
“On this Veterans Day, to honor my father and the many living veterans…I am honored to share an experience that was life changing for myself”
I have always had a personal calling to help those who have served our country. The daunting fact that 22 veterans per day die by suicide is absolutely unacceptable. 22 per day surpasses casualties than all of the wars from the Korean War to our current state in military.
What are we doing for our brothers and sisters when they return?

I started to search and look for the best practices. As I was looking around for some of the best programming the VA had to offer, I kept running into a wall. It seemed there was no formula to address the issues of moral injury and PTSD.
When my father was diagnosed with PTSD from Vietnam the solution was Lithium. Today this western strategy is very much the same in the VA system. Medication and clinical therapy are the primary prescription for success.So if this is true, then why are so many of our unsung heroes killing themselves?
On this Veterans Day, to honor my father and the many living veterans who cannot seem to find their way back to a sustainable life, I am honored to share an experience that was life changing for myself and 11 other women in Cohort 075 of Save A Warrior (SAW), highlighting 3 main areas included in the SAW programs that have saved the lives of over 1000 veterans and first responders.

COHORT MENTALITY
cohort (n.) early 15c., “company of soldiers, band of warriors,” from Middle French cohorte (14c.) and directly from Latin cohortem (nominative cohors) “enclosure,” with meaning extended to “infantry company” in the Roman army through the notion of “enclosed group, retinue;” from assimilated form of com “with” (see co-) + a root akin to hortus “garden,” from PIE *ghr-ti-, from PIE root *gher- (1) “to grasp, enclose.”
Sense of “accomplice” is first recorded 1952, American English, from meaning “group united in common cause” (1719). In demographics, “group of persons having a common statistical characteristic” (originally being born in the same year), 1944.
The Athlete Warrior mindset is somewhat stubborn. Trained to provide service and the willingness to sacrifice their lives for the freedom of others is a noble and daunting duty. During many active military situations many of these men and women sacrifice their own mental and physical selves to protect their infantry or freedom. This mentality, Athlete Warrior, is started in bootcamp. Although very difficult, most soldiers will build a strong sense of community with those who go through this training together.
When deployed another strong bond will occur with those you eat, sleep and protect with for months and even years at a time during deployment.
A veteran who comes home not only is leaving an honorable and brutal profession but also loses many brothers and sisters through casualties and becoming acclimated back into their families and communities.

We forget that connection is the best way to overcome most mental health challenges. There are several studies that show how strong bonds and connectedness is a fundamental part of thriving in any culture. Many veterans go home to a disconnected environment without a self purpose or connectivity to others. This is why isolation is a veteran’s best friend.
We talk a lot in today regarding PTSD , trauma and combat. This is one of many attributions to those who have suicidal ideation post active duty. We have now realized there is a lot more to these individuals than just PTSD from what they see during service.
The Thing under the Thing (Childhood Trauma and Moral Injury)
Throughout my 5 day experience at Save A Warrior, our group of women, shared our personal struggles along with major work relating to our childhood. We all have a calling to help others and this tends to come from childhood trauma. This is the thing under the thing.
The majority of my group had an ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience Score) over 5, which means there is a significant correlation of trauma in family systems and the call to help others and enlist into service.
Knowing that my ACE score is 8, I knew that this work must be continued as I have a daughter who I pray will have less trauma than I did as a young child.
When one adds Childhood Trauma and then goes into battle, Moral Injury may occur. Moral Injury will always stay in the body. Similar to trauma, Moral Injury is the constant question of “Why Me and not my brother or sister who died next to me?” The cumulation of Childhood Trauma and Moral Injury is a perfect combination for isolation and Suicidal Ideation.
Save A Warrior identifies these very clearly and addresses that the solution will always go back to connection and doing the work to heal.
Many Athlete Warriors feel they can heal on their own. The “I got this” mentality is ingrained into their personality. We forget that help and group effort is essential both on and off the field.
Lean in and Play the Game

The first part, of the 5 day intensive Save A Warrior, is understanding “you wont understand” and you need to ask questions and Lean In in your cohort. As my cohort of 11 women came into the university to meet each other for the first time, there was an odd indifference and lack of connection with my fellow sisters. By working together through physical and somatic experiential group exercises, we were able to start a tremendous bond as a true cohort should. Through ropes challenges, where it is monumental to count on one another to the equine experiences with my fellow sisters, I was able to laugh and feel good for the first time in a very long time. I learned that meditation and breathing is a key to success when I am in a state of hyper-vigilance and leaning on my sisters and alumni will always be okay and abundantly received.
There is hope!

I found my authentic self throughout the 5 days with complete strangers, who I now consider family. Medications are necessary at times. Even more important is connectivity and constant support. We must honor a program like Save A Warrior. It is FREE for veterans and is one of the best intensive programs in our country. Save a Warrior is the answer I needed to feel like a human again. Love, support and understanding is the strength that bonds us with zero judgment and zero stigma.
I am so grateful I received this gift and I feel compelled to pass this to others.
“If not me then…who”- Travis Manion
My name is Janelle and I am UNCrushed
