The Weekly Fight: Turning Post-Traumatic Stress into Post-Traumatic Growth
PHILADELPHIA (PRWEB) November 01, 2018 -- After 28 years of service, Retired Marine Sergeant Major Marty Kenny found his new Mission and Purpose by creating The Weekly Fight. The Weekly Fight is a registered 501c3 non-profit company whose mission is: “To forge a bond between Veterans and the community to maximize their civilian potential.”
The Weekly Fight was founded when one of SgtMaj. Kenny’s Marines committed suicide after an invisible battle with PTSD. Two years after The Weekly Fight’s inception, the mission to forge a bond between Veterans and the community to maximize their civilian potential, SgtMaj’s vision of turning Post-Traumatic Stress into Post-Traumatic Growth has come to life.
Stars and Stripes cited in June 2018 of this year, "The VA has now revealed the average daily number of veteran suicides has always included deaths of active-duty service members and members of the National Guard and Reserve, not just veterans." As our nation continues to face these deep wounds of war, the 20 that commit suicide per day is The Weekly Fight's daily battle to combat the visible and invisible wounds of war.
Kenny stated..."I have now lost more Marines to suicide than from combat. I believed something needed to be done for our veteran community. We don’t talk about suicide before it happens and we don’t provide solutions to this problem. My biggest push is trying to get our veterans out of post-traumatic stress disorder mindset. When we come together at The Weekly Fight, we are regaining that sense of camaraderie ... it opens these veterans up to begin sharing and talking, it brings them together, and it brings the veterans families together. As The Weekly Fight opens up its fifth chapter in the northeast region of the country, this Veterans Day, we lead the fight for our veterans to overcome the violent struggle and have post-traumatic growth."
The Weekly Fight currently hosts weekly workouts free to Veterans, first responders, and their family members in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Northern Virginia. The Weekly Fight is now serving our nation's veterans in five locations including Frazer, Oxford, Lancaster, Manayunk, and Wilmington Delaware. The Weekly Fight is adding least two additional locations before the end of 2018.
ABOUT: Marty Kenny, SGTMAJ (RET)
Sergeant Major Martin Kenny graduated from Parris Island in May 1986 as the Series High Shooter. Upon graduation from boot camp, Private Kenny was assigned to Marine Air Group 49 in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania as a combat engineer. Sergeant Kenny joined Bulk Fuel Company C in Folsom, Pennsylvania in 1995 as Platoon Guide. Shortly after joining this command Sergeant Kenny was assigned a Platoon as a Platoon Sergeant.
In January 1998 he was selected for Staff Sergeant and assumed collateral duties as Company Career Planner. Later that same year, Bulk Fuel Company C was converted to a Bridging Company in order to better serve the Marine Logistics Group. Staff Sergeant Kenny attended the SNCO Academy in 1998 at Camp Crowder Michigan. Staff Sergeant Kenny mobilized in October of 2002 with Bridge Company Bravo as a Platoon Sergeant in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While serving in Iraq Staff Sergeant Kenny was responsible for destroying more than 75,000 lbs of enemy ordnance was well as completing several bridging missions across the Tigris River. The company demobilized in July 2003.
In January 2004 Staff Sergeant Kenny was mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. During this time the Company was attached to the 420th Army Engineer Brigade. Staff Sergeant Kenny conducted more than 20 bridging operations as well serving as Convoy Commander on numerous convoys logging more than 16,000 miles. On 1 July 2004 Staff Sergeant Kenny was selected for the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and promoted at Camp Anaconda Iraq. Gunnery Sergeant Kenny was demobilized in September 2004. From September 2004 until May 2009 Gunnery Sergeant Kenny served in many capacities at Bridge Company including Platoon Commander, Operations Chief and First Sergeant.
In July 2004 Gunnery Sergeant attended the Advance SNCO Academy in Quantico Virginia. From September 2004 until May 2009 Gunnery Sergeant Kenny served in many capacities at Bridge Company including Platoon Commander, Operations Chief and First Sergeant. In July 2004 Gunnery Sergeant attended the Advance SNCO Academy in Quantico Virginia. Gunnery Sergeant Kenny was mobilized in May 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 9.2.
On 1 May 2009, Gunnery Sergeant Kenny was selected for the rank of First Sergeant. He was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 46 as the First Sergeant of Engineer Company. Engineer Company was responsible for the route clearance and the retrograding of equipment and vehicles to facilitate the withdrawal of Marines from Iraq.
In January 2010 First Sergeant Kenny was selected to train a Battalion for the 215 Corps Afghan National Army. First Sergeant Kenny deployed to Afghanistan and worked with the Afghan National Army until the end of March 2010. First Sergeant Kenny was demobilized in May of 2010. In April of 2013 First Sergeant Kenny was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major and assigned to HMH772, MAG49.
In July of 2015 Sergeant Major Kenny retired from the Marine Corps after thirty years of service. Sergeant Major Kenny’s awards and decorations include Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon.
Eden Gordon, Eden Gordon Media, http://www.edengordonmedia.com, 2027146014, [email protected]
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