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Honoring Those Who Protect Us: The EOD Warrior Foundation’s Lifelong Support for Warriors and Families
Each November, our nation pauses to honor the unwavering courage and commitment of those who have worn the uniform — and the families who have stood steadfast beside them. National Veterans and Military Families Month is more than a time of remembrance; it’s a call to recognize the daily resilience, sacrifice, and strength that sustain our military community long after the battles end.
Across the country, organizations like the EOD Warrior Foundation are living that mission year-round — bridging service and opportunity for those who have given so much. In recognition of this month, we’re proud to feature Jerry Shelton, Executive Director of the EOD Warrior Foundation, who shares how his organization continues to uplift Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, veterans, and families through healing, education, and hope.
Bridging Service and Opportunity: The EOD Warrior Foundation's Commitment to the EOD Community
by Jerry Shelton, Executive Director, EOD Warrior Foundation
Few professions embody courage and selflessness like Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), the military specialists who locate, disarm, and safely dispose of explosive threats. These men and women serve on the front lines of both war and peace, responding to everything from unexploded ordnance to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Their mission is simple yet extraordinary: to protect life and property, often at great personal risk.
Across the U.S. Armed Forces, about 6,000 EOD technicians serve today. They are the ones called when danger can't be ignored, supporting the most complex special operations missions around the world. Their work demands skill, precision, and unshakable calm in the face of chaos.
The EOD Warrior Foundation (EODWF) exists to honor that courage and care for those who bear its weight. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for the entire EOD family through financial relief, scholarships, hope and wellness programs, and memorial care, ensuring that those who serve, and the families who stand beside them, are never left to face hardship alone.
What began in 1969 as a small volunteer effort to build an EOD Memorial and fund scholarships has grown into a national nonprofit supporting the Active-Duty, Guard, Reserve, Retired, and Veteran EOD community and their families. Today, the Foundation delivers holistic support, addressing both visible and invisible wounds through retreats, mental health programs, and emergency assistance.
In the past year alone, the Foundation provided $240,000 in financial relief grants to families in crisis, $342,000 in scholarships to students pursuing their dreams, and $327,000 in hope and wellness programs to strengthen resilience and connection. Each dollar represents a life touched—a veteran recovering from trauma, a Gold Star child starting college, or a family rebuilding after a storm.
At the heart of the EOD Warrior Foundation's work are four pillars of support:
- Hope & Wellness Retreats, which bring warriors and families together for healing and reconnection.
- Financial Relief, which provides financial assistance to EOD warriors and families to help alleviate the financial burdens and stress during their most difficult times.
- Scholarship Programs, advancing education and opportunity for EOD dependents.
- Memorial Care, preserving the legacy of the fallen at the EOD Memorial Wall at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
The Foundation believes that partnerships drive impact. Organizations like GlobalMindED play a vital role in connecting the veteran community with networks that value education, community, and leadership development. Through collaboration, funding, and shared advocacy, partners can help ensure that every EOD warrior and family has access to the care, recognition, and opportunity they deserve.
At its core, the EOD Warrior Foundation stands for dedication, integrity, respect, and compassion—values that mirror the very spirit of those it serves. Together, we continue to transform courage into connection, and sacrifice into hope.
For more information about the EOD Warrior Foundation, its programs, or ways to get involved, please visit www.eod-wf.org.
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