We had the good fortune of connecting with Ty Oswald and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ty, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I never intended to start a business. I returned home to Huntsville Alabama from serving in the US Army, in 2006. I was under the impression that I was playing a good role in faking it with the people around me. Be it family, friends, or co-workers. I was pulled aside at work one day by a coworker, who was also an Army veteran. He asked what was going on, but didnt want to pry. Said I should probably reach out to talk to someone. So after a bit of reflection from that conversation, I did. And thats where my journey began.

I looked and looked for viable resource for my being a combat veteran. But there were little to no options because Redstone Arsenal was not a typical Army base. No one really deployed from here because it was a training and staff level entity. After a few months of dead ends or “We support out troops” organizations and resources tat just fell very short of helping, I began questioning things. Why has no one already created something to get veterans and their family together to re-establish the connection we all had while we served. A little while longer of Why hasn’t…….; Why aren’t…….; Why isn’t……. eventually turned into Why don’t I……

Having no idea what I was doing or going to do, I sat down and brainstormed names to call whatever I was coming up with. I finally landed on BeArded WARRIORs and created a Facebook page. The spelling was subtle but intentional. Everyone sees former military guys with beards and everyone pairs military personnel with words like hero, soldier, and of course warrior. If you look at the name and remove the lowercase letters of BeArded WARRIORs it leaves B A WARRIOR. Something many that struggle with after leaving the military to still to be.

I know where a veteran can be mentally when they are down to the last few strands of their rope. I am still here because someone that did not have to believed in me. Through BeArded WARRIORs I do not want any veteran from ANY era of service to ever think they are alone or that no one cares.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what sets BeArded WARRIORs apart from a lot of other similar entities is it starts from the top down. I know exactly whats going on in a veteran’s mind when they or their family member reaches out. I can sit with them and talk apples to apples and have a meaningful conversation. I have had the same thoughts, feelings, disbeliefs, fear, concern, IDGAFs. I encourage others to talk about the hard details and get them out.

Attempting to have people openly talk about suicide is extremely tough. Especially living in the Bible Belt, where anything close to the conversation is swept under the rug or circumstances near it are ignored until it becomes too late. Many times, our veterans do no have someone to be upfront and ask the hard question, “Are you OK?” Even though that some times literally all it takes for someone to open up and let you know what is going on.

When I had personal truck wrapped in BeArded WARRIORs info, I have had complete strangers see it in a parking lot and wait for me to come back outside to ask what BeArded WARRIORs is. I always say “Hello. How are you?” and end up in 30 to 45 minute conversations about things they are dealing with and they are so grateful to know someone is out there making it normal to openly talk about not being OK.

If there is any take away from knowing about our organization, it would be this – People DO care. People Will help. You NEED to talk. And keep talking until you find someone that will listen.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My SHOUTOUT goes to everyone that has ever been a part of this organization. Be it the one event or gathering to the ones that show up to every single thing we are part of. I am only one small ripple in the water. But I have personally seen what small ripples can do when it is not just one person but 10, 50, and even 1600 people believing in the same mission.

To single one person out though, Joseph Martin is who was the kindling that started this fire. Without him, I would not be here. And if I was not here to do the work I was called to neither would so many others.

Website: beardedwarriors.org

Instagram: @bearded.warriors

Twitter: @BeArdedWARRlORs

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BeArdedWARRIORs

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