How to end veteran suicide | Ron Self | TEDxSanQuentin 2016
America would never send a soldier to fight without basic training. Yet we have sent thousands of vets home unprepared to handle the devastating mental damages of war. Speaking while incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, former combat veteran Ron G. Self shares his personal struggle and outlines a plan to help our veterans. Find out more about Ron's program Boot Camp Out and the amazing work of Veterans Healing Veterans from the Inside Out, (http://veteranshealingveterans.org/donate.html). Learn more about San Quentin's exemplary Prison University Project https://prisonuniversityproject.org/, which was just awarded the National Humanities Medal. Ron G. Self, a former combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps who served from 1987 to 1996, is currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison. While in prison, Self's personal struggles prompted him to found the self-help group Veterans Healing Veterans From The Inside Out to try to stop the alarmingly high suicide rate among veterans.
Your time in Iraq makes you a threat to society | Andrew Chambers | TEDxMarionCorrectionalSalon 2013
Speaking from prison, Iraqi war veteran Andrew "Sarge" Chambers tells the story of how he got there. As the judge told him when he sentenced Chambers to 10 years at Marion Correctional: "Your time in Iraq makes you a threat to society." Chambers reminds us of the sacrifices that linger with soldiers -- and simply asks us to listen. Andrew "Sarge" Chambers proudly hails from Pickerington, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army and has maintained the habit he acquired there of cursing just a bit too much. Throughout his service, Sarge was also able to maintain and hone his sense of honor and kindness, but the experience did slightly alter his sense of humor. While categorically not a morning person, when he is able to finally pry his eyes open, he always thinks to himself that he would rather be fishing. Most of his days are filled with coaching softball, Garth Brooks songs and thoughts of the family he hopes to be able to start soon. He is taking the stage to tell his story, parts of which can be seen in the documentary Operation Resurrection: The Warrior Returns. After TEDxMarionCorrectional he will work on his next unique thing.