Page 13 - Harnett Life Summer 2020

and Navy blue. Hence the saying, “Purple Up!” ― a national
slogan used to solicit support for military families and kids.
In addition to purple up, Whole Vet seeks to build up the ca-
reer and family of Whole Vet clients ― a twofold mission ―
as well as create community between the private sector and
military and veteran groups. Robbins established the Military
and Veteran Enablement Coalition made up of vested parties to
help get this job done. Like seed to soil, the tasks grow as the
nonprofit does.

While based along the county lines between Harnett and Wake
in North Carolina in Robbins’ home office, the company found-
er describes his vision as stretching across the state, country
and beyond. Since 2017, the flagship company program to
date, Whole Vet’s Military Career Transition Event, has been
held in Raleigh, Cary, Clayton and Wilmington. Thus far, in
2020, a February event was held in Jacksonville near Marine
Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and most recently, in light of COV-
ID-19 restrictions, a June virtual program was broadcast from
the campus of Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington.
These are networking events for transitioning service mem-
bers to connect them with corporate representatives from com-
panies such as Biogen, PSA Airlines, NetApp, SAS, Biotest
Pharmaceuticals, and with educational entities like Campbell
University, East Carolina University and North Carolina State

USMC Veteran Jason Kemp, Keynote Speaker at Whole
Vet Military Career Transition Day at NCSU’s McKimmon
Center 2019
called to do something more with his life. Already a long-term
volunteer in his workplace with veteran relations and events,
Robbins saw a real need and an open door to step-up and serve
this population of selfless individuals more directly. Now en-
gaged in full-time work with Whole Vet, Robbins said he and
his wife, Ginger, walked through the egress together in Febru-
ary and have not looked back.

He explained his outlook for the organization. “This is a com-
prehensive vision to create a platform that can serve our mili-
tary and veteran community,” he said. “Everything from help-
ing them make connections at our events to getting jobs and
internships to the mentorship piece that gives them someone
that really cares – these are all components of Whole Vet.”

The name of the organization says it all. According to Robbins,
Whole Vet encompasses building up the life of the veteran
physically, spiritually, mentally, social-emotionally, economi-
cally and beyond ― the whole person, in other words. The
organizational colors ― purple and white ― are symbolic of
representing all branch servicemen. Purple is the combination
of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red
Professional Development Panel at Whole Vet Military Ca-
Harnett Life ~ Summer 2020 reer Transition Day at NCSU’s McKimmon Center 2019