On 5 Minute Salute, our host Chris Budihas talks to veterans making a difference in their communities. Today, Chris has the honor to speak with Ryan Hendrickson of Tip of the Spear Landmine Removal Inc.
Landmines are indiscriminate: they inflict injury and death long after their military purpose has passed, terrorizing the people, and creating a hostile environment for the countries civilian population to conduct day to day living.
Tip of the Spear Landmine Removal mission is to clear and remove these deadly hazards including Landmines, Booby Traps, Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), and other explosive materials which inflict thousands of civilian casualties each year worldwide.
Through the proven methodology of Training, Advising and Assisting our goal is to empower our international partners to take their lives and land back through demining.
How do you define success?
Success to me is landmines removed from the ground so the innocent caught in the middle of war dont have to live in fear of their next step.
Making sure my team buth US and Ukrainian is supported and taken care of so we can focuse on our critical task of removing landmines and nothing else.
How did you get started in your field or work?
Volunteering in Ukraine evacuating people from areas as the Russian army moved west in March 2022. In April once areas surrounding Kyiv were liberated innocent civilians coming back to their homes started hitting landmines and explosive hazards left behind. In the Army I was an 18C Special Forces engineer and very familiar dealing with and removing IEDs and landmines in Afghanistan so I started to help make areas safe for civilians which eventually led to me standing up Tip of the Spear Landmine Removal Inc.
What’s one thing we should know that makes your company unique?
We are a veteran owned and operated NGO that works high risk humanitarian volunteer missions around the world. Our team focuses on veterans and giving them that renewed sense of service and purpose through helping others. Lack of purpose is hurting our veteran community and I feel is directly linked to veteran mental health battles they still fight. A higher purpose and helping others is key.
What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome in your business?
The uncertainty of donations. As volunteers we are put in a lot of high risk areas. Right now we volunteer in Ukraine but as the war in Ukraine falls out of the public eye, so does donations. Keeping everything going on around shoestring budget while still helping others has been a major obstacle.
