PHAT began operating in 2017 and officially began operating as a 501(C)(3) in 2019. The organization was founded by Eric Peterson after a fellow teammate took his own life after multiple tours overseas. As an organization, we believe that we live in a community that supports their veterans but may not know how to show it, and we have veterans that need that support but may not know how to ask. Our three focuses are:

veteran advocacy

veterans outreach

veterans village

Veteran Advocacy

By partnering with local healthcare facilities, law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, and the community, we have a Veteran Advocacy Program known as "Spartan Shield" to connect Veteran Advocates to at-risk veterans as early as possible. An “At-risk” veteran is any veteran that may be having issues with mental health, substance abuse, or financial hardship. Each Veteran Advocate must be a veteran themselves, along with taking training courses in mental health and first aid, which are provided free of cost, before they may serve as a Veteran Advocate in our program.

We believe that in regard to veterans in need of any kind of assistance, that there are three categories:

Veterans who need help, seek help, and get better
Veterans who need help, refuse help, and refuse to change
Veterans who need help, seek help, but stop when they meet any type of barrier

Our advocacy program works to combat the latter, as we find that when a veteran does reach out for some kind of assistance, that it is a window of opportunity that may not be open for long. Our Veteran Advocates look to hold that window open long enough to get the at-risk veteran to the assistance that they need. Our Veteran Advocates are constantly being educated, and in turn educate at-risk veterans and their support systems in the resources that are available for veterans in our area and across the country, and look to take the intimidation aspect out of getting help while keeping the at-risk veteran engaged until they are able to get to the next level of assistance or care.

Our Veteran Advocates are NOT here to substitute for any type of medical care, nor do our Veteran Advocates give any type of medical care. We are the bridge between at-risk veterans and the care that they need by serving as a human algorithm for veteran resource connection.

Salute To Service Clay Shoot

By Project Headspace and Timing

Salute To Service Clay Shoot