At the 2026 CIT International Conference in Orlando, thousands of law enforcement officers, First Responders, behavioral health professionals, advocates, and community leaders gathered around one shared goal: creating a more compassionate response for people experiencing a mental health crisis.
For Til Valhalla Project, the conference was also an opportunity to connect with organizations whose work reflects our commitment to supporting the Military and First Responder communities. One of those organizations was Charlie Mike, a Veteran-founded nonprofit helping Veterans and First Responders find purpose, connection, and healing after service.
After learning more about its mission and programs, T.V.P. was proud to make a donation to help Charlie Mike continue that work.
What “Charlie Mike” Means
In the military phonetic alphabet, “Charlie Mike” represents the letters C and M: “Continue Mission.” It is a familiar call to keep moving forward, to drive on, stay the course, and refuse to quit.
For Charlie Mike, those words carry a deeper meaning.
“Our tagline is ‘Continue the Mission of Life,’” explained Sarimá Gracia, Charlie Mike’s Brand Ambassador and Lead of Canine Operations.
“After their service ends, we want Veterans and First Responders to be able to continue the mission.”
The organization was founded by Dustin Gladwell, a U.S. Army Veteran who served for 12 years and deployed to Afghanistan as an Infantry Advisor and Embedded Tactical Trainer to the Afghan National Army. He understands that while a combat mission may end, the effects of service do not simply disappear when someone returns home or removes the uniform.
Charlie Mike was built to support those carrying the unseen wounds of service and help them rediscover stability, purpose, and community.
Rescuing Dogs and Building Battle Buddies
Charlie Mike’s Canine Battle Buddy Program begins in animal shelters. The organization evaluates and rescues dogs, provides extensive training, and carefully places them with Veterans and First Responders who would benefit from a well-trained companion.
Sarimá explained that not every Veteran or First Responder requires a task-trained service dog. Many need a steady, loving companion who can provide comfort, structure, connection, and a renewed sense of purpose without becoming an additional source of stress.
That is why Charlie Mike trains its rescued dogs to a therapy-dog standard before pairing them with their new families. The result is a partnership that can change two lives at once: a shelter dog receives a home, and a Veteran or First Responder gains a loyal Battle Buddy.
Dogs bring something into our lives that can be difficult to measure but impossible to dismiss. They offer consistency on hard days, companionship in moments of isolation, and a reason to keep a routine when life feels unsteady. For someone carrying trauma, that bond can become a meaningful part of healing.
Finding Peace Through Horses
At Charlie Mike Farm in Liberty, North Carolina, Veterans and First Responders can also participate in the organization’s Equine Training and Riding Program.
Horses are remarkably responsive to human energy. Working with them requires patience, self-awareness, trust, and emotional regulation. As Sarimá described during our conversation, participants may arrive tense and guarded, but inside the round pen they must quiet that energy and become fully present for the horse to respond.
The farm is home to both rideable horses and rescued Mustangs at different stages of gentling and training. This allows participants to work at a level that meets them where they are. Families are welcome as well, helping make the experience one of shared connection rather than solitary healing.
Renee, an representative of T.V.P.’s, immediately understood the program’s potential. Having participated in equine-assisted therapy herself after her brother was killed in Afghanistan, she shared how surprising and powerful the experience can be.
“At first, I wondered how working with a horse could possibly help,” Renee said. “But it was incredible. There is something about having to slow down, regulate your emotions, and build trust with such an intuitive animal that reaches you in a completely different way.”
Returning to Service When Disaster Strikes
Charlie Mike’s third major program calls Veterans and First Responders back into meaningful service through disaster relief.
The organization has mobilized experienced volunteers to support communities following major disasters, including Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. After Helene devastated mountain communities in 2024, Charlie Mike was among the early groups to respond. Gladwell remained in the affected region for months as the organization supported relief and recovery efforts.
The work meets two urgent needs at once. Communities receive help from capable people accustomed to working as a team under pressure, while Veterans and First Responders regain the camaraderie and sense of mission that can be difficult to replace after service.
As Renee observed during the conversation, “It gives them purpose.”
For Charlie Mike, purpose is not a side benefit. It is central to the mission. Serving others can remind someone that their skills still matter, their team is still there, and their next chapter can still hold meaningful work.
Two Missions, One Commitment
The connection between Charlie Mike and Til Valhalla Project was immediate.
T.V.P. exists to Honor Fallen Heroes and support the Military, Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Charlie Mike works to protect and restore those who made it home but continue to carry the weight of service. Both organizations understand that Honor is not confined to a single moment. It is an ongoing responsibility to remember, to serve, and to stand beside those who have sacrificed for others.
Our donation to Charlie Mike at the 2026 CIT International Conference represents more than financial support. It reflects our belief in their work and in the Veterans and First Responders who are finding new purpose through a rescued dog, a trusted horse, a disaster-relief team, or simply the knowledge that they do not have to continue the mission alone.
To learn more about Charlie Mike, apply for support, volunteer, or contribute to its programs, visit CharlieMike.org.
The combat mission may be over, but the mission of life continues.
Charlie Mike.
