WHO WE ARE

Cpl Travis Nowak, a 2013 Hibbing, MN, high school graduate, had a dream that began in the 2nd grade-to become a Marine. His dream became a reality, and Travis served his country with bravery and duty. He had plans to use the G.I. Bill to earn a business degree and return to his hometown to open an Airsoft Playing field. Travis's story is a powerful reminder of the dreams and aspirations of our servicemen and women.

Travis's story took a tragic turn on November 10th, 2016, when he took his own life. His untimely death left behind a family and friends who are now acutely aware of the urgent need for action. Reintegration for our servicemen and women is a challenging journey, and the risk of military suicide (22 a day) significantly increases after leaving the military. We can't afford to wait any longer to address this issue.

The Armadillo Project was born from the desire to offer the compassionate network of resources we sought out during Travis's time at home. Our mission is to make a meaningful change by addressing the dangerous loopholes in the separation process and ensuring that mental health care is readily available. With your support, we can turn Travis's dream into a beacon of hope for our servicemen and women. Together, we can make a significant and positive impact on the lives of our veterans.

OUR MISSION   

To provide resources and support to Veterans and their families during times of reintegrating back into a civilian/veteran life.  We advocate and educate our community about the need for a better understanding of mental health and how it relates to suicide. We create awareness to help others in the fight against suicide.

OUR GOALS: 

1. To advocate for a change in the length of time a veteran has to transition from military to a veteran/civilian lifestyle. It should be at least the length of base training.

2.  To streamline the process of having medical records ready and available.

3.  To establish a mental health plan prior to discharge.  This would include local doctors and resources in the community.
In addition to education the Veterans support persons who at home. 

4. To educate and communicate a shift of knowledge, attitude and behavior among Veterans, loved ones and service providers.  To dispel misconception about mental health treatment, raising awareness of available resources and encouraging help seeking and healthy behaviors.