About SPARTA
About SPARTA
The Mission
SPARTA is an Alaska based, Veteran operated, nonprofit organization focused on preventing suicide among Veterans. As Veterans, we are grateful for the many outside organizations providing assistance, but we recognize the there are many limitations in existing systems. At SPARTA, we believe that Veterans are their own best asset and we cannot afford to wait for others to help. SPARTA works to connect certified suicide intervention trainers with Veterans groups. The Spartan Phalanx held strong under incredible adversity because every warrior in the formation was trained to react in unison. SPARTA seeks to replicate the spirit of the phalanx in our response to Veteran suicide. Our goal is to train as many Veterans as possible to efficiently recognize and react to a fellow Veteran experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Together we can make a stand and reduce Veteran suicides. Supporting SPARTA by hosting training at your local Veterans group, making tax deductible donations via our website, or purchasing merchandise contributes to strengthening the capacity of the Alaskan Veteran community to identify and react to potential suicides. With a strong, united approach we will save Veteran’s lives.
The Mission
SPARTA is an Alaska based, Veteran operated, nonprofit organization focused on preventing suicide among Veterans. As Veterans, we are grateful for the many outside organizations providing assistance, but we recognize the there are many limitations in existing systems. At SPARTA, we believe that Veterans are their own best asset and we cannot afford to wait for others to help.
SPARTA works to connect certified suicide intervention trainers with Veterans groups. The Spartan Phalanx held strong under incredible adversity because every warrior in the formation was trained to react in unison. SPARTA seeks to replicate the spirit of the phalanx in our response to Veteran suicide. Our goal is to train as many Veterans as possible to efficiently recognize and react to a fellow Veteran experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Together we can make a stand and reduce Veteran suicides. Supporting SPARTA by hosting training at your local Veterans group, making tax deductible donations via our website, or purchasing merchandise contributes to strengthening the capacity of the Alaskan Veteran community to identify and react to potential suicides. With a strong, united approach we will save Veteran’s lives.
Meet our Team
Jake Chapman is a combat veteran from a family with a proud tradition of military service as the rite of passage into manhood. He is pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical-community psychology to become part of the solution to Veteran’s lacking mental health care.
Jake became one of the founders of SPARTA vets because he passionately believes that Veterans should stand together to help each other, rather than waiting for someone else to fix our suicide epidemic. He serves as the President of SPARTA with the goal of ending Veteran suicide. When not working hard Jake is usually busy playing hard.
Dylan Youngblood is a United States Army Retiree with multiple combat deployments. As a Veteran, he has experienced the pain of losing brothers and sisters in arms to suicide, which serves as the catalyst for him to help fellow veterans.
As a member of the SPARTA Board of Directors, Dylan’s goal is to make a difference for all Veterans, but especially Alaska’s veterans. He brings a powerful combination of experience to SPARTA as leader, a trainer, and an educator with the local school district. In his free time, you can find Dylan running the many trails in the Anchorage area and enjoying much of what Alaska has to offer.
Jeff Ortlieb is a founding member of SPARTA and serves on our Board of Directors. After experiencing the loss of comrades to suicide, he reached out to SPARTA’s other founding members and helped organize our initial call to action. In that regard, SPARTA may have never come about without him.
An OIF combat Veteran, Jeff is a fierce competitor drawn to Alaska’s adventure. Whether it’s scaling mountains, snowboarding, or riding snow machines, Jeff can always be found breaking trail at the head of the group. He brings this same spirit of determination to SPARTA’s mission to reduce Veteran suicide.
Brock Tucker fell in love with Alaska when he was stationed at Ft. Richardson as an Airborne Infantryman. During his time abroad, he became fascinated with mental health and has been pursuing a career in psychology ever since. Currently, Brock is a doctoral student studying clinical-community psychology with a focus in trauma.
Serving as one of SPARTA’s cofounders and Training Coordinator, Brock pairs his passion for helping others with an intense loyalty to Alaska’s Veterans. When he is not studying or working hard for SPARTA, Brock spends his time exploring in the mountains with his pup Eva.
Natasha Mantz serves as SPARTA’s Resource Coordinator while she pursues a master’s degree in clinical psychology from UAA. A native Californian, Natasha moved to Alaska in 2013 when her husband was stationed at JBER. Whether its fishing for salmon on the Russian River, for trout at Echo Lake in Palmer, or Halibut in Resurrection Bay, Natasha is always competing with her husband for the biggest catch. Whenever she is fishing, cycling, running, or hiking, she is accompanied by her two Siberian Husky side-kicks, Koda and Ava.
Natasha was introduced to SPARTA during her undergraduate studies and found its mission closely aligned with her own passion toward helping the Military and Veteran community. She is an irreplaceable member of SPARTA.
Meet our Team
Jake Chapman is a combat veteran from a family with a proud tradition of military service as the rite of passage into manhood. He is pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical-community psychology to become part of the solution to Veteran’s lacking mental health care.
Jake became one of the founders of SPARTA vets because he passionately believes that Veterans should stand together to help each other, rather than waiting for someone else to fix our suicide epidemic. He serves as the President of SPARTA with the goal of ending Veteran suicide. When not working hard Jake is usually busy playing hard.
Dylan Youngblood is a United States Army Retiree with multiple combat deployments. As a Veteran, he has experienced the pain of losing brothers and sisters in arms to suicide, which serves as the catalyst for him to help fellow veterans.
As a member of the SPARTA Board of Directors, Dylan’s goal is to make a difference for all Veterans, but especially Alaska’s veterans. He brings a powerful combination of experience to SPARTA as leader, a trainer, and an educator with the local school district. In his free time, you can find Dylan running the many trails in the Anchorage area and enjoying much of what Alaska has to offer.
Jeff Ortlieb is a founding member of SPARTA and serves on our Board of Directors. After experiencing the loss of comrades to suicide, he reached out to SPARTA’s other founding members and helped organize our initial call to action. In that regard, SPARTA may have never come about without him.
An OIF combat Veteran, Jeff is a fierce competitor drawn to Alaska’s adventure. Whether it’s scaling mountains, snowboarding, or riding snow machines, Jeff can always be found breaking trail at the head of the group. He brings this same spirit of determination to SPARTA’s mission to reduce Veteran suicide.
Brock Tucker fell in love with Alaska when he was stationed at Ft. Richardson as an Airborne Infantryman. During his time abroad, he became fascinated with mental health and has been pursuing a career in psychology ever since. Currently, Brock is a doctoral student studying clinical-community psychology with a focus in trauma.
Serving as one of SPARTA’s cofounders and Training Coordinator, Brock pairs his passion for helping others with an intense loyalty to Alaska’s Veterans. When he is not studying or working hard for SPARTA, Brock spends his time exploring in the mountains with his pup Eva.
Natasha Mantz serves as SPARTA’s Resource Coordinator while she pursues a master’s degree in clinical psychology from UAA. A native Californian, Natasha moved to Alaska in 2013 when her husband was stationed at JBER. Whether its fishing for salmon on the Russian River, for trout at Echo Lake in Palmer, or Halibut in Resurrection Bay, Natasha is always competing with her husband for the biggest catch. Whenever she is fishing, cycling, running, or hiking, she is accompanied by her two Siberian Husky side-kicks, Koda and Ava.
Natasha was introduced to SPARTA during her undergraduate studies and found its mission closely aligned with her own passion toward helping the Military and Veteran community. She is an irreplaceable member of SPARTA.