The FOB : A New Generation of Services for Veterans

A Safe Base at Home In the military, a Forward Operating Base is a safe place in the middle of danger. It is where soldiers eat, sleep, plan missions, and find strength in their team. Every veteran remembers the feeling of safety when walking inside the wire. But when service ends, many veterans lose that base. They return home, but they do not always feel at home. They want connection, family, health, and purpose, yet too often they find only smoky halls and bars that no longer fit their lives. Shawn Hibbard, a combat veteran, lived through this himself. He walked into the old posts searching for brotherhood, but instead found alcohol and gambling. Out of that disappointment came a new vision. The FOB is that vision brought to life. It is a guide for veterans, families, and communities to build a base at home that is safe, healthy, and full of mission. What Went Wrong With the Old Posts The old posts were once places of pride. They were meant to give veterans a voice, a sense of belonging, and a space to heal. Over time, many of them changed. Instead of focusing on mission and service, they focused on alcohol sales, gambling, and keeping the lights on. Younger veterans, many with families, walked in and felt out of place. They were looking for fitness programs, family events, and purpose, but they only saw smoke and slot machines. The result was a growing gap between generations. What Veterans Want Today Younger veterans want health over habits. They want sober spaces, fitness programs, and places where families are welcome. They want careers, education, and missions that matter. They want honesty about mental health and open conversations about stress and healing. They want brotherhood without the bar and connection without the drink. The Birth of a New Model Instead of waiting for old posts to change, Shawn created something new. He started with trips on the water through Nautical Salute. Veterans who stepped onto the boat left with smiles, laughter, and hope. That spark grew into the larger vision of The FOB. A FOB at home would be clean, safe, family centered, and mission driven. No smoking inside. No bar. No gambling. Instead, programs for fitness, health, families, work, and service would take center stage. These changes include: - Brotherhood Without the Bar - Fitness, Health, and Healing - Skills, Work, and Purpose - Service to the Community - Outdoors and Adventure A Guide and a Movement The FOB is not only Shawn's story. It is a blueprint for every community. It shows how to build a base at home, create programs, bring in families, and keep the mission alive. It is about more than one building. It is about a movement that can spread across the nation, giving every veteran a safe place to belong. The Mission Starts Here If you are a veteran who has ever felt out of place in an old post, this book is for you. If you are a spouse or child who wants to be included in veteran life, this book is for you. If you are a community member who wants to see veterans stand strong again, this book is for you. The FOB is a call to action. It is hope, purpose, and family. It is the forward operating base at home. And it is the beginning of a mission that saves lives.