The Mission Continues The Mission Continues is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization that serves as a framework for United States military veterans to perform community service work toward issues ranging from disaster preparedness to education for low - income youth to training of service dogs for wounded veterans . Founded in 2007 by Rhodes Scholar and former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens , The Mission Continues offers post - 9 / 11 veterans six month community service fellowships to assist them in finding the same purpose they found in the military while they return to civilian life . As of 2013 , The Mission Continues has awarded Fellowships to over 700 veterans . History . The Mission Continues was founded in 2007 after CEO Eric Greitens returned home from service in Iraq as a Navy SEAL . Upon his return , Eric visited with wounded Marines at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland . Without exception , each Marine expressed an unwavering desire to continue serving his country , even if he could no longer do so in the military . Inspired , Eric used his own combat pay and asked two friends to pitch in their military disability checks to found The Mission Continues . Core values . Five core values guide The Mission Continues ’ staff , Fellows , and Alumni . They are listed on their website as follows : Fellowships . A Mission Continues Fellowship involves 20 hours of service per week for 26 weeks at a local nonprofit organization . Fellows are encouraged to choose a nonprofit organization to serve based on their own personal passions . Current and Alumni Fellows have worked at organizations addressing issues ranging from disaster preparedness to education for low - income youth to training service dogs for wounded veterans . These host organizations include Habitat for Humanity , American Red Cross , Big Brothers Big Sisters of America , and Mothers Against Drunk Driving . Before beginning the fellowship , Fellows attend a three - day Fellowship Orientation , joining other post - 9 / 11 veterans from their Fellowship Class for a weekend of training , service and camaraderie . Upon returning home from orientation , Fellows officially begin their fellowships at their host organizations . Throughout the fellowship , each Fellow will have the opportunity to lead a community service project , share their story with others , and inspire their community to take action . Fellowship oath . Much like their oaths upon joining the military , Fellows take another oath of service at the beginning of their Fellowships . Oaths were first taken in November 2011 , and since have been taken in public by Bravo class 2012 ( Busch Stadium ) and Bravo class 2013 ( 9 / 11 Memorial ) . The oath is as follows : We are Fellows of The Mission Continues . As Fellows , our personal service did not end with our military service , but has only just begun . We are citizen leaders , committed to making a positive impact in our community , by upholding the values we learned through our military service . We pledge to work hard , both selflessly , and joyously . Trust will always be our foundation . As we serve , we will learn , grow , and always respect everybody unconditionally . We will do all of this because we are Fellows , and our mission continues . Curriculum . Throughout their Fellowship , Fellows follow an academic curriculum design to help their transition , and guide their pursuit of their goals of continuing education , employment , or service . Fellows ’ achieve their goals through challenging goal setting , recruitment and utilization of assets , and the study and exemplification of meaningful role models . During each month of the Fellowship , Fellows reflect on the past month , read an article about the upcoming month ’ s theme , complete exercises practicing that theme , and relate the theme to their current mission to serve and inspire utilizing their leadership skills . By completing the Fellowship curriculum , Fellows have learned a repeatable , familiar framework to apply to their futures so that upcoming goals and challenges can be met and overcome . Awards . The Mission Continues has received numerous awards for nonprofit excellence , including the 2011 Innovation Award Winner from the Social Venture Network , the 2012 TORCH Award from the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois , being named one of the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work For in 2013 by the The NonProfit Times , a 2009 Draper Richards Fellowship from the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation and the 2011 Best of Bullseye Award for Collaboration from Target .