When returning home from her overseas deployment, Army veteran Kali Jones suffered from what many veterans face after their departure from service: anxiety and feelings of isolation.
To help navigate the struggles she faced, Jones embarked on a lifestyle fueled by personal training and exercise, eventually leading her to study health sciences at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
VFW “Sport Clips Help A Hero” recipient Kali Jones celebrates her official transition into the clinical phase of her education at a white coat ceremony at The Ohio State University on Sept. 6, 2024. Through occupational therapy, Jones can directly help struggling veterans regain agency in their day-to-day lives.“After my deployment in 2020, the transition to civilian life was much harder than I thought it would ever be,” said Jones. “Personal fitness became my lifeline, and I learned how much I loved helping people.”
Jones soon discovered a way she could provide veterans with a path towards healing.
“While in school, I shadowed an occupational therapist and learned this is what I wanted to do,” Jones said. “I hope to help veterans regain independence, confidence and meaning in their lives.”
Jones enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard in 2016 and was deployed to Kuwait in 2020. Serving as a Motor Transport Operator, Jones transported resources to Camp Arifjan, south of Kuwait City.
When applying for scholarships that would help cover the costs of a Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” responded right away.
“I applied for many scholarships through a portal at Ohio State,” Jones said. “I felt drawn to the Help A Hero scholarship because it came from an organization that recognized my service and educational goals. And it would be the only scholarship I heard back from.”
Applying for the Help A Hero Scholarship was a lot more straightforward than other scholarships, according to Jones.
“It was clear and concise,” she said. “I knew exactly what I needed. I was able to write a personal essay where I could elaborate on my experiences. Other scholarship applications felt less personal and more competitive.”
Jones hopes to attain a leadership role where she can further advocate for veterans, especially those living outside of larger cities.
“Just in Ohio, it is very rural,” Jones said. “There’s lots of areas where veterans don’t have access to the services of an occupational therapist. It’s important that care can be extended to them.”
This article is featured in the 2026 October issue of Checkpoint. If you're a VFW member and don't currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at magazine@vfw.org.