Yesterday was Veterans Day, and I’m feeling reflective.

I served in the military, but I feel like most of the service I’m proud of has come after my time in. It’s been about the work I get to do in the Veteran community.

I founded VetREC in 2021. I always knew I would start an organization one day that somehow, in some way, helped Veterans heal. I didn’t think it would be this early in my career, but when the time came, I had a conviction of heart and a determination of spirit that I couldn’t ignore. The idea for this organization gnawed at me, and I’ve done my very best to create something that holds true to what I understand to be the true needs of the Veteran community.

I’ve had to really hone my listening skills. That was hard to do after many years in academia, where it’s often hierarchical—a place where whoever has the highest or most degrees and brings in the most grant funding has the most say. Even though, I gave my all to strike a balance between leading and listening.

I do the same now, with VetREC.

I’ll tell you something really personal. I struggled for months about making VetREC an LLC versus a nonprofit. I chose the LLC model because I didn’t want my ability to do this work to be dependent on getting grants to fund it. And I didn’t want to have a board making decisions. I wanted to lead. I spent countless hours researching, seeking mentorship, and listening to my inner compass to build a structure that would merge research and practice in a way that helps Veterans heal.

I still feel guilty about this sometimes. Am I trying to profit off Veterans? How does the community perceive this business? Is it scheme-y and sales-y having a for-profit business that helps Veterans?

But here’s the truth I hold onto: the more we profit, the more we can serve. VetREC’s for-profit model means more freedom to act on our mission without constraints, which lets us do more good for the community. It’s a delicate balance—staying true to the purpose while building sustainability. In the end, I measure my success by how well I keep my heart in the work. That’s the ultimate test, and that’s what keeps me grounded.

I keep my heart in the work by staying close to the organizations we’re serving and the Veterans they are helping to heal. This connection reminds me of the real impact behind every project, keeping VetREC’s mission at the forefront.

About a month ago, I was feeling pretty down. This is a natural part of being a business owner. Things are a little slow lately; not a lot of new contracts are coming in. “What am I doing? Is this work needed? Who am I helping?” These questions crept into my mind and moved my relaxed shoulders down into a deflated hutch.

Then an idea hit me—to go back and review all the work we’ve done within VetREC over the past year. Reflect on the projects and how and who we’ve served. I was going to save this pat on the back for an end-of-year review, but it feels most timely to share it now.

Achievements in 2024

  • S2S Student Experience Survey: Partnered with Service to School (S2S) to assess and understand the unique needs of student Veterans at selective colleges and universities, providing actionable insights to help these students succeed.
  • Rural Veteran Study: Collaborated with researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) to redesign and distribute a survey targeting rural Veterans, improving engagement and response rates.
  • MST Stakeholder Convening: Facilitated a gathering with UIUC, bringing together women Veteran survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST), mental health practitioners, and researchers to define patient-centered research priorities for this population.
  • NG Suicide Loss Stakeholder Convening: Designed a community engagement initiative to connect National Guard/Reservist Veteran suicide loss survivors, helping to identify their priorities for patient-centered mental health research.
  • S2S Annual Evaluation: Conducted an evaluation for S2S’s VetLink program, analyzing growth and impact while providing recommendations for ongoing improvement.
  • CBAW Baseline Data Project: Assisted Community Building Art Works (CBAW) in transforming five years of program data into an impact report, infographic, and internal report, and helped refine their data collection processes.
  • LTMC Council Grove Grant: Supported Life Transition Meditation Center (LTMC) in securing additional funding for their 3rd annual Veterans Meditation Retreat, helping ensure the program’s continuity and reach.
  • Smarty Pants Training: Delivering a Veteran cultural awareness training for the consulting firm Smarty Pants, equipping their team with strategies to conduct research with, rather than on, Veterans.
  • VetREC Impact Amplifier Grant: Launched VetREC’s first annual Impact Amplifier Grant, aimed at supporting a Veteran Service Organization in amplifying its community impact. A total of 12 organizations applied.

Pending Projects/Grants

  • Texas Tech PCORI Engagement Grant: Partnering to address critical needs in patient-provider communication related to PTSD and moral injury among Veterans.
  • UIUC TBI Project: Supporting a DoD CDMRP-funded initiative at UIUC and Carle Foundation Hospital to advance multimodal imaging in the study of Post-Traumatic Epilepsy (PTE) among Veterans.
  • Women Veteran Healing Center in Ukraine: Facilitating dialogue, trust-building, and program development for a healing center tailored to Ukrainian women Veterans, focusing on trauma-informed care and peer support.
  • VETART Evaluation Project: Developing and implementing a comprehensive evaluation for a year-long art initiative in San Diego, a collaboration among six organizations to support Veterans transitioning into civilian life.
  • Texas Tech VA-Eligible Veterans Study: Assisting Texas Tech in designing and recruiting for a study examining why some VA-eligible Veterans do not utilize VA services, ensuring a Veteran-centered, participatory research approach.

THIS IS A BIG LIST! It helps me to read it. It helps me to remember why I am doing this work. It just helps.

At the very heart of VetREC—and my motivation for not only founding it, but continuing to chip away at its success and growth every single day—is the desire to help Veterans heal. I suppose somewhere in that is a continuation of my own healing.

On Veterans Day/week, I share this vulnerable post because I imagine I’m not the only one in the Veteran Service Organization and/or Veteran research space wondering, “What in the actual hell am I doing?” I’m not the only one who forgets and needs help remembering our WHY.

This is my why. And it’s my reminder. And maybe it’s even my renewal as we close out this year and move into the next.

I’m here. I will keep showing up. I will keep serving.

Hooah!

Dr. Jeni Hunniecutt,
VetREC Founder, Co-Owner, and CEO