Reference no: EM132215739

Giving Veterans a Renewed Sense of Purpose Shortly after returning from his deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Marine veteran Jake Wood cofounded Team Rubicon. Staffed by veterans, his organization bridges the gap between the moment a natural disaster happens and the time at which conventional aid organizations respond. Wood seeks to solve two problems. The first is that many aid organizations are not equipped or trained to respond rapidly during the “crucial window" of time immediately following a disaster. The second is the inadequate way that many veterans are reintegrated into society after serving in the military. Veterans have a unique set of skills and experiences that are ideal for disaster relief situations. Team Rubicon provides veterans with three things they lose after leaving the military: Purpose: Doing work with a higher purpose, in this case helping survivors of natural disasters, is motivational for veterans. Community: Veterans are accustomed to serving with and protecting their team members. Self-worth: Helping others in crisis provides veterans with a sense of self-worth and accomplishment. Since its founding in 2011, Team Rubicon has made a positive impact on survivors immediately following several disasters around the world, including Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey, a tsunami in Chile, floods in Pakistan, an earthquake in Haiti, and tornadoes in Missouri and Arkansas. Disaster relief missions are highly motivating for veterans, and their skills bring victims badly needed assistance, medical supplies, and other forms of relief until organizations like the Red Cross arrive. Team Rubicon staff and volunteers know how to get their jobs done: “When we arrive on site after a disaster in a foreign country, all eyes and hope have turned to us, expecting immediate action and results. Disasters are noexcuse, results-only zones."70 Questions: Of those veterans who would like to work for Team Rubicon, what types of rewards are likely to keep them motivated: extrinsic, intrinsic, or both? To what degree do you think Team Rubicon will make a positive impact on natural disaster victims? Explain.