For Elizabeth Avery, a military daughter and retired military herself, making that transition to civilian can be a challenge.
"They're your family, and then you get out, and you're like 'I don't have to work? What do I do with myself?' I don't have the people that were in my shop," she explained.
Rather than make that process a painful one, a national organization is helping vets like Avery. Team Red, White, and Blue or RWB for short. A vet founded it in 2010, with the goal of combining those who served with the community by service, sports, and socializing. They do large events like runs and small group meet ups like a women's self defense class, where KMTV met up with them last week. The goal is simple: motivate members to come out of their shell to be with others.
"When you're with them, you let your guard down. I don't have to protect myself so much," said Robin Alex, who runs the local chapter.
Today, Team RWB has 90,000 members in 182 communities around the world. It includes athletic camps, ambassador programs and leadership development programs in addition to sports meet ups.
The group is not just military, though. Civilian Brandon Ryan is new to the team. While he comes from a military family, he's never served.
"I wanted to join instantly, I love what they were about."
It's a a shared background for many, building a new band of brothers and sisters and finding a new way to serve themselves and others.
"I just love it, I just love this group," Avery said.
