No two veteran’s stories are the same. But Torie Fisher’s life is one that a lot of veterans can probably relate to. After a rough initial exit from the military, Torie re-enlisted, and found a job she loved…only to again leave the military under less-than-ideal circumstances. She founded Backward Flag Brewing Company, but very soon found herself struggling as a new business owner, recent divorcee, newly married – gay – there were many big changes happening at once.
It wasn’t long before the temptation to end it all was one trigger squeeze away. Yet Torie dug deeper, quit drinking heavily, focused on her daughter, and focused on helping those around her. Arms 2 Artisans, her nonprofit, became a way for her to continue to serve the military community, support her brothers and sisters in arms, and allow her to pave the way for transitioning veterans to become artists, creators, and artisans.
Her selfless service extended to becoming a Mental Wellness Director at Recalibrate, pursuing advanced degrees in Psychology, and even working as a Veteran Advocate in local law enforcement. I wasn’t simply impressed by the strength and resilience Torie continues to show, juggling so many pursuits – all targeting the transitioning/separated veteran – but also by her honesty, her transparency, and her willingness to be an example for other veterans to find their path by helping others find theirs.
Have a listen here.
As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.
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