Veterans often find it challenging to connect with civilians, feeling that their experiences and perspectives are not fully understood. This sense of disconnection leads many to seek camaraderie and understanding from fellow veterans.
A Platform for Connection
In response to this need for connection, Brian Foster launched Together We Served (TWS) in 2003. Initially a platform for former Marines, TWS has since expanded to include veterans from all military branches, now boasting a membership of over 2.5 million.
TWS serves as a conduit for veterans to reconnect with long-lost comrades and friends from their service days.
The organization has also introduced the Veteran Buddy Link, a complimentary service designed to alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation among veterans by connecting them with peers who share their military background. This service can also facilitate in-person meetings among veterans living in proximity to each other.
“Those who have served share a unique bond that remains with them throughout their lives,” Foster wrote for VA News.
“Veterans are naturally drawn to and thrive in the company of other veterans because the unique culture of military service and the commitment to service and sacrifice are common to all.”
The Buddy Link Initiative
Foster highlights that the military experience, characterized by communal living and shared objectives, can make transitioning to civilian life challenging for many veterans, leaving them feeling disoriented and isolated.
“Together We Served and the Veteran Buddy Link program offer a solution to those potentially debilitating feelings by offering veterans a way to securely connect with others who understand the nuances of military service,” Foster explained.
The Buddy Finder program enables veterans to locate former service buddies by inputting service details such as years and units into an online portal. This sophisticated database, tracing back to World War II, assists in these reconnections.
“The secret behind this high rate of success is the depth of TWS’s hand-built databases that contain hundreds of U.S. military units, ships, squadrons, and bases going back to World War II,” Foster told We Are The Mighty. “Any veteran can register for free, and the TogetherWeServed.com search engine can help take care of the rest. With more and more veterans registering, connections and reminiscing grow every day.”
In addition to reconnection, TWS offers veterans a commemorative plaque that highlights their service details, alongside a digital scrapbook for sharing photos and memories. This feature allows veterans to document their service in a meaningful way.
Veterans, often modest about their experiences, can utilize the “Service Reflections” feature to share their stories through a guided questionnaire, leaving a legacy of personal military history for their families.
“A vet’s military service memories captured in their own words and photographs is one of the most valuable legacies a former service member can provide for his or her family,” Foster said.
Many veterans, like Robert Pryor, an Army sergeant from the Vietnam War era, have successfully reconnected with significant figures from their past through this service, exemplified by Pryor’s reunion with Air Force pilot Capt. Dick Gerry.
TWS also extends support to Gold Star Families, offering a means to honor fallen loved ones and pay tribute to their sacrifices.
As the largest online veteran directory and military service archive in the U.S., TWS continues to grow, strengthening its community and preserving the stories of those who served.
