VA’s Buddy Check Week runs September 21–25, 2026. It is a national call for veterans and their supporters to reach out to the veterans in their lives — not with a formal conversation, but with a text, a phone call, or a question over coffee.
What It Is
Buddy Check Week is built on a straightforward idea: checking in with someone who may be struggling can matter more than it looks. VA and its partner organizations run it each September to encourage veterans to make personal contact with at least ten people in their network.
This year, Face the Fight — an organization focused on veteran suicide prevention — is partnering with Starbucks for the third time to support the effort. The first 20,000 people who make the pledge to reach out to ten veterans will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card after Buddy Check Week ends.
The gift card is a side note. The check-in is the point.
What Members Can Do Right Now
The VA page for Buddy Check Week outlines three steps:
- Take the training. A short online course helps you recognize signs of distress and learn what resources are available if someone needs more support.
- Make the pledge. Commit to reaching out to ten veterans this week.
- Reach out. A text, a call, or a simple question — “How have you been?” or “I was thinking about you” — is enough to start.
The training and pledge are both available through the Face the Fight website at facethefight.org.
After This Week
Buddy Check Week ends September 25, but VA’s position is plain: checking in with the veterans you know should not stop there. If someone comes to mind on any other day, reach out then.
The Veterans Crisis Line is available around the clock at 988, then press 1. Text 838255. Chat is available at VeteransCrisisLine.net.
If a member of the post is dealing with something that needs more support, the post’s officers can help connect them with the right resources.
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