Continuing Progress, Continuing the Mission

March 23, 2018

Over the past few weeks, The Mission Continues has been pushing forward in our mission to empower veterans and communities in service. Unfortunately, we have also been a part of an on-going news cycle surrounding the reported actions of Eric Greitens and the Greitens for Governor campaign. The stories surrounding the Greitens investigations continue to cite connections to The Mission Continues. We are supporting various document requests and are fully cooperating with the agencies that are reviewing this situation. We look forward to the completion of those efforts in a timely manner.

We are committed to providing you with the latest information as it pertains to our organization and our involvement in supporting the Missouri-based agencies who are investigating the Governor. Most importantly, we want you to be confident that we are building on and advancing our mission toward even greater impact on veterans and communities.

Together, through the power of service, we will continue to support the people and partners we serve. We are continuing to implement the Empowered Veterans Index to ensure we are united under a common goal. We’ve also added new leadership, established our first-ever service platoon in Puerto Rico, launched a true grassroots event series in conjunction with the Her Mission Continues campaign, and much more.

Adding New Talent

The Mission Continues is excited to welcome two new members to our leadership team, David Diaz as the Vice President of Regional Operations and Brian Clymer as the Vice President of Finance & Technology.

Prior to joining our team, Dave Diaz was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, a nonprofit organization that helped transform the city center of Raleigh, N.C. into a thriving innovation center. In addition to his community work, Dave spent 20 years enlisted in the Army as a Signals Intelligence Specialist and later an Intelligence Officer, which included a combat tour in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he received the Bronze Star for his service. Dave, based in the Washington, D.C. area, will combine his previous experience and unrelenting passion for helping the veteran community to help strengthen our organization and communities we serve around the country.

Brian Clymer, based in Boston, was most recently the Chief Operating Officer of Educators for Excellence, a teacher-led, national nonprofit organization, where he oversaw operations, finance, IT, legal and talent for the organization. Additionally, he has worked in various senior management roles for consulting and information management companies in the private sector. Prior to these careers, Brian was an Infantry Officer with the Army, where he deployed in support of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, earning two Bronze Stars. Brian’s background in the finance and IT fields makes him a valuable addition to our team. With his help, we will continue to strengthen the infrastructure of The Mission Continues to ensure our continued success moving forward.

Expanding Platoons to Puerto Rico

The intense spotlight has shifted away from Puerto Rico after the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria. The Mission Continues, however, has only strengthened our commitment to assisting the individuals, families and communities still recovering from the disaster. Karen Quiles, a Miami 1st Platoon Member who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, recognized the interest and need for veteran-led service projects in her hometown. She helped engage the island’s veterans, and in February 2018, we launched the Puerto Rico 1^st Service Platoon. The platoon, led by Puerto Rican native Frankie Perez, is committed to Hurricane Maria recovery and community development.

#HerMission Celebrates Women’s History Month

Inspired by last year’s Women Veterans Leadership Summit, and in celebration of March as Women’s History Month, hundreds of women veterans have come together to create a grassroots service project series under the #HerMission banner. The projects, which range from building homes for those in need of affordable housing to educating refugees, will be implemented by women-led platoons to benefit the communities in which they live. Her Mission Continues efforts will carry on throughout the year, with the 2018 Women Veteran Leadership Summit taking place at the end of April in Washington, D.C.

Final Thought

As we have said from the beginning, and reiterate here, we abstain from political activities. We deeply value the trust you place in us to accomplish our mission. The Mission Continues did not provide, nor authorize the use of, our donors’ information to any persons or groups for political/campaign purposes. Nor did we promote Governor Greitens for political office.

Our work is far from over. We’re not stopping or hesitating or pausing. No matter the distractions that come our way, we will continue to push forward together, empowering fellow veterans, volunteers, families and communities around the country through the power of service.

Charlie Mike,

Spencer Kympton President, The Mission Continues