First There is a Combat Controller’s best friend…a reserve parachute I get to keep on me at all times. I know if I ever get to a place where I’m beyond helping myself…I’m reaching out to First There. Eric is the brother I didn’t know I needed in my life. Thank you First There. Thank you for truly enacting some really needed change.

HO and First There reached out in my time of need and got me the I needed no questions asked. First There is an extremely proactive foundation that fulfills the promise of brotherhood by taking care of the operator and his family.

(First There) helped me find comfort in some of my significant losses in life (teammates and my son). In addition, it helped me re-establish a relationship with my oldest daughter that has been strained for many years.

The First There Foundation reached out to me at a time when I was really struggling with my life and my purpose. The brotherhood embedded in this foundation helped me through the difficulties and challenges I was facing and provided me with the tools and encouragement that has forever changed my life. I can now say without a doubt that I will be okay.

It helped me love myself more than I thought I could have

My Son Eric, struggled tremendously to adjust after he left the Combat Control Teams to the point he wanted to take his life. Watching him struggle was a very painful and scary point in my life because I knew there was a chance I could lose him. After losing his teammate, he said “I have to do something to help my friends and their entire family”. I attended a mental health retreat which helped me heal from sadness and anger. I thank God and First There for helping me feel free and happy.

First There was truly the “first” to help me when my family was in a mental health crisis. Within hours, not days or weeks, First There had the wheels moving on our behalf and maybe even more importantly, I had my brothers behind me, beside me, and out in front of me once again. Crisis for us seems so personal and lonely…which isn’t true. First There reminded me that our teammates are always waiting to throw down on each other’s behalf.