Q: As the wars wind down, is there really a need for increasing support for our troops?
A: Absolutely! If all of our troops came home tomorrow, the lingering effects of these wars would continue for decades. The “wounded warriors” being cared for today will need continuing care and support for many years, as will their families. Moreover, thousands of our troops suffer today from the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and many others from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) which the medical community (and the military) are just beginning to understand and learn how to diagnose and treat. Many more remain undiagnosed and can be expected to seek treatment when they experience symptoms that may make them dysfunctional downstream. Even in the absence of “hot” wars, we can expect troop deployments to continue for many more years as well. Our service men and women, as well as their families, live a life of continuous sacrifice on our behalf, whether in war or in peace.
Q: Why do we need yet another organization? Won’t this compete with existing organizations and their campaigns?
A: The Code of Support programs are designed to support and enhance the efforts of existing organizations, and not to compete with them in any way. One of the major goals of the foundation is to raise the awareness of all Americans as to the sacrifices being made by our troops and their families and the need for continuing support, which is to the benefit of all such organizations. The web site prominently promotes “Featured Organizations” and asks that Americans “get involved” by volunteering for or donating to one or more of these organizations. All donations made on the Code of Support web site will not only be passed through to those organizations, but matched in equal amount (up to $25) by the Code of Support Foundation and the sponsors. This is truly a multi-organizational umbrella campaign, anchored by the Code of Support.
Q: How does the Code of Support Foundation program differ from other “Support Our Troops” activities with their yellow ribbons and bumper stickers?
A: Wearing a yellow ribbon or displaying a “Support Our Troops” bumper sticker makes it clear that an individual cares about our troops and our families. We ask Americans to be committed by pledging to follow the Code of Support for our troops (and signing the Code on the web), and then getting involved through donating to or volunteering for one or more organizations providing direct support to our troops, their families, wounded warriors or veterans. In short, we ask Americans to be caring, committed and involved.
Q: OK, I’ve added my name to those who endorse the Code of Support. Now what?
A: By signing your pledge to follow the Code of Support, you’ve taken a key first step that indicates your commitment to supporting our troops. The next, and most important, step is now to get involved. You can review our current “Programs” on our web site, many of which have opportunities for participation. You can also click on “Featured Organizations” on our web site, which will take you to a list of organizations providing direct support to our troops, to military families, to our wounded warriors or to our veterans. We ask that you pick one or more of these organizations and either donate to them or volunteer to help them with a commitment of your time. Pledges of volunteer service may be made through our partner, Operation Honor Cards, using our website link. The organizations listed on our web site have been pre-vetted by the Code of Support Foundation as to the quality of the services they provide and their financial integrity. Additional organizations are being added as we qualify them. If you already have an organization that you support, we urge you to continue doing so.
Q: If I make a donation on your web site, how will you use those funds?
A: ALL donations received from individuals via our web site will be passed through in full to the designated Featured Organization, AND, those donations will by MATCHED (up to $25 each) by the foundation with the assistance of our star sponsors! Operating expenses of the foundation and our programs are provided by major donors and underwriters.
Q: I’ve looked at the “Featured Organizations” on your web site. Why isn’t my favorite troop support organization included?
A: There are literally thousands (even tens of thousands) of organizations in existence which purport to support our troops and their families. The majority of these organizations are high quality, well run organizations. Unfortunately, this is not the case for all such organizations, and in some cases scam operations have preyed upon the public’s desire to support the troops. All organizations listed on our web site have been carefully vetted as to the quality of their operations and their financial integrity. Our vetting is based primarily on the recommendations of major charity rating organizations and other official and unofficial sources. The absence of any organization on our list should NOT in any way be construed as an indication that the organization is not a high quality organization; in most cases, it simply means that we have not reviewed it and invited them to be included. We tend to feature organizations that, while doing high quality work in support of the troops, do not have large internal fund-raising staffs and programs. The incremental funding we can help provide for them will thus have a significant impact on their operations. It is also our intent to keep the total number of Featured Organizations at a manageable level to make it easier for donors to select from among them.
Q: What’s the difference between the Code of Conduct and the Code of Support?
A: The Code of Conduct was adopted by the Department of Defense and approved by the President of the United States in 1955, not long after the conclusion of the Korean War. It provides a comprehensive guide for all American forces in time of war, and in time of peace, and is a personal conduct mandate for members of our Armed Forces throughout the world. It begins in Article I with the simple statement, “I am an American, fighting in the armed forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.” This is an amazingly profound commitment made in our behalf by the fewer than 1% of Americans who serve in our Armed Forces. What do the rest of us, the other 99%, owe our service men and women in return for their commitment? The Code of Support was developed (by a group of interested citizens) in answer to this question. Like the Code of Conduct, it has six articles that comprise a set of promises that all Americans should be prepared to make to our troops and their families. By signing the Code of Support, Americans send a powerful message of support to our troops that America stands solidly behind them.
