Leaving the military can be one of the hardest changes a person goes through. The American Red Cross has a new program to help veterans get through it with others who understand.
On Nov. 1, the Red Cross launched the Military 2 Veterans Network (M2VN), a national program that connects transitioning service members and veterans with peers who have been through the same experience.
What Is M2VN?
M2VN is a free, secure online platform built around peer support. It connects veterans and people leaving the service with trained volunteer leaders who understand military life. Members can also find resources and lean on each other as they adjust to life after service.
Mike Seifer, a U.S. Navy veteran and co-founder of M2VN, knows how sudden that change can feel.
“During my transition, I went from being an active-duty service member to being a civilian overnight without any real transition,” Seifer said. “We need resources like M2VN.”
Built by Veterans, for Veterans
Seifer said veterans designed the program for other veterans. It combines online connection with whole health support, with the goal of easing loneliness, helping people build real relationships and giving them hope, wherever they live.
Inside the online community, members can join:
- Regularly scheduled peer-support groups and chats
- Self-care practices and education
- Whole health and wellness workshops focused on connection and resilience
Seifer said the program uses an evidence-based, whole-person approach centered on veterans supporting veterans.
“This is a place for people who want to find connection and hope,” he said.
Why It Matters
For many service members, leaving the military also means losing the community that came with it. Seifer said M2VN aims to fill that gap.
The numbers show how common the problem is. A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs survey found that about half of veterans said they lacked companionship at least some of the time after returning to civilian life. More than 43% said they felt isolated from others.
The Red Cross and the Military Community
The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and is known for humanitarian and disaster-relief work. It also supports the military community through wellness workshops, hospital and clinic programs, peer support and other resources. Over the past year, its whole health programs and services reached more than 1.5 million people.
East Texas Chapter Honors Veterans
Karen Holt, executive director of the American Red Cross East Texas Chapter, said her team spent Veterans Day on Nov. 11 thanking local veterans for their service and helping them connect with resources like M2VN.
“Behind every veteran is a person with a story of service, sacrifice and resilience,” Holt said. “This Veterans Day, we celebrate and honor those stories and the people who lived them.”
Holt said military service touches communities all across the country. That includes people serving today, people who left the service decades ago, families living near military bases and anyone who simply knows a veteran. Veterans are our neighbors, coworkers, family members and community leaders, she said, so supporting them matters to everyone.
The East Texas Chapter is run by staff and volunteers and serves more than 1.9 million people across several counties. Its Tyler office is at 320 East Rieck Road.
“The Red Cross is proud to stand alongside the military community,” Holt said, adding that the organization wants to help veterans find belonging, hope and well-being.