We are now more than a year past the hurricane. In that time, western North Carolina demonstrated how communities respond when formal systems falter. Neighbors checked on one another. Supplies moved through informal networks. Help arrived because people acted, not because procedures were complete. That response revealed strengths that already existed here and reminded many of us how much local knowledge and cooperation still matter.

The aftermath also revealed realities that deserve careful attention. In the western part of the state, organized groups operate under names such as the North Carolina State Defense Force. These organizations present themselves as volunteer defense groups and draw heavily from right-wing and anti-government networks. They operate openly. They recruit publicly. They frame their presence as community protection, even though they are not connected to any legitimate state authority.

I raised concerns about this situation with a senior official at the North Carolina National Guard headquarters in Raleigh. I was told clearly that these groups are not state sanctioned. I was also told that no action could be taken because they have not violated any laws. I pointed out that only the governor has the authority to create a state military force outside of the National Guard. The response was direct. Any group of citizens may form a volunteer organization as long as it remains within the law.

That conversation clarified an important reality. Organization itself is legal. Mutual aid is legal. Civic structure is available to anyone willing to build it. If one political current can organize openly and lawfully, others are equally permitted to do so. The law does not reserve collective action for any single ideology.

This realization is what prompted me to write.

I want to be explicit about where I am coming from, because context matters. I served four years in the United States Air Force as an air traffic control maintenance specialist. I was stationed at Pope Air Force Base during the period when it was still Pope AFB, including the time of the Grenada operation. Later, I was stationed at Incirlik Air Base, where my Air Force service concluded.

After returning home, I joined a National Guard unit close to where I lived and served during Desert Storm. I later attended Western Carolina University, where I entered the ROTC program. That environment was unfamiliar to someone who had already served as an enlisted airman. I completed the program, accepted a commission in the Guard, and remained in service until the late 1990s.

I believe in the United States Constitution. I take the oath I swore to it seriously. That oath was to a system of law, civilian authority, and restraint. It was never an oath to a party, a leader, or a movement. I still understand it that way, and I still hold myself to it.

Because of that background, I am calling on other veterans in this region to step forward as stabilizing leaders within their communities. Veterans understand discipline. Veterans understand accountability. Veterans understand how authority functions when it is structured and how quickly it becomes dangerous when it is not. Those lessons remain relevant long after active service ends.

Leadership does not require uniforms or titles. It requires presence, credibility, and a willingness to slow situations down rather than inflame them. Veterans already carry these qualities into civilian life. When they withdraw from public space entirely, others step in to define leadership through ideology rather than responsibility.

Community stability begins with relationships. Knowing who lives nearby matters. Knowing who lives alone matters. Knowing who has medical training, mechanical skill, transportation, or local knowledge matters. These networks already exist throughout western North Carolina. They do not need reinvention. They need attention, maintenance, and trust.

Information discipline is equally important. Misinformation spreads because it moves quickly and appeals to emotion. Reading beyond headlines, checking sources, and resisting the urge to react immediately reduces the effectiveness of manipulation. Confusion benefits those who seek influence without accountability.

Practical preparation remains necessary. Groups such as Redneck Revolt emphasize preparedness and mutual aid. When these efforts remain grounded, they address real needs. Food, water, medication access, first-aid training, backup lighting, and document security are ordinary concerns in this region. Weather events, infrastructure failures, and economic disruptions already make them relevant.

Public behavior requires self-regulation. Stress increases the likelihood of escalation. Recognizing personal limits and disengaging when situations become volatile protects individuals and communities. Calm conduct reduces harm and preserves space for dialogue.

Firearms ownership exists in this region and has for generations. Responsibility, training, secure storage, and legal knowledge are essential. Organizations such as the Liberal Gun Owners Association focus on those responsibilities without ideological framing. Serious tools require seriousness in handling.

Some members of our communities experience greater pressure during periods of instability. Practical support strengthens resilience. Transportation, assistance with paperwork, accompaniment, and everyday help make a difference without drawing attention or spectacle.

Local engagement remains critical. Town councils, county commissions, school boards, and local journalism shape daily life. Participation keeps decisions visible and accountable. Civic involvement reinforces legitimacy at the level where people actually live.

Mental endurance deserves care. Prolonged stress erodes judgment. Time outdoors, physical work, and stable routines preserve clarity. Sustainable engagement depends on personal stability.

Communities weaken through neglect. They endure through attention. Preparation reduces fear. Connection reduces isolation. Responsibility sustains dignity.

People in western North Carolina already understand these principles. Veterans understand them as well. The task ahead is to apply them deliberately, lawfully, and with restraint in the places we already call home.