VETPAW - The journey of Ryan Tate, the founder of VETPAW

The journey of Ryan Tate towards becoming the founder of VETPAW began when he was 16 years old. Little did he know that he would not only end up inspiring war veterans but will also help sustain communities in the heart of East Africa and become a name to reckon with in the poaching gangs of Africa.

The milestones that led Ryan Tate to his calling - VETPAW

Milestone 1

# The beginning: The son of a hairstylist and pizza shop/bar owner in Tampa, Florida, Ryan aspired to join the armed forces at the age of 16. But there was a lack of clarity on the branch he wanted to serve in.

# The fall of the Twin Towers: Come September 11, 2001, the world as he knew it was transformed when the World Trade Towers were attacked in an unprecedented terrorist attack in the US. As much as he wanted to contribute, he was still a couple of years short of the eligible age to join the forces.

# The learning: Two years later, upon graduation, he headed off to boot camp. Ryan proved to be a natural at shooting. He was soon training as an infantryman and a marksman instructor at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

# The Service years: In 2004, Ryan served in Indonesia when the tsunami crippled the country. In 2005, he believed he found his calling when he was deployed to Ramadi, Iraq where he served his only tour. He was recognized as his unit’s Marine of the Year in 2005 and Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year in 2006.

Milestone 2

# Back to civilization: Ryan was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as he tried to settle back into civilian life.

# Love for animals: He started exploring amateur photography as a part of his therapy to combat his PTSD. That is when he re-discovered his affinity towards animals as he clicked away for animal shelters to help raise their adoption rates.

Milestone 3

# The state department: Post 2007, after a brief stint in real estate, Ryan received an unexpected offer that he couldn’t refuse. He joined the security detail for US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice. He was mingling with the who’s who of the political figures.

The turning point for Ryan

During his tenure at the state department, Ryan watched a CNN Special on Tusk Trust and the horrors of African poaching showcasing some gruesome images of dead rhinoceros. Ryan was horrified by this atrocity and soon found himself laying the foundations of his non-profit organization, Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife (VETPAW). His love for wildlife and his skills acquired across the years had now brought him to his real calling.

VETPAW today

VETPAW has made a huge impact on wildlife conservation efforts with its skilled team of veterans by educating and training the locals and by supporting sustainable livelihoods. Even though some of the VETPAW reviews have brought Ryan under fire for utilizing ethical hunting practices to manage the overpopulation of certain species, he remains stoic and invincible in his efforts. He believes VETPAW’s work will speak for itself.

VETPAW - Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife

Founded in 2013, VETPAW is a non-profit organization and a community of US war veterans dedicated to protecting African wildlife and training local African rangers in the war against poaching.