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Developing the leadership skills of individuals who are serving our nation’s veterans and helping them scale their impact.

Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program

The Bush Institute is committed to improving transition and outcomes for post-9/11 veterans and their families. In pursuit of this goal we have developed Stand-To, a first-of-its-kind veteran leadership initiative aimed at individuals serving our nation's veterans who are motivated to broaden their skillsets and influence across the country. The program will draw from and build upon the Bush Institute’s existing leadership and military service programming. By developing the leadership skills of individuals who are serving our nation’s veterans and helping them scale their impact through leadership projects and the network that is created, the program will ultimately widely affect our nation’s veterans and the services and opportunities available to them.

Program Information / Goals

  • Implement a leadership development experience for those serving our nation’s post-9/11 veterans that fully utilizes the assets and resources of the Bush Institute and is distinctive, sought-after, impactful, and inspired;
  • Deliver a connected, inspiring, and educational experience that is distinctive from other leadership development experiences;
  • Build an alumni community and a “community of practice” around the military veteran support sector that sustains past the time of the actual program itself and will engage past participants as peer mentors; and
  • Create a forum for strategic conversations amongst thought leaders trying to improve and strengthen the lives of military veterans and their families, and amplify the reach of the program and each individual’s contribution through project and action plans.

Stand-To will target veteran and non-veteran rising leaders working to improve veteran outcomes.

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Applications for the 2018 class are now closed.  Please sign up to receive updates.

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President Bush in his own words:

“By supporting and enabling our nation’s warriors in their new missions as civilians, we unleash the potential of a generation of resourceful, determined, and experienced leaders – for the good of our vets, and our country.”

Related Articles


June 19, 2017

Stand To: A United Call to Action to Better Serve Transitioning Vets

More than 45,000 philanthropic organizations, government programs and initiatives, large and small corporations, and millions of individuals are committed to addressing veteran transition. But often, these organizations work in isolation, causing confusion and disjointed gaps in service for transitioning veterans and their families.

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June 14, 2018

Chief David Brown's Two-Minute Take on Leadership by Brittney Bain

Former Chief of the Dallas Police Department David Brown led during the 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers, making tough decisions to save lives and helping the city heal in the aftermath. He talked with Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program scholars about his experience and the principles that drive him, and he offered his take on leadership after his remarks to the class. How do you define leaders, and what principles do you think are important to be a good leader? I think leadership is the culmination and development of people to achieve high goals. I have this saying, ‘If you’re leading and no one is following you, you’re just taking a walk’. So you have to inspire people to follow you. That’s one of the characteristics that I believe is necessary to be a good leader. In addition to that, I think you have to sincerely care for people and issues...I think it’s almost impossible if you don’t care about these issues and care about

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June 7, 2018

Two-Minute Take: General McChrystal on Veteran Leadership by Brittney Bain

General Stanley McChrystal is the former commander of the U.S. and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) Afghanistan, and the former commander of the nation’s military counter-terrorism force Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). He is best known for developing and implementing a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan. He retired from the Army in August 2010 and later founded McChrystal Group to deliver innovative leadership solutions to American businesses. He was a keynote speaker during week one of the Bush Institute’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program, where he talked to scholars about the myths and realities of leadership. He also offered his thoughts on why the Stand-To program is crucial right now. Why is veteran leadership important to the country? I think veteran leadership is important because first, they are a part of society that’s had a somewhat unique experience. They’ve gone out and served the nation,

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45K

Out of the more than 2M non-profit organizations in the United States, approximately 45,000 self-identify as serving U.S. military service personnel and their families.

Explore Leading Practices

Related Events


Stand-To – A National Veterans Convening
June23, 2017

13.7%

13.7% of veterans start their own business, compared to 9.8% of civilians.

Know Our Vets