Struggle Beyond the Decade (501c3)

Aaron Martinez
President

The non profit organization Struggle Beyond the Decade was formed in 2018 after the successful movement from the documentary film series, Struggle Beyond the Decade that was released in 2016.

The director and president of the organization, veteran Aaron Martinez was motivated to find resolve for veteran suicide after a comrade whom he served with in OIF took his own life.

Aaron is a medically retired Army Sergeant First Class, he has a personal connection to this topic after almost ending his on life in 2012 due to the long term untreated PTS.

After separation form service Aaron found a new purpose and a creative outlet to dealing with post traumatic stress and found nothing more helpful and important then finding a crisis resolve for veteran suicide.

In his film series, he specializes in capturing people’s messages, agendas and life experiences to help create a positive discourse and new developmental dialogue in the veteran suicide epidemic that is steeling the lives of 22 veterans each day.

Apart of this effort is to help understand crisis resolve and toxic veterans treatment plans, culture shock and the hard transitions into civilian life especially for those who deal with PTS.

Season One of Struggle Beyond the Decade featured veterans and members of Task Force 1/34 Armor Regiment whom conducted major combat operations in the Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

Aaron interviewed those veterans and members that deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) I & II in 2003-2004 to find the inside perspective of combat veterans.

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In the first season he concentrated specifically on their stories and their insights into how they have handled transitioning after undergoing hostile combat operations and dealing with untreated PTS.

What he discovered was incredible and he began to see immediate results from the veterans and their families.

Already intensely focused on producing the film series.


Aaron's motivation escalated even further after the loss of a fellow veteran and dear friend James R. Barrett whose PTS resulted in an unexpected suicide.

 

                                                                                             This loss nearly ended the project.

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Some soldiers have not been able to make the transition into civilian life as easy as others. Aaron has taken a strong stand to make a difference in his brothers’ struggles and is determined to re-establish a connection with the members of the veteran community and many groups and organizations who share the same passions.

The aim of this film series is to help prevent veteran suicides and to help others dealing with similar issues. By relating insightful transitional stories, veterans can forge a realistic, shared idea of how to belong to a world so obscure, especially for those members diagnosed with severe PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.

So many people have already re connecting with veteran friends, establishing positive relationships and providing first response networks.

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This film project is now on it's third season with its primary focus to find and tell the stories of veterans that are doing amazing and positive things to help them find new purpose and direction. Raising funds for this project will be crucial to completing its authentic and varietal perspective.

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Struggle Beyond the Decade is a 501c3. It's Board of Directors is comprised of Retired Army veteran Aaron Martinez, and his wife Heidiliz. Franklin and Maranda Ewurs, Carole Eckles-Harding and Maria Rynearson.

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To find us on the IRS Non-Profit website search under Struggle Beyond the Decade or EIN 82-548239