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE. WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE. YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO IS GENUINELY SINCERE AND CARES ABOUT WANTS TO LISTEN TO YOU. ONCE YOU HAVE THAT. IF FIRE WATCH CAN GIVE ME THE RESOURCES I NEED. MAN WE'RE PUTTING PEOPLE -- WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN HOUSES; GIVING THEM JOBS. THERE'S PEOPLE ALL OUT OF 35,000 DOLLAR THAT I RECEIVED LAST YEAR. THE MAJORITY OF ITS FACEBOOK DONATIONS JUST FROM LOCAL INDIVIDUALS HEARING ABOUT HOW WE'VE HELPED MARY OR SOMEONE ELSE. IT'S -- I'M NOT TAPPED INTO GRANTS OR ANYTHING. THE PROCESS TO ME IT ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE. BUT IT DOES TAKE SOMEBODY WHO HAS THAT EXPERIENCE; WHO'S BEEN HURTING AND KNOWS THE PATH OUT OF IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS ON THAT. YOU ARE DOING A LOT OF MODELLING. AMPLIFYING THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THAT. AND THEN THE TRAIN THE TRAINER KIND OF CONCEPT. UNFORTUNATELY EVEN THOUGH MARINES ARE PRETTY AWESOME. YOU CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE. WE'VE GOT MULTIPLY THAT EFFORT SO WE CAN HELP OTHERS. AND COORDINATING THE EFFORT. I VIEW THES TACTICAL OPERATION CENTER. AND NICK THAT'S WHAT NICK IS FULL TIME. AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE PART OF THAT. IN NO WAY TO PREPLACE OTHER GROUPS IN WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO AMPLIFY AND COORDINATE THE EFFORT TO TAKE HOLELESS STATISTIC COMMUNITY WIDE VIEW OF IT SO THAT JACKSON WORKING WITH KEYSTONE AND ACROSS THE REGION. IF I COULD ADD ONE THING. IT'S INTERESTING, TREY, THAT PHYSICAL -- PHENOMENAL STORY. THAT'S GREAT. UNITED WAY VETS THE VETERAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION. N THEY HAVE TO BE VALID VETERAN ORGANIZATION TO BE LISTED. THE OTHER THING DAWNED ON ME AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE GRANT WORKSHOP FOR EACH ONE OF THE COUNTIES THAT BECAUSE THE COUNTY STAFF COULD DO SOME RESEARCH FOR US AND LIKE TALK ABOUT NICK HE CAN START THAT. BUT EACH ONE OF THE COUNTY MAYBE WHAT WE COULD DO LOOK AT GRANT AND DO GRAND WORKSHOP. INSTEAD OF YOU DOING THE WORK. HERE'S SOME THINGS THAT MAY EXIST IN THE GRANT AREA FOR YOU AND THEN THAT'S WHERE THE COUNTY STAFF CAN ASSIST. CAN'T NECESSARILY DO EVERYTHING BUT WE CAN USE THEIR RESEARCHABILITY TO KIND LOOK FOR SOMETHING. >> YOU GIVE ME A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS. >> I WILL WORK WITH THE VSO AND I WORK WITH KIM. ALMOST HAND IN HAND TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, WE WORK OUR PROBLEM IS JUST GETTING COORDINATED WITH THESE GROUPS. [01:30:02] OKAY IT'S JUST LIKE WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD. I TALKED TO THESE PEOPLE. WELL I'VE GOT THIS GOING ON. AND THEY HAVE THEIR PRIORITIES. AND WE HAVE OUR PRIORITIES. AND WE GOT THIS PERSON NEEDING HELP. WE SAID WE SEE THEM. WE FIND OUT THEY CAN'T HELP THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO NORTHING AT THAT TIME. THEY WORK WITH NATIONAL GUARD OR I HAD A GIRL THE OTHER DAY AND WANTING TO START THIS SUPPORT GROUP FOR BOTTOM. WHAT DID THEY DO AFTERWARD? AND SHE TOLD ME STRAIGHT UP SHE JUST SAID I WORK THE NATIONAL GUARD. AND REALLY I CAN'T HELP YOU. AND I'M SORRY. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS. THERE'S THE PROBLEMS I RAN INTO. SHE SAID SEND A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT TO DUVAL BECAUSE OF THE RESOURCES THEY GOT. WHEN THEY GET TO DUVAL THEY BECOME A NUMBER. NAY STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. IT'S JUST FIRST COME FIRST SERVE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. >> SHE WILL CALL ME. I WILL SAY WE CAN DO, THIS, THIS, THIS A THIS. THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO DO. IN FACT I GOT ONE THIS AFTERNOON WE TOOK TOMORROW. YOU LIKE I SAID YOU GOT TO HAVE SUPPORT. AND WE DON'T GET SUPPORT. WE GOENT GET IT. IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE. WE TAKE CARE OF IT. WHEN YOU GOT THIS PERSON LIKE THE LADY BEHIND US. OKAY. WHEN YOU GOT TWO KIDS. THREE KIDS, OKAY. THAT YOU HAVE NO JOB. YOU NO PLACE TO GO AND STUFF. THIS IS IT. THEN YOU SAY I'M SORRY, I CAN'T HELP. WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW. WE NEED SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. AND PEOPLE WILL SAY, WELL HELP. WE CAN HELP. WE CAN HELP. BUT WHEN YOU CALL ON THEM. THEY CAN'T HELP. IF YOULY IN CLAY COUNTY MAY BE FAMILIAR SEYMOUR GRANT. THAT'S AN AWESOME ORGANIZATION. NAY DO MUD RUN. THEY HELP KIDS. THE KIDS HAVE HORSES. THERE'S A GARDEN. WIFE AND I VOLUNTEERED THERE. WHY CAN'T THERE BE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN CLAY COUNTY? THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY OUT THERE. SOMEONE CAN BUY OR DONATE A PIECE OF LAND AND LIKE YOU WERE SAYING NO PLACE TO GO. I MEAN, IF YOU COULD TAKE SOMEONE OUT OF THE WOODS AND PUT THEM IN A TENT AND THEN MOVE THEM TO OPEN BARRACKS TO A CONDO TO TEAM THEM FINANCE. EVERYWHERE MY WIFE AND I GO WE GO TO AMERICAN LEAGUE GONE. AND WE ALWAYS TALK TO POST COMMANDER AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE INVOLVED. THE LAST ONE WE WENT TO PULLING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WOODS. THAT WAS HIS MISSION AT THAT POST. THERE'S LAND IN CLAY COUNTY. WHY DON'T WE USE THAT LAND TO DO SOMETHING. WHEN I WAS IN THE MILITARY, MY PARENTS WEREN'T THERE. WHEN I NEEDED CHILD CARE LIKE YOU SAID. IT WAS YOUR BUDDY OR YOU FRIENDS OR SOMEONE THAT TOOK CARE OF YOUR OWN. AND CONNECTED EVERYBODY IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. I LIKE THAT PART OF THIS. AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR $19OR $13 A MONTH AND SENDING A BLANKET AND ALL THAT STUFF. IT'S -- BECAUSE IT'S GRASSROOTS. GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE RIGHT NEXT TO YOU. WHERE WE SPENT OUR TIME ON THE FENCE POST. >> WHAT ARE YOU DOING? >> OH, NOTHING. OTHER GUY NAVY GUY. I DIDN'T KNOW MY NEIGHBOR UNTIL PROBABLY FIVE OR TEN YEARS AFTER I LIVED THERE. BECAUSE HE HAD PTSD AND HE WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE HOUSE. TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO GET TO KNOW HIM. WE BOTH HAD OUR OWN ISSUES. WE KEPT TO OURSELVES. IT'S A GREAT -- SOMETHING TO LOOK AT. >> WE GOT ONE MORE UP FRONT. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT MAKE FEW COMMENTS. AND OBSERVATION FROM THE PAST AND PRESENT. AFTER MY 20-YEAR LIFE IN THE NAVY, I'M COMBAT VETERAN; TWO COMBAT TOURS VIETNAM. [01:35:02] I PRETTY WELL UNDERSTAND THE MENTALITY OF THE VIETNAM VETERAN. AND WHY THEY HAVE BECOME PRETTY RECLUSIVE AND WHY THEY WANT TO STAY THAT WAY. I HEAR A LOT ABOUT TRYING TO PULL PEOPLE OUT OF THE WOODS. A LOT OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS PREFER TO BE THERE. THAT'S THEY WOULD RATHER BE THERE JUST AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO BE IN YOUR LIVING ROOM ALTERNATE NIGHT -- AT NIGHT WATCHING TV. THAT'S WHERE THEIR COMFORT IS. BUT WHEN I LOOK IN THIS ROOM TO SEE WHO IS HERE. I DON'T SEE ANY LAW ENFORCE. . I SAY THAT FOR A REASON. AFTER MY NAVY I SPENT 30 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. I SPENT 20 OF IT AS CHIEF OF POLICE. I SPENT FIVE AND A HALF YEAR IN CLAY COUNTY AND DEPUTY SHERIFF AND INVESTIGATOR. DURING MY TIME I'VE SEEN A LOT OF SUICIDES. MANY TIME. WHAT DISTURBED ME THE MOST WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE, WORK WITH VETERAN IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. IS IN DECEMBER OF 2015 UNDER ANOTHER SHERIFF WE GOT IN FIGHT WITH HIS WIFE. SHE CALLED THE SHE CALLED THE SHRIFF'S DEPARTMENT THEY CAME OUT. ITS A POINT WHERE HE WANTED THE POLICE TO KILL HIM. THEY DID. HE WENT FOR WHAT THEY SURMISED WAS A GUN. I BELIEVE ITS. AND THEY SHOT AND KILLED HIM. THREE MONTHS LATER UNDER THEIR NEW SHERIFF DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE SHE CALLED A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THERE ARE -- THIS GUY WAS SHOT AND KILLED ALSO. SO SUICIDE-BY-COP. THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAD SEVERAL TALKS WITH THE SHERIFF THAT'S NOW EARLY ON AND ASKED IF HE WAS IF I COULD EVEN COME IN TALK TO SOME OF HIS THE DEPUTIES DURING THEIR TRAINING SESSIONS AND TO TRY AND EXPLAIN THE MENTALITY OF ESPECIALLY THE VIETNAM VETERAN, THE COMBAT VETERAN, AND JUST KIND OF GAFFED IT OFF. LEFT WITH THEY GET MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING. MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING TO CIVILION IS NOT THE SAME AS IT IS VETERAN. ESPECIALLY WHEN MANY OF THE DEPUTIES WHO ARE RESPONDING TO THESE CALLS HAVE HAD THREE AND FOUR AND FIVE TOURS IN COMBAT THEMSELVES. THEY COME BACK BUT VERY LITTLE DOWN TIME THROWN RIGHT BACK INTO THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES SO THEY ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THEIR OWN PROBLEMS AND STILL TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE VETERAN WITH HIS PROBLEMS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FIRE WATCH GET INTO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I THINK WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE THERE. BECAUSE THEY ARE EVEN COMMITTING THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARREST. THEY MADE BE BAKER ACT THEM TONIGHT. STAY THERE TWO OR THREE DAYS. THEY ARE STILL AT RISK WHEN THEY GET BACK OUT ON THE STREET. I THINK A LOT CAN BE DONE. >> THANK YOU. I WILL ADD THAT, THAT'S I TOOK A NOTE ON THAT. WHAT WE ARE HAVING IN APRIL WITH THE SAMSA SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, THE WORKSHOP LAW ENFORCEMEND IS PART OF THAT. THE VETERANS IN CRISIS JUST EXACTLY WHAT YOU DESCRIBED THEY WILL LOOK AT OUR -- THAT AND I'LL MAKE A NOTE TO THEM TO ASK THEM TO HAVE THEM MAKE SURE THEY [01:40:01] ASKING LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT TRAINING. WHICH REALLY KIND OF WHAT YOU ARE GETTING AT. TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU MAY RUN INTO FOR A VETERAN BEFORE HAND PUT IT IN PART OF THE TRAINING THEN YOU FACE IT YOU ARE NOT -- IT'S SOMETHING YOU ARE TRAINED FOR. >> >> THEY REALLY NEED TO VETERAN OUT THERE. I JUST LIKE TO SAY, AGAIN, LIKE HOW MARY MENTIONED, WHETHER IT'S THE KIDS WORK THE BILLS WHEN SOMEONE IS AT THAT POINT IN LIFE WHEN THEY ARE OVERWHELMED I WOULD SAY THEY -- I PERSONALLY DIDN'T HAVE THAT DRIVE OR INSPIRATION TO GO SEARCHING FOR PLACES THAT WOULD RESOURCES. WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS JUST PROVIDE THAT HOPE. HOPE THAT LISTEN, YOU'RE -- YOU'RE LOST. I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AT. LET'S TAKE IT DAY BY DAY AND LET'S IMPROVE FROM HERE. TAKE IT STEP-BY-STEP. JUST REITERATING HOPE. THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO PROVIDE AT OPERATION BARNIBUS. AND THEN SINCE I DON'T GET MUCH TIME IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS, I WOULD LIKE TO THE BIGGEST NEED THAT I FIND AS FAR AS SOMEONE BOOTS ON GROUND IN THE TRENCHES, IS MENTORS. I DIDN'T FULLFILL MARY'S NEED WITH A MENTOR I HAD ON HAND. I HAVE LEARNED FROM MARY'S SITUATION. BUT I'VE FOUND SOME GREAT MENTORS HERE RECENTLY. BUT WHERE I LOOK FOR MENTORS IN THE COMMUNITY IS IN THE CHURCH, WHETHER THEY HAVE A STRUCTURE HOUSEHOLD, FINANCES ARE GOOD. PRODUCTY FAMILY, POSITIVE FAMILY. THOSE ARE TYPE OF PEOPLE I LOOK FOR AS FAR AS MENTORS. I DON'T TAKE ONLY VETERANS. IF YOU'RE WILLING TO HELP SOMEBODY AND SIT DOWN AND LIKE I SAID SINCERITY. GENUINE CONCERN, HELP SOMEONE YOU CAN BE A MENTOR. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE AS A SHORTAGE OF OPERATION BARNIBUS. IT GET CALLS LEFT AND RIGHT FOR PEOPLE TO HELP AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S MY JOB TO GO DO A FACE TO FACE ASSESSMENT AND DETERMINE IF THIS PERSON WANTS THE HELP I CAN PROVIDE OR IF THEY DON'T WANT. IF THEY DO WANT IT, THEN I'M GOING TO FIND THEM A MENTOR. AND GET THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. MENTORS, AND LIVING LOCATION. IF THERE WAS ANYWAY I COULD GET WITH FIRE WATCH AND WE COULD PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES, A LOT OF CALLS WOULD GET HELP ON MY END END. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU GUYS. >> I THINK WE WILL WRAP UP THE OFFICIAL PORTION AND THEN TURN THE MICROPHONE OFF AND THAT TYPE OF THING. AND WE WON'T TURN OFF THE LIGHTS RIGHT AWAY. HOPEFULLY. CAN WE STAY FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES. HOWARD. WE'RE GOOD. AND THEN THAT WAY IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO MAYBE TALK ABOUT OFF-LINE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT. AND YOU KNOW I'M REMINDED OF JOHN F. KENNEDY. HE SAID THIS WILL NO ALL BE SOLVED IN THE FIRST 100 DAY NOR BUT LET US BEGIN. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING. SOME OF YOU ARE ALREADY BEEN IN THIS FIGHT AND ALREADY DOING GREAT WORK. AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BRING ADDITIONAL OVERWATCH AS YOU SAID TO HELP SUPPORT THAT EFFORT AND COORDINATE IT ACROSS THE REGION. THANK YOU VERY FOR YOUR GREAT WORK. COLONEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY FINAL WORDS OR GENERAL? >> I WILL GO LAST. >> YOU GOOD? >> I'M FINE. >> I'M FINE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU GOT MY CELL PHONE NUMBER. I WOULD LOVE TO EACH LUNCH WITH YOU. EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK MORE. I THINK WE ALL SEE HERE TONIGHT IF YOU GOT SOMEONE THAT WILL LISTEN, AND THEN I MIGHT NOT HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES BUT I CAN HELP SOMEONE LIKE TREY FIND THOSE RESOURCES. AND HELP SOMEONE ELSE IN NEED. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. AND WE WILL TURN THE MICS OFF. THERE'S REFRESHMENTS IN THE BACK [01:45:02] AND HELP YOURSELF. AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO STAY AROUND AND TALK WE WILL STAY UNTIL THE LAST ONE LEAVES. OKAY. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.