Merging Vets and Players (MVP) was created in 2015 by Jay Glazer, a Fox Sports analyst, and Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret and NFL alumni, to address the similar challenges that combat Veterans and former professional athletes face when the uniform comes off.
As a weekly peer support program, MVP creates a new team for these men and women and works to help them find new purpose, meaning and identity as they face the challenges head-on together rather than alone. By staying connected beyond the weekly sessions through various events, communication and trusted resources, members experience an ecosystem of support.
MVP conducts multiple in-person chapters nationwide, and a virtual chapter, which allows Veterans to join from even the most remote areas. Veterans must meet eligibility requirements and membership is free. MVP chapter locations and time information are available here.
Each chapter operates weekly at a local privately owned fitness facility, and members can expect these sessions to run for two hours. The first hour consists of team-based workouts with individual drills that create connection, communication and trust. During the second hour, members sit in “The Huddle,” a circle to create a peer group of like-minded individuals who have shared life experiences. Every Huddle is facilitated by a peer-certified staff member of MVP who are also members of the program.
In addition to weekly peer-led sessions for members, MVP hosts community workouts and events that are open and inclusive of families, friends and community members. This inclusivity broadens our reach to those who can benefit from our model and support. We have seen the impactful results from the connections and work we do to build stronger communities. Our community contributions deepen the level of engagement and understanding of how Veterans continue to lead with purpose and serve in a new capacity.
MVP’s weekly programming and membership is available at no cost to Veterans who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations (service in a war or campaign expedition in hostile waters and or on foreign soil that rated Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay). Veterans can find more information on eligibility requirements and sign up for membership here. Upon registration, Veterans will receive an email confirmation from their local chapter program manager to provide further direction on attending an MVP session and establishing connection and community.
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Hey this was very helpful information thanks for helping us veterans and athletes, that’s a pretty sharp way of doin things.
I am a part of the Dallas MVP group and it has been the best combat veteran group for me. As an athlete while serving, it allows me to still have that competitive spirit with my fellow vets and athletes as well as let me be vulnerable and get peer to peer support afterwards. It is hard to describe the feeling unless you are there in person. I’m fortunate our chapter meets in person and it’s so empowering.
I am a female vet that wanted to spend 20 years plus in the army. However because some men decided that I was there for their please and not to serve my country in Viet Nam I quit. This was to my disappointment because I went in the Army to serve my country and wanted dearly to go to Viet Nam to serve.
I think combat veterans only neglects 80% of disabled veterans. It’s nice what you do but leaves an important group out
Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg. Both above average players. Both very humble.
I have mst ptsd. 100% Service Connected. I was in ‘the women have a right to be in the military’ war. I was the first female in my field. The Instructors at Tech School wanted me to fail so the field would be closed to women. Excluding any Service Connected Vet is just Completely Wrong!!! You really truely need to change your eligibility. I am constantly overlooked! Its completely Sad and Discouraging……add discrimination!!
This Vets & Players organization is a typical joke. The entire East Coast is virtual, so not really useful for people who want/need real human connection. Do a better job of vetting the organizations you write about and stop promoting bullsht.
I want to be a part of this veteran team.
What are the eligibility requirements? I clicked the word the said eligibility and I was taken to a page with endorsements and comments from MVP members. – no requirements. Any in VT? How to start one?
Visit the website, and click Become a member. Select the region you want. Scroll down to veteran eligibility. Submit your request.
How about we do something for the vets here in San Antonio Texas that would be great…
MVP is great. I’m part of the chapter in Phoenix. We all look forward to our Wednesday night sessions and have a great time with camaraderie!! There’s no cost. The gym we go to is Vet-owned and the coaches are part of team and bring their passion!
Semper Fi!
Sounds like a great idea! But unfortunately, I served during the Cold War from 1983-1986. This was under our Commander-in-Chief Ronald Reagan who had a peace through strength policy. That policy eventually won after Reagan’s last term when the Berlin Wall fell. Reagan had challenged Gorbachev, “Gorbachev, tear down this wall”. And you knew who won when East Germans ran to West Germany, and that division eventually was healed when the two countries reunited in a free Germany. Germany remains a great ally and a member of NATO. So, maybe you might want to extend the eligibility to those who served honorably and gave a blank check up to and including to their life if necessary during their tour of service. Just a thought.
So am I to understand that this Veteran/Athlete program is only for combat injured veterans and not for veterans who had their legs in the United States or lose a leg to gangrene from a White Widow Spider Bite in Prescott Arizona, September 2020. Served 1982-1992. U.S. Navy Enlisted Disabled Veteran. Mr Christopher Alan Gass
This program is amazing! Finding a great therapy group that incorporates physical activity is very unique. I also really enjoy sharing a group with professional athletes and hearing that they have many of the same problems as us veterans. I highly recommend this group for anyone looking for help.
I have severe PTSD but I’m not a real vet because I didn’t get hostile fire pay. I don’t want your program anyway.
Apply anyway
What???? If you have severe PTSD how are you not a realtor Veteran where was that mentioned?
One must have a combat campaign ribbon. I have military ptsd but its not combat so I too do not qualify…….
As someone who is qualified, I agree that this is a messed up way to allocate resources. There are plenty of veterans who suffered hardships during the interwar periods prior to the most recent Long War kicking off. They deserve assistance, community, and support too.