My name is Eric Jones, and I am a combat veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. I served in Afghanistan in 2005 as a 12B Combat Engineer in the United States Army.
Like many veterans, my service continued to shape my life long after I came home. I have dealt with both physical and mental disabilities connected to my time in service, and like a lot of others, I have had to learn how to adapt, keep moving, and find my footing in the years after the military.
After leaving the Army, I worked manual labor jobs and various security positions before finding my place in veteran suicide prevention. That work gave me a clearer view of just how much is still missing for many veterans after service. I was in the public health space, doing meaningful work, but over time, I found myself wanting to build something more direct. Something more personal. Something veterans could actually step into and be part of.
Earlier this year, I came to a point where I knew I needed to reset. I felt disconnected from the kind of purpose that had always mattered to me, and I realized I had more to give than what I was putting into the world that mattered. I knew I did not want to stay in that place, and I knew I wanted to build something that could create real connection, real purpose, and real value for veterans.
That is where The Veterans Phalanx came from.
I did not start this organization because veterans need more empty language or surface-level support. I started it because too many veterans are left trying to navigate life after service without the kind of community, trust, and shared purpose that once came with the uniform. Most veterans are not looking to be rescued. Many are looking for connection, for meaning, and for a place where they can still contribute.
That is what I want The Veterans Phalanx to be.
I want it to be real. I want it to be genuine. I want it to be a place where veterans come together, build community, and help one another in ways that actually matter. We all know that many veterans will never openly ask for help. That is reality. But if we can build a community where veterans show up, stand beside one another, and continue moving forward together, then we are building something worthwhile.
To me, success does not mean pretending to have all the answers. It means creating a place where veterans can reconnect with purpose, find solid community, and continue serving differently by showing up for one another.
And thus, The Veterans Phalanx was born.
