There are two main issues plaguing the veteran community, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide, and one can often contribute to the other. Of the estimated 30,000 suicides that occur each year in our country, 20 percent, or roughly 6,000, are attributed to veterans.

Point Man International, which was founded in Seattle more than 25 years ago, is committed to helping veterans deal with both of these problems. The organization prides itself on offering boots on the ground service. Veterans run the entire group; therefore, everyone can relate to everyone else's experiences, both good and bad. Eventually the operation expanded from a few meetings in the Northwest to a worldwide system of hundreds of small groups, or outposts.

Michael Howard, who served in Vietnam and has been with the nonprofit organization for seven years, is a walking endorsement for why veterans need an outlet like Point Man.

"Back when I came home I didn't know I had PTSD. I thought everyone else had a problem, not me," he shared. "It was ignorance, and our program wants to eliminate that. It is about shared experiences that can help veterans realize what they are dealing with.

"We teach that it is how you handle things and react - not so much about what happened to you," Howard said. "PTSD is not a license for bad behavior."

Despite being a faith-based group, no one is ever turned away from a Point Man meeting. If they meet the requirements of being in or having served in the military, they are welcome. Sometimes, especially due to the organization's affiliation with the law enforcement community, people working in other high-stress jobs such as police, firemen or EMTs are also at the meetings.

Though there is no official membership process, newcomers are asked to try three and see before giving up. Confidentiality is assured, and Howard is quick to state that there is no judgment. Likewise, since all Point Man services are free and not connected to the Department of Defense, servicemembers and veterans who are hesitant to ask for help due to the fear of it being on their record can relax.

"We are not professionals; we are simply their peers. There is no stigma attached to just attending our meetings and finding folks with common ground," Howard said. "At the very least we can offer the camaraderie that they might be missing."

Weekly meetings are held at three locations within Pierce and King counties. The Northwest Church in Federal Way, 34800 21st Ave. S.W., and the Horizon 4 Square Church in Seattle, 602 Valley St., host meetings on Thursday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. A daytime meeting is held at The Ark Smokehouse in Tacoma, 1941 Marine View Dr., on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Federal Way location also hosts Home Front meetings, which are held at the same time as the regular meeting, for spouses, children and family members.

"Home Front helps them to understand what their loved one is dealing with," explained Howard. "One woman left a meeting laughing and said to me, ‘I guess I am married to all of you.' I took that to mean she no longer felt alone."

Plans are underway to conduct weekly meetings in Lakewood. Those with interest in attending or assisting should contact Howard at jcnmike@hotmail.com.

"Our motto is ‘Saved to Serve'," Howard added. "It means that the reason we all survived combat and made it back is to help these new troops who are returning. It means we have a purpose."

For more information, visit www.pmim.org.