Wounded Warriors…

Wounded Warriors Experience Veteran Peer Support at Gun Range

Wounded Warriors

Those of us who grew up with War Vets know what it’s like: our best men and women gave all for our country. We’ve watched it continue through the years as more of our family members served — and paid the price.

In Canada, our governments have had a poor record of serving our Vets. Especially for those soldiers who returned from the bloody battlefields of Europe in 1945, many of them having stormed the D-Day beaches, and were denied even basic help by a government determined to save money. [1]

At that time, our American brethren were treated better by their own government: their GI Bill was a big step up.

But in both countries the establishment of the Wounded Warrior Project has been a Godsend for many…

In the military, “got your six” is a phrase referencing having someone’s back. It’s mentioned in movies and television shows, but for Antoinette Wallace, it took connecting with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) to really feel it.

“I found this hub of people who have my back,” Antoinette, a National Guard veteran, said. “I’ve found these friends – who are going to be my lifelong friends and are so understanding and have my six.”

Her words reflect those of many, many vets.

American Veterans interested in the challenge of handgun training and target practice gathered during a recent Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) class at the Stock & Barrel Gun Club, Chanhassen, Minnesota. This stress-relieving activity offered warriors camaraderie and a chance advance their handgun shooting skills. [2]

“I haven’t been shooting since shortly after I left the military,” said Army veteran Keith Rose. “When my peer support group announced this event, we were all very enthusiastic about the opportunity.”

Peer support plays an important role in the recovery process as injured veterans rely upon one another’s learned experiences when managing day-to-day challenges. This special type of therapy reintroduces injured veterans to the unique bonds experienced during military service. Rarely duplicated in the civilian world, these relationships act as a secure bedrock that paves the road to recovery.

Warriors learned proper handgun grip, stance, and trigger control from a U.S. Army veteran with weapons training. They practiced live-scenario shooting and making judgment calls in a state-of-the-art simulated gun range that is often used for police officers training. The class also took part in a target practice shoot on the live range.

“The camaraderie among the group and the experience of the simulator and live fire range was a lot of fun for not only myself but all of the warriors at the event,” Keith said.

WWP program events like this give wounded warriors an opportunity to experience veteran peer support firsthand.

“Wounded Warrior Project has been an integral part of my transition from being a soldier to being a veteran,” Keith said. “It has provided a support network of vets who completely understand my background and can be there for me and my fellow warriors when needed.”

The Gun Range Get-together is just the latest in the WWP events aimed at uniting injured Vets and family, friends and comrades.

Swing Dance Lessons. Injured veterans and their significant others recently shared quality time as they experienced the thrill of big-band era music and quick-time dance moves during a recent WWP event.

“This was a great opportunity for my husband and me to do something out of our normal routine,” said Air Force Reserve veteran Gloria Portillo-Leanos. “We laughed a lot. It was a fun and challenging activity with fantastic music. Definitely a skill to build on.”

Swing dance has reemerged as a popular and nostalgic form of dance that also provides opportunities for enthusiasts to get together. The fast dance steps are an excellent way to exercise and form memories in the process…

In a survey of the veterans WWP (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/survey), four in five respondents registered with the organization for social engagements and support. In short, connecting veterans with fun opportunities gets them out of their homes, in places where WWP can help.

– Brian Alan Burhoe

[1] …soldiers who returned from the bloody battlefields of Europe in 1945… “The Liberal Mackenzie King government had set up demob boards whose entire purpose was to deny a pension to as many returning soldiers as possible. Often, the vet was given a cursory medical exam and ‘No complaints’ was just written in his records without the vet’s knowledge. If you’re Working Class, get back to work — no pension, disability benefits or VLA loans for you. Those were for men with briefcases and connections.” See Life & Works of Brian Alan Burhoe – All About Us & More.

[2] About the American Wounded Warrior Project: Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) connects, serves, and empowers wounded warriors. To learn and see more about how WWP’s programs and services connect, serve, and empower wounded warriors, visit: www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

About the Canadian Wounded Warrior Project: They continue their “legacy of care and compassion as the nation’s leading, wholly independent, Veteran’s charity focusing on mental health. Our innovative and wide-ranging programming, which exceeded 1.8M in 2017, is changing the lives of ill and injured Veterans, First Responders and their families.” If you want to learn more, visit www.woundedwarriors.ca.