Team Rubicon

Across the world, disasters are a part of life. No corner of the globe is spared from severe weather – be it crippling winter storms, catastrophic hurricanes, or unchecked wildfires.

By focusing on underserved or economically-challenged communities, Team Rubicon seeks to makes the largest impact possible. Disasters represent a massive financial cost, and by providing immediate relief work, free of cost, TR aims to help communities begin recovery sooner.

Team Rubicon is an international disaster response nonprofit that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly provide relief to communities in need. Founded in 2010 with the expressed goal of quickly responding to large-scale disasters, Team Rubicon has deployed thousands of volunteers across the United States and world to provide relief to communities in need.

Who We Serve

Team Rubicon focuses on serving vulnerable and at-risk populations affected by disaster. While the initial damage and trauma of natural disasters will impact any population regardless of socio-economic factors, the financial burden of recovery and rebuilding has dramatic and long-lasting repercussions on many rural and urban populations lacking proper insurance and public and private resources.

All Team Rubicon services are provided free of charge.

In 2016, 62 percent of all homes Team Rubicon serviced did not have home insurance. An American Progress report noted that the most extreme weather events typically harmed counties with household incomes below the U.S. median annual income of $51,941. Wildfires, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms devastated areas with households that earned on average three percent less than the U.S. median income. It is easy to imagine the positive, long-term impact Team Rubicon’s free assistance provided to these families.

Capabilities and Services

Team Rubicon is an international non-profit disaster response organization that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams, free of charge, to communities affected by disasters. Team Rubicon currently maintains a roster of 130,000+ volunteers able to deploy throughout the United States and world.

Training

The Team Rubicon Training Shop provides skills-based trainings and strategic exercises to Team Rubicon members and the community. All trainings are offered free of charge and work to improve Team Rubicon’s operational capabilities and capacity.

The Training Shop works to provide all TR members with a toolbox of skills needed for disaster response, mitigation, and recovery. All trainings, online or in-person, are delivered free of charge to Team Rubicon members. If you can’t tell a pulaski from a pole saw, don’t worry, we’ll get you there.

• SAWYER 1 & 2CORE
• OPERATIONS
• DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS
• INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
• ICS 300 & 400
• APPLIED SUICIDE INTERVENTION SKILLS TRAINING (ASIST)
• TRAIN THE TRAINER

Doctrine

Team Rubicon’s dynamic and adaptive approach to disaster relief is transcribed in its Doctrine. This integrated set of plans and manuals bring together the best practices of emergency management, disaster risk reduction, and military humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations. Adaptable, scalable, and practical, they provide TR leaders the techniques necessary for engaging in relief operations of any scope or scale. Check back, we update these documents regularly to reflect cutting edge innovations and lessons learned.

For many men and women of our Armed Forces, the desire to serve their country and fellow man does not diminish once they take off the uniform.

Team Rubicon provides an opportunity for our veterans to continue serving through disaster response. Veterans possess many of the skills and experiences that define an excellent responder – leadership, experience in austere environments, able to work with limited resources. Through continued service, many veterans find a new purpose, community, and identity, three intangibles that are often lacking while transitioning to civilian life.

Clay Hunt Fellows Program

The Clay Hunt Fellows Program is named in honor of Marine veteran, and original member of Team Rubicon, Clay Hunt.  Clay was one of the first to deploy to Haiti which the existence of Team Rubicon was born. He continued to serve others who needed help despite his inner struggle with PTS. Ultimately, took his own life in 2011. We honor him today through the Clay Hunt Fellows Program, a personal development and growth program for veterans. His dedication to service and helping others is a legacy we hope to promote within the veteran community. His fierce dedication to others has inspired a new generation of veterans to continue service and lead by example, through the Fellows Program.

Components:

MISSION FOCUSED
Our Mission: The Clay Hunt Fellows Program equips the veteran with tools to redefine their purpose and self-identity out of uniform for a life of continued service through a 6-month curriculum of personal growth and discovery.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Commitment to growth: Having a willingness to be vulnerable and embrace a growth mindset. Moral Integrity: Leading a life guided by your moral compass. Servant leadership: Be stewards of Clay’s legacy by inspiring others and bettering one’s community.

FIRST TREK: BASE CAMP
What is Base Camp? Fellows will complete a six-month Base Camp curriculum focused on personal growth through strengths discovery, self-awareness exploration, focused cohort discussions, reading, and guided self-reflection assignments. Upon completion, Fellows will be equipped to better lead in their communities and within Team Rubicon.

AFTER THE SUMMIT: ALUMNI
After graduation, fellows will be better prepared and more self-aware alumni as the continue their journey. The CHFP cadre will support and mentor fellows into their new trajectory whether that be emergency management, internships, international work, etc. Additionally they will be connected with our external partners for continued support and growth.

Impact of Continued Service

The physical, mental, emotional, and social wellness of our country’s returning veterans are of national importance. As our veterans have returned home, many have experienced challenges navigating the transition back into civilian life.

While there are real and difficult issues plaguing our veterans – a lack of resources and understanding around mental health, homelessness, unemployment – Team Rubicon does not see our veterans as broken. At Team Rubicon, veterans are the agent of our mission, not the object.

By engaging our veterans in continued service through disaster response, not only does Team Rubicon provide relief to affected communities, but many veteran volunteers begin to regain the purpose, community, and identity that is difficult to find upon leaving the armed forces.

Covid-19 Response

1,605,848 Total Vaccines Administered at TR Supported Vaccination Sites

We’re focused on providing access to vaccinations for vulnerable communities with limited healthcare resources. By increasing personnel capacity and the number, rate, and equitable access of vaccine distribution sites across the country, Team Rubicon is expediting the nation’s recovery from COVID-19.

Currently, our volunteers are serving on vaccine distribution support operations in cities and towns from Florida to Alaska.