Spiritual Minded Military New Mexico Army National Guard: How to Get Help When the Nearest VA Is Hours Away — The Rural Recovery Protocol

 

The closest VA is in Albuquerque. You live in Farmington. That's three hours. You live in Roswell. That's 3 hours. You live in Taos. This is 2 and a half. You live in Silver City. That is four.

The distance between your home and help isn't all about hours. They are excuses. They are barriers. They are their enemy's country.

"By the time I drive there, I could have already..."

"I cannot take a whole day off work to drive to Albuquerque."

"The VA is so backed up. I will wait months anyway."

"I can handle this myself. It is not that bad."

You're not the only rural soldier in a world of this sort of thinking. You won't be the last one. The soldiers in between are for the Rural Recovery Protocol.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." — Psalm 46:1

For the uniform that declares you are seeking help, secure your Spiritual Minded Military shirt at SpiritualMindedApparel.com.

THE NEW MEXICO DISTANCE

New Mexico is the fifth largest state. There are 2 million people. Those people reside in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces. The rest are spread out in unpopulated high deserts, mountain towns, and rural counties, where the closest traffic light is an hour away.

The National Guard armory in your town is small. The chaplain comes once a month. ASAP's headquarters are in Santa Fe. The VA clinic is many hours away. In the local AA group, there are four members, and you are familiar with all of them.

The distance is his ally; the enemy uses it. He does not have to beat you. All he has to do is leave you in place!

Rural Recovery Protocol is not a command to go to Albuquerque. The Rural Recovery Protocol is about constructing a recovery system in your community.

For the fuel that keeps your energy up while you navigate the system, secure Cellular Hydrate – Electrolyte Formula at SpiritualMindedNutrition.com.

THE RURAL RECOVERY PROTOCOL

Step one: Take advantage of what you have instead of what you wish you had.

There is no VA hospital within 20 minutes. You have a cell phone. You have telehealth, though! VA has virtual appointments for rural vets. The Farmington-based counselor will be available in the comfort of your living room.

There is no large AA meeting. There is one other soldier in your unit who is also having difficulties. A person is seated in a meeting. A formation is made up of 2 people.

Step Two: Self-Refer Before the Distance Becomes an Excuse

Call your commander. Call your chaplain. Call the ASAP office in Santa Fe. I live hours away; I need help here. Tell them. What can you do?"

Self-referrals are covered under the Limited Use Policy. The distance will not affect the rule. There is no protection against command reference. If a person tests positive for a drug, they are not safe. Self-refer before the distance is your excuse.

Step Three: Build Your Rural Supply Line

Your recovery supply line is not a building. Your recovery supply line is:

• Cellular Hydrate – Electrolyte Formula delivered to your rural address
• Spiritual Minded Mushroom Coffee Blend for your morning ritual
• One battle buddy text per day. "Are you good?"
• One telehealth appointment per week
• One uniform on your chest every morning

Step Four: Become the Rural Resource

You are not the only soldier in your rural area struggling. There are others. They are driving the same empty highways. They are hiding in the same small towns. They are waiting for someone to go first.

Go first. Wear your Spiritual Minded Military shirt. Tell your story. Become the person who knows how to get help in the middle of nowhere.

THE TELEHEALTH OPTION

VHA has started to increase the use of telehealth to support veterans in rural areas. You can access:

• Online psychological support services. Online mental health counseling.
• Telepsychology for SUDS – online treatment for substance use disorder.
• Virtual medication management
• Virtual check-ins with a care team

What you need:

• A cell phone or computer with a camera.
• Access to the internet (most rural areas have cellular data)
• A personal area of the house

The difficult part is getting in. After you’re in the system, the appointments are right in the comfort of your living room. The VA will NOT send you a bottle. You can't be made to drive four hours by the VA. The VA can view you on a screen.

For the coffee that keeps you awake for your virtual appointment, secure Spiritual Minded Mushroom Coffee Blend at SpiritualMindedNutrition.com.

THE SANTA FE ASSIGNMENT

Santa Fe is the capital. The state headquarters is there. The ASAP office is there. The National Guard leadership is there.

Your assignment is not to drive to Santa Fe every week. Your assignment is to make them come to you.

Call the ASAP office. Ask: "What telehealth options do you offer for rural soldiers?" Call the State Family Program Director. Ask: "What resources do you have for families in rural areas? "Call the Soldier and Family Readiness Program. Ask: "Who else in my area is struggling?"

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The silent soldier gets ignored. The enemy wants you silent. The Rural Recovery Protocol is the opposite of silent.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you." — Isaiah 43:2

For the uniform that declares you will not be silent, secure your Spiritual Minded Military shirt at SpiritualMindedApparel.com.

THE RURAL BATTLE BUDDY

One person is in a meeting. Two people are a formation. You need a rural battle buddy.

Not a sponsor. Not a counselor. A battle buddy. Someone who lives within driving distance. Someone who knows the same highways. Someone who understands what it means to be the only soldier in a town of 500 people.

How to find your rural battle buddy:

• Ask your unit: "Who lives near me?"
• Ask the chaplain: "Do you know any other soldiers in my county?"
• Wear your Spiritual Minded Military shirt to the local gas station. The uniform starts conversations.

Your rural battle buddy is not a treatment plan. Your rural battle buddy is the person who texts you on Tuesday afternoon when the isolation is loudest.

"Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together." — Hebrews 10:24-25

For the coffee that fuels your battle buddy connection, secure Spiritual Minded Mushroom Coffee Blend at SpiritualMindedNutrition.com.

Conclusion

New Mexico Army National Guard, you asked how to get help when the nearest VA is hours away.

The answer is not about distance. The answer is about resources.

Telehealth. Your commander. Your chaplain. The Veterans Crisis Line. Rural battle buddies. One soldier who goes first.

The Rural Recovery Protocol does not require you to drive four hours. The Rural Recovery Protocol requires you to pick up the phone. To wear your uniform. To ask for help. To go first.

The distance is an obstacle. The obstacle is not insurmountable. The Rural Recovery Protocol is the map.

Secure the Fuel at SpiritualMindedNutrition.com

This is the Spiritual Minded Military Rural Recovery Protocol for the New Mexico Army National Guard. The VA is hours away. Help is not. Make the call. Wear the uniform. Go first. Fall in.

The Remnant does not transition. The Remnant re-enlists.

Spiritual Minded Military
We don't rank, we reign.

THE LITTLE GENERAL DOCTRINE

THIS IS NOT A SUGGESTION. IT IS A DIRECTIVE FOR THE ELITE 1%. [BY ORDER OF THE LITTLE GENERAL]

15-YEARS DRUG-FREE | WORLD CHAMPION | VETERAN