Fellowships

The Travis Manion Foundation has partnered with The Mission Continues to fully fund 14 fellowships to date. These fellowships provide a service opportunity to wounded Veterans who still have the desire to serve their country but whose disabilities prevent them from continuing to serve in the military. The average Fellowship covers 16 weeks, during which the Fellow volunteers full-time at a local charitable organization or community project. Each fellow is awarded a monetary grant to enable the Fellow to offset the cost of living expenses while he or she volunteers.

Current Fellows

Jacob Wood

Los Angeles, CA

Jacob Wood

Jacob Wood has been awarded a Fellowship to further develop Team Rubicon, an immediate response element to international disaster areas. During his Fellowship, Jacob will establish a strong foundation for Team Rubicon to ensure future growth and financial stability. Jacob is a former Marine sniper who suffered two major orthopedic injuries. Deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan worsened these injuries. After separating from the military, Jacob identified the need for immediate response to international disaster areas.

Click Here to read more about Jacob and his Fellowship

Clay Hunt

Los Angeles, CA

Clay Hunt

Clay Hunt has been awarded a Fellowship to assist in the developent of Team Rubicon, an immediate response element to international disaster areas. Clay will be working alongside Jacob in building a firm foundation. He is hoping to eventually gain full time employment from Team Rubicon. Clay was a radio operator and observer on a sniper team in the Marine Corps. While deployed in Afghanistan Clay was shot in the wrist from enemy sniper fire. Since Joining Team Rubicon he has been to both Haiti and Chile in relief efforts.

Click Here to read about Clay and his Fellowship

Jon Arnold Garcia

Austin, Texas

Jon Arnold Garcia

Jon Arnold has been awarded a Fellowship to continue his service by working as the Veterans Outreach Coordinator in Austin, TX. Through Jon Arnold's "Joint Task Force LBJ," Jon Arnold will bring together active duty military, veterans, and military supporters to conduct community service projects. While deployed in support of OIF, Jon Arnold suffered a right transtibal (below knee) amputation, as well as mild PTSD and TBI.

Click Here to read more about Jon and his fellowship.

Steve Baskis

Chicago, Illinois

Steve Baskis

Steve Baskis was awarded a full-time fellowship to continue his service by establishing a Team River Runner chapter in Chicago, Il. By establishing a chapter of Team River Runner, Steve will provide the opportunity for other disabled veterans to gain confidence and the chance to inspire others. While deployed in support of OIF, Steve was injured when his convoy was struck by a roadside bomb causing permanent blindness.

Click Here to read more about Steve and his Fellowship

Former Fellows

Amanda Heindenreiter

Washington, DC

Amanda Heindenreiter

Amanda was awarded a part-time fellowship to continue her service by working with the Paws for Purple Hearts program. Amanda will be serving in a mentoring capacity for new wounded warriors in transition, particularly those affected by PTSD and/or TBI. Amanda served as a captain in the U.S. Army and deployed in support of OIF.

Click Here to read more about Amanda and her Fellowship

Shawn Billiot

Bethesda, Maryland

Shawn Billiot

Shawn was awarded a part-time fellowship to continue his service by working with military members under the care of Navy Safe Harbor at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center. Shawn will be serving in a peer mentoring capacity for convalescing marines and sailors there. Shawn suffered PTSD and TBI as a result of his deployment in support of OIF, where he served as a sergeant in the USMC.

Click Here to read about Shawn and his Fellowship

Brandon Garrison

San Antonio, Texas

Brandon Garrison

Brandon Garrison was awarded a full-time fellowship to continue his service as a ground-breaking fellow in the San Antonio area. Brandon will work to unite veterans in his community while working with others to establish several Mission Continues programs. Brandon was formerly enlisted in the US Army where he sustained injuries from a fall while deployed to Afghanistan.

Click Here to read more about Brandon and his Fellowship

Michael Paul

Los Angeles, California

Michael Paul

Michael Paul was awarded a full-time fellowship to continue service at the Paralyzed Veterans of America office in Los Angeles, CA. He will be serving as a mentor and source of encouragement to wounded and disabled veterans. Michael is a former Army Airborne Ranger who suffered a spinal chord injury following a parachuting accident.

Click Here to read more about Michael and his Fellowship

Ash Woolson

Columbus, Ohio

Ash Woolson

Ash Woolson is using his fellowship to work on the veteran's projects currently in progress and incorporating these projects in Columbus, Ohio where he will moved in September.

Click here to read more about Ash and his Fellowship.

Eric Parry

Baltimore, Maryland

Eric Parry

Eric Parry was awarded a fellowship to volunteer with the Metropolitan Police Boys & Girls Club in Baltimore, Maryland. He will also serve as a mentor to the youths in the Washington, DC area. Eric served in the Army on active duty, and was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. During his deployment,Eric received knee and joint injuries and has since suffered from PTSD.

Click Here to read more about Eric Parry and his Fellowship

David Pickens

Baltimore, Maryland

David Pickens

David Pickens was awarded a fellowship through the Mission Continues to serve as a mentor and head coach of a non-profit semi-pro football team called the Baltimore Broncos. David is a Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom veteran who suffered a back injury during a driving mission over rough terrain.

Click here for more information about David Pickens and his Fellowship.

Brad Watts

Portland, Maine

Brad Watts

During his time in Iraq, Brad was involved in multiple incidents with improvised explosive devices. Brad suffered a brain injury, memory loss, as well as other mental issues including post traumatic stress disorder. Brad has been awarded a fellowship to develop a project designed to unite different non-profits in the greater Saco-Biddeford area. With support from the non-profit arm of the local United Baptist Church, Brad hopes to bring together non-profit and charitable organizations in his community through common goals.

Perry Green

As a fellow, Perry worked with the Veteran Affairs Hospital and the Red Cross in Augusta, Georgia. Perry's fellowship was made possible through the sponsorship of the Travis Manion Foundation. Perry was deployed to Iraq twice while serving with the Army National Guard. He was medically discharged due to chronic back pain and was later diagonsed with degenerative disc disease.

Click Here to read more on Perry's Fellowship

Dionisios Nicholas

Dionisios Nicholas, was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He graduated from Cleveland High School in Reseda, CA in 1980. In 1983, he received a degree from Los Angeles Valley College before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marine Corps, Dionisios earned an undergraduate degree from Campbell University (NC) in 1991 and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Troy State University in 1996. Dionisios' Marine Corps career began at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, and after training he was assigned as the legal services specialist military occupational school. Over his career, he volunteered for many overseas assignments, including time in Okinawa, Japan, and Korea.

Click Here for more information on Dionisios Nicholas and his Fellowship.

Mathew Trotter

Matthew Trotter

Mathew Trotter served for eight years as an Aviation Technician in the United States Navy, deploying multiple times during the Global War on Terror. He suffered a serious injury while serving in the line of duty, and has undergone six reconstructive surgeries. As a fellow, Mathew is working with the Triple H Equitherapy Center in Pipe Creek, Texas. His primary goal is to build an equine therapy program to assist other wounded veterans with their recovery. One of the country's largest military medical facilities for amputees, Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), is located in nearby San Antonio. Mathew is creating programs that will not only address the therapy needs of these veterans, but also train them to serve as mentors for troubled youth engaged in service programs at Triple H.