FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Adrian Dawson was running alone on the Black River Trail, just finishing a short warmup before his group arrived. It wouldn't be hard to spot them, even from a distance, as more and more runners wearing bright red shirts with an eagle symbol gathered in the parking lot.
"A lot of good people, and a great organization," Dawson said.
He was talking about Team Red, White and Blue, a national nonprofit organization created to support veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.
There's plenty of that happening at the Fort Drum-Watertown Chapter of Team RWB. This is the third RWB group Dawson has been with, the others being in Korea and Pennsylvania, and he said it keeps him active. Their monthly team calendar is chock full of group runs, triathlons, biking events, volunteering opportunities and fitness sessions.
Bill VanOrman, a transition service specialist at Fort Drum's Soldier for Life -- Transition Assistance Program, joined in 2013 after hearing about the organization at a resiliency briefing on post.
"I looked at the slides and thought that it seemed like a really cool veteran service organization, and I think I joined that night," he said.
A chapter had yet to exist in this area, but it was established about two months later, and VanOrman was designated the veteran outreach director. Today, he serves as chapter captain. As a Soldier, VanOrman was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, and then worked in the garrison six months before retiring as a first sergeant with more than 21 years of service.
"For me, it was because this was a veterans' organization that focused on fitness," he said about his reason for joining. "To be honest, when I came back from Afghanistan, we were planning on retiring in the area anyway, and so I joined another group that had zero appeal to me. When I heard about Team RWB, I thought it was awesome -- fitness and community service -- it just seemed right to me."
Team Red, White and Blue is, in a sense, a veterans' organization for the modern era. Meetings aren't held in lodges, but in the great outdoors, and socializing usually follows a running event, a swim in the river or even a yoga session. It's not exclusive to veterans either, as they welcome Families and community members to join. VanOrman described it as a community within a community that creates its own support network.
"We are like a different kind of family readiness group," he said. "We support the Soldiers who are deployed and have deployed, their Families, and the community members who support them. And we have a lot of fun."
Chris O'Riley, Team RWB athletic director, has never served in the military, but as a lifelong Watertown resident, she knows all of the great places to gather and events they can participate in.
"I love this area and I love showing it to people," she said. "Personally, I love having people to always do something with. Team RWB has brought me out of my shell, and I feel like I have a purpose. I kind of feel like the momma of the team."
O'Riley said the most memorable experience she has had with Team RWB was being able to help veterans though some difficult times.
"One individual in particular was really struggling and we took him under our umbrella, and he's doing so great now," she said. "It was sad to see him move away from the area, but he found a fantastic job, and he's fostering children. We still talk two or three times a week."
Team RWB welcomes people of all levels of fitness.
"My wife is a member but doesn't participate in any of the athletic activities," VanOrman said. "She'll come with me to all the social events and volunteer for everything. We have a lot of members who do that."
There's no fear of trying new things, either. VanOrman recently reached out to members who might be interested in going to a rucking leadership camp for the weekend. They have conducted a few informal ruck marches before, but they are seeking to do more organized events. On their Facebook page, people will often seek out members who might want to start up an adult kickball league or a softball team.
"We used to do a judo class, a little bit of boxing … it depends on what's in your area and what people want to do," VanOrman said. "We have worked with Meals on Wheels a couple of times and Homes for Heroes. We like to help out at the Veterans Food Pantry in Watertown, but they have been getting overloaded with volunteers."
VanOrman said they support a lot of local events such as charity runs where Team RWB members will work a water stand or help out at the finish line. They will sponsor a Team RWB Retired Warrior Fitness Challenge during the Fort Drum Retiree Appreciation Day at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Exchange.
The gatherings are family-friendly, and while individuals have to be at least 18 to join Team RWB, family members can attend their events. That's what Andrew Coon did recently, running with the family dog, Liberty, while his son Mason, 2 ?, alternated between running and having his mother Jessica push him in the stroller. The former Soldier said that he had noticed a lot of Team RWB shirts while running the Shamrock Run with his daughter in Watertown. That's what enticed him to do some research and join.
"I gained some weight after I left the service, so I wanted to get back into shape," he said. "But it's not about fitness level. They don't care how fast you run, but just that you're out there and part of the community."
A lot of former service members miss the camaraderie of being part of a unit and having a support system they have relied on while in uniform. When they retire that uniform, VanOrman said that sometimes people struggle to find that sense of team again.
"I think if you join Team Red, White and Blue before you get out of the service, that helps a lot," he said. "It definitely helped me fill that void. You put on that red shirt one time and somebody will spot you, talk to you and already you're making those connections. Team RWB members, wherever you go, will pull you in quick."
Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Trumble, 10th Mountain Division (LI) master gunner, said that he could be traveling in another state and he will associate with fellow Team RWB members from other chapters.
"You can be at a charity event or athletic competition, and they see your shirt and call out, 'Eagle up.' It's just a bigger community than you can imagine," he said.
VanOrman encourages more people to talk with Team RWB members, discover who they are and what they do before joining.
"I always tell people that the beauty of Team RWB is that you only have to be as involved as you want," he said. "There are no membership fees and no commitment, but you're not going to get anything out of it unless you get to know us and try new things."
Kate Vreatt, a local community member, joined Team RWB about two years ago and now serves as the chapter community outreach director.
"I went from not being able to run at all to running two marathons," she said. "I think this is my 633rd straight day of running."
Kim Mauro met some members at a rucking event supporting veteran suicide awareness last March. She didn't know who they were or what Team RWB was, but she said she wanted to join immediately after learning about the organization.
"It completely changed my life. I lost a ton of weight, made a bunch of friends, and anytime I needed help, the team was there for me, even when they didn't know me," she said. "Best decision ever."
To learn more about Team RWB, visit www.teamrwb.org/.
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