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For many veterans, service doesn’t end on the day the uniform comes off. Their experiences—long nights, unpredictable missions—generate deep trust and become part of who they are. The structure of military life may fade, but the bonds forged in shared experience with their fellow servicemen often stay with them. And in some cases, they become the difference between feeling supported and feeling alone.
That spirit of connection is what fuels Buddy Check Week, an annual initiative led by Face the Fight, a nationwide coalition working to prevent veteran suicide.
Each year, veterans, families, and supporters are asked to reach out: to send a text, make a call, open a conversation, or simply check in on someone who might need it.
This year, Buddy Check Week received national attention when Babs Chase, Vice President of Partnerships for Face the Fight, appeared on Fox News to share its mission. She spoke as someone has seen firsthand how powerful a check-in can be.
“Sometimes the best way to help someone is just to check in,” Babs said. “It doesn’t take much time, but it can make all the difference.”
Her interview underscored something essential: the smallest moments often carry the most weight, and connection is still one of the most powerful tools we have in preventing suicide among veterans.
Veteran suicide remains a deeply urgent issue in the United States. Each statistic carries a story: of someone who served, someone who contributed, someone who meant something to their family, their unit, their community. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, regular communication from peers and loved ones is one of the most effective ways to prevent crisis situations before they escalate.
Buddy Check Week doesn’t position support as a clinical intervention. It frames it as something accessible. Something we all have the capacity to do. It doesn’t hold the severity of a doctor’s office, it is relaxed.
The week itself serves as a national reminder: Reach out. Ask the question. Stay connected.
One of the most visible supporters of Buddy Check Week this year was Starbucks, a long-time champion of veterans and military families. They teamed up with Face the Fight to create a national call to action, not just within their stores, but across their customer community.
During Buddy Check Week, Starbucks pledged to donate $10 for every person who joined the movement, helping to fuel outreach efforts and expand Face the Fight’s impact. At first glance, it’s a simple partnership. But the symbolism runs deeper. A cup of coffee is often where conversations begin and people reconnect. By joining the campaign, Starbucks highlighted the idea that a check-in doesn’t have to be formal or complicated. It can be as simple as saying:
“Hey, I’ve been thinking about you. How are you doing?”
The company’s support amplified the Face the Fight mission in a way only a national brand can. It demonstrated how corporate platforms can turn awareness into action.
“Starbucks’ support shows how simple moments, like a cup of coffee or a quick conversation, can spark change,” Face the Fight leaders shared. “It’s a reminder that community is built one interaction at a time.”
There are two remarkable truths at the heart of Buddy Check Week. First, small actions matter.
Second, we’re all capable of taking them. A phone call may not fix a crisis. A text message may not undo years of stress or trauma, but they can open the door to a healing pathway.
For many veterans, peer connection is uniquely powerful. No one understands military experience quite like someone who has lived it. But the campaign also invites civilians to participate, emphasizing that support is not exclusive to those who served.
When a community embraces this responsibility, it strengthens the social fabric around veterans. Buddy Check Week reframes support as something anyone can contribute to, regardless of their background.
That shift is meaningful. It shows how civilian and military communities can stand together. How every person can help build networks of trust and care. And how strong those networks become when everyone feels empowered to reach out.
At Social Driver, we’ve been honored to support Face the Fight through strategic storytelling, digital campaigns, and communication tools that help their message reach more people. Our work with Face the Fight reminds us of something core to our values: digital platforms don’t create connections by themselves. People do. But the right strategy can help those connections reach further.
Our team collaborated closely with leaders in the military, nonprofit, and corporate sectors to develop creative approaches that turn awareness into action. We focused on campaigns that felt human, accessible, and grounded in empathy, campaigns that didn’t just inform, but inspired.
Working alongside Face the Fight has shown us what digital storytelling looks like when it’s rooted in purpose. Every video, article, toolkit, and message is another opportunity to remind people that community is something we build together.
As Buddy Check Week grows each year, its message grows too. Support doesn’t require expertise. Just show up with intention and care.
It’s easy to wonder if a brief call makes a difference. The answer is yes. Research says yes. Veterans say yes. The lived experiences of families say yes. Every connection counts. Every check-in is an act of service.
And in many ways, that’s what Buddy Check Week represents: a national moment that invites each of us to continue showing up long after the designated week ends. Not because you’re expected to solve anything, but because checking in tells someone they matter. And for many veterans navigating transition, isolation, or invisible wounds, that reminder can be lifesaving.
To learn more about how you can participate, host a Buddy Check conversation, or get involved with Face the Fight, visit facethefight.org.
