Mission
To offer a unique and empowering cost-free travel experience to honorably discharged veterans transitioning into civilian life and support them as they cultivate necessary skills and networks.
Vision
VETGo envisions a world where those who serve to protect our country are shown gratitude and given an opportunity to grow, heal, and plan together while having life-altering experiences. Travel cohorts will become tight-knit communities of friends and colleagues who can crowdsource coping skills, vocational connections, and social safety nets. In this world, post-service outcomes skew positive, with healthier veterans, and more stable home lives for military families.
Outcomes
Our trips bring together 30 veterans for 25 days. We create the best transition experience for military : a sense of camaraderie and community. The friendships and bonds built during this travel experience will make a strong and stable mini-veteran communities for each participant to lean on as they enter civilian life.
In the next five years we will collect data and determine the impact and outcome of this program. We seek to:
Improve mental and physical health
Reduce suicide and self harm
Increase post-service employment
Post-service experiences vary for each individual veteran, however, data shows that many of us are adrift when we are discharged. The resources offered to veterans are designed as “one stop shops”. VETGo takes a different approach. Every veteran has a unique story and journey and they deserve a navigable infrastructure of support that sees them as an individual, not a data point.
VetGo Cohorts will be comprised of 30 veterans and offered ongoing engagement after their travel time. Cohort newsletters, reunions, and annual holiday updates will be part of the VetGo experience.
We are here to go above and beyond what has ever been offered to veterans. We offer accessible and meaningful travel experiences amongst peers who can relate with the specific challenges veterans face when returning to civilian life. We believe that intimate nature of this experience will transcend impersonal best practice in the field of reentry.
Learn more about how to support our groundbreaking work
Board Members
Damon Carney is a Air Force Veteran and an expert in VA resources and polices. He has navigated military and veteran resources for more than a decade. After being deployed to the Middle East, Damon understands this generation of veterans and what they need to successfully transition to civilian life. A licensed loan officer specializing in VA products and underwriting guidelines, Damon always takes an extra step to help fellow veterans build their futures.
Damon has helped over 1,000 current and former military members reenter civilian life and is presently writing a guidebook for veterans and military members to better navigate the system after service.
In addition to his academic accomplishments, Damon is experienced in team management, social media relations, and sales.
Jawan W. Simpson
Jawan W. Simpson, MAcc is currently the Senior Accountant for Gayanga Co. in Detroit where he is facilitating growth in a construction startup company in Detroit, MI. Jawan was previously the Senior Accountant for Backyard Products the leading supplier of backyard products in America and Senior Accountant for Rainbow Childcare a regional leader in infants through Kindergarten education. Jawan holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from the University of Michigan. And he is a US Army veteran where he worked in Battalion S-3 & S-2 operations & intelligence in Iraq from 2010-2011.
Alexander Ko
Alexander Ko is a Captain in the United States Air Force. He currently serves as a contract manager for one of the Air Force’s biggest enterprise acquisition organization at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base. He personally manages a $16 billion contract portfolio and providing critical software support to over 2,300 Department of Defense personnel.
Captain Ko was also stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, where he managed a $10.1 million contract portfolio. His portfolio included overseeing 15 construction projects and upgrading 12 government buildings for two wings and 12 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partners.
He has deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar as the base’s Commodities Flight Commander, where he procures commodities and services in support of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) largest forward operating base with over 9,400 personnel.
Capt Ko holds a degree in business management from Purdue University and a APDP Level 2 certificate.
Jonathon Zolnai
Master Sergeant Jonathon E. Zolnai is the First Sergeant for the 330th Recruiting Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He serves as the key enlisted advisor to the Commander on matters concerning the welfare, career progression, and mission readiness of 147 Special Warfare Recruiting personnel covering 3.8 million square miles overall 50 states and 2 territories. He provides guidance and direction to the squadron senior leadership on unit morale, career enhancement, and discipline. His duties include performing quality force review on all enlisted performance reports, awards and decorations on all personnel actions. Additionally, he monitors compliance with Air Force standards, counsels personnel on leadership, military courtesy, self-improvement, and self-discipline, and acts to resolve complaints.
MSgt Zolnai has performed in a variety of capacities for the Air Force including as a Security Forces member, Enlisted Accessions Recruiter and Contract specialist. He currently holds three Associate’s degrees, a Bachelor’s in Human Resource Management and a Master’s in Business Administration.
