By Michael Schindler

Several years ago I had the opportunity to meet Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, former Army combat vet and now a brilliant filmmaker. He captures the heart and the mindset of the veteran in every production piece he and his team have produced, and he is now looking for several Seattle-area veterans to assist in his next project: Make The Connection.

Kyle is seeking veterans, military and family members to give interviews for a national Department of Veterans Affairs campaign to help other veterans. This highly visible and acclaimed campaign (www.MakeTheConnection.net) is advertised nationally via TV/radio commercials, magazine ads, billboards, etc. and has developed a strong online presence.

The campaign is looking to locate veterans and spouses of all military branches, eras and walks of life as soon as possible.

Interview location: Seattle
Interview dates: Friday (8/24) and  Saturday (8/25)
The only requirement is that each participant must have received some kind of mental health-related support (i.e. counseling, therapy) and be willing to talk about it with a very small, very veteran-friendly film crew. Interviews will last roughly 45 minutes. Participants will be paid $100 for their time and, most importantly, will walk away knowing that their story will help encourage other veterans across the country to get the help they’ve earned through their service.

To sign up, email your name, phone, email and city to OIF Veteran Kyle Hausmann-Stokes. Kyle will contact you to answer any questions you may have.

You can see hundreds of interviews from this campaign here and can also learn more on the campaign’s Facebook page.

You can help ensure that Washington state veterans are properly represented by sharing this information with any veterans, their families or veterans organizations in Seattle and the surrounding area.

Here’s your chance to help rebrand today’s veteran!

Michael Schindler, Navy veteran, and president of Edmonds-based Operation Military Family, is a guest writer for several national publications, author of the book “Operation Military Family” and “The Military Wire” blog. He is also a popular keynote and workshop speaker who reaches thousands of service members and their families every year through workshops and seminars that include  “How to Battle-Ready Your Relationship” or “What Your Mother-in-Law Didn’t Tell You.”  He received the 2010 Outstanding Patriotic Service Award from the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.