Students Behind Our Military is finding ways to give back to veterans through service and fellowship.
President of SBM junior Ben Ansley serves and works alongside veterans through community events and service projects. Through these experiences, he has learned the importance of looking beyond first impressions and reconsidering what it means to love people like Jesus did.
“I think that people can create a view or vision in their head of veterans, whether for good or bad, but in reality, they’re just people, and in my opinion, they’re people who are very service-minded,” Ansley said.
This realization is at the heart of SBM, which is dedicated to serving the military community through practical service.
“These are the people who Jesus came and washed their feet. This is who Jesus wanted to serve. This is who Jesus loved,” Ansley said.
SBM regularly partners with Valor Farm, a nine-month rehabilitation program for veterans that provides opportunities for recovery and growth through community. Club members regularly help with projects ranging from cleaning stalls and pastures to restoring houses. These service opportunities have helped members such as Vice President sophomore Luke Stockbauer gain a better understanding of some of the challenges veterans face and the restoration these programs aim to provide.
While club members volunteer their time and resources to serve veterans, they are also learning valuable lessons from the people they meet.
“We’re here to support the veteran community, but while doing that, we also learn a lot from the veterans,” Stockbauer said. “It’s a mutual bond. It’s a two-way street where we’re both benefiting from the interactions or from all the activities that we do.”
According to Ansley, the club’s goal is to be the hands and feet of Jesus, which, for him, means going beyond thanking veterans for their service.
“I want to know, like, what does a veteran community need? Like, how can we be of service to them that would make a tangible impact in their lives?” Ansley said.
In addition to Valor Farm, SBM also partners with The Lighthouse Collective, a nonprofit service care provider, and Liberty’s Student Veterans Association, assisting with events and fundraising. On campus, members have opportunities to write letters to veterans and host tailgates.
One of Ansley and Stockbauer’s fondest memories with the club was a veteran appreciation night held during the spring 2026 semester in partnership with Turning Point USA and Valor Farm. According to Ansley, the event brought together around 180 people for an evening of line dancing and fellowship, as well as an opportunity to hear from speakers.
“It was really cool to see the older generation and the younger generation talking and intermingling at tables, dancing together, having fun,” Ansley said.
Liberty University celebrates November as Military Appreciation Month, and with Veterans Day approaching, Ansley said one of the best ways to support veterans is to reach out.
“I think that’s something that a lot of people miss,” Ansley said. “Instead of being like, ‘Thank you for your service,’ next time, ask, like, ‘Hey, what was your job? What was your role? What did you do?’ … That’s what I’veseen have the biggest impact.”
Students interested in serving the military and veteran community can get involved in SBM by emailing SBM@liberty.edu.
Smith is a feature reporter for The Liberty Champion.