Influencer-led content strategy from REE Medical, Refuel Agency, and SPIRRA exceeded its first-episode reach goal by 60%, building a new platform for veteran stories and support.
PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Refuel Agency today announced early results from Operation Onward™, an eight-episode branded entertainment series for REE Medical that brings veteran stories and trusted creator voices into the conversation around navigating VA disability claims. The first episode, “Military Makeover,” exceeded its reach goal by 60% following its August 4 release.
Created with Refuel Agency and SPIRRA (Refuel’s influencer marketing platform), REE Medical’s Operation Onward™ provides a platform to share veteran stories and help veterans understand that support is available as they navigate the VA disability claims process. Refuel developed the episodic using its proprietary military audience research, category intelligence and decades of experience reaching military-connected communities, while SPIRRA informed creator selection, audience fit, and campaign measurement. Together, those capabilities shaped a series that follows real moments in the veteran community, hosted by Army veteran and media personality Ronnie Adkins and supported by creators with established relationships with military-connected audiences.
The premiere episode, released August 4th, features host Ronnie Adkins (with an audience match score of 91%) alongside REE Medical CEO Patrick Schneider during a family home renovation. Adkins is an Army veteran, host and media executive whose work spans FUNKER530, podcasting, live programming and television. The first two episodes contributed to immediate growth across REE Medical’s owned social channels.
“Veterans navigating the VA disability claims process are often carrying stories and experiences that deserve to be heard,” said Patrick Schneider, CEO of REE Medical. “Operation Onward™ gives veterans a space to share their stories and helps connect them with the support and independent medical evidence they may need to move forward.”
Refuel Agency developed the program using intelligence from Refuel Agency and SPIRRA’s combined Intelligence IQ, including proprietary Military Explorer audience research, creator and audience analysis, competitive intelligence, and campaign measurement. The research identified social media influencers as the number two attention-driving advertising format among Active Duty audiences, while category analysis revealed an opportunity for REE Medical to build a stronger, more credible share of conversation through creator-led content.
“Ronnie’s experience as a veteran, host and media operator is central to the format,” said Jeremy Davis, VP of Product at SPIRRA. “He knows how to find and shape real moments, and the creators around each episode bring distribution that makes the series work as both entertainment and media. We measure the whole system: episode performance, creator promotion, collaboration content and brand-channel growth.”
Each episode publishes across REE Medical and participating creator channels. The production team also creates paid-ready cutdowns, allowing the organic program to identify the strongest creative before REE Medical’s paid media phase begins.
The team behind Operation Onward™ will discuss the episodic model on September 23–26 at the Military Influencer Conference in Tampa, Florida. The Creator Stage panel, “Not a Post. A Series.,” will feature Adkins, Davis, Courtney Jane Casale and Curtis Snyder of BMW of North America. The panel will examine how military creators, platforms and brands build, measure and renew episodic campaigns.
Season one continues through Veterans Day 2026. Watch Episode 1, “Military Makeover”, watch Episode 2, or subscribe to the Operation Onward YouTube channel.
About REE Medical
REE Medical coordinates independent medical evaluations that help veterans document conditions for VA disability claims. Watch the first episode of Operation Onward™, “Military Makeover,” on YouTube, and subscribe to REE Medical’s channel for future episodes.
About Refuel Agency
Refuel Agency provides media and marketing services for military, teen, college and multicultural audiences. Its military and veteran marketing programs combine audience intelligence, media, experiential and creator strategies.
About SPIRRA
SPIRRA, a Refuel Agency brand, is an influencer marketing platform that brings data-driven creator matching, workflow and measurement to campaigns.
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SOURCE Refuel Agency
