Stronger in the End

October 25, 2017 0 Comments

Stronger in the End

I think I stumbled upon the Raider Project after seeing an ad for T-shirts. I always wanted to be involved in an organization that was Marine Corps based, especially focused around grunts or combat veterans. I was able to get registered with the program within a few short days and had the privilege of attending a rock climbing retreat in September. I was impressed with how fast and well I was taken care of and received.

My time at the retreat was awesome. It felt so good to be around combat Marines again. While I have a great appreciation for my own experience, it is the experience I saw another Marine enjoy that made me a proud and firm believer in the Raider Project and its mission.

A friend of Nick's showed up a little late to the retreat. Let's call him "Jack" - A hard working and likeable devil dog down on his luck, struggling and battling his way through life. , he opened up as we sat around the fire one night, and Nick listened intently and patiently without judgement. It was so good to see such genuine concern and desire to help. It was good to see this Marine be celebrated in such an uplifting way by his peers as they chanted his name, unbeknownst to many just how much he'd been hurting just weeks before. The Raider Program has a great staff, and a great leader. Nick took the time to listen to everybody there, while encouraging us all to seek help from him and our brothers in battle, as well as another great organization: The Gallant Few. Rock climbing is a perfect metaphor for what this program does, as it teaches us that the rock face in front of us can feel overwhelming and intimidating, but with the help of those around you, your grit, and the decision to take it one move at a time, you will make it to the top, and be that much stronger in the end. Thank you.

Also in The Raider Weekly

Raider Project Marriage Retreat 2020

March 16, 2020 0 Comments

My experience of this retreat comes from just that: my own story, the stories I’ve heard and accepted from others, the ones I’ve told myself over the years, I underwent brain surgery 3 months ago, and having a brain tumor removed felt like it released a host of toxic emotions that I could no longer hide from. It was like everything that I pushed down, put away in a box, and refused to talk about, was finally able to “get out.” For the first time in my life, I was forced to do nothing but sit and think, The beauty of this marriage retreat weekend was that the Raider Project pulled together a community of people into an environment where I didn’t feel ashamed of my stories. I found myself acknowledging feelings I had previously refused to think about. I found myself accepting past events. I found myself looking at my spouse and really seeing him. I found myself choosing to communicate with my husband and trust that my vulnerability will only help him understand me and love me more...

BLACK AND GOLD GEAR - 2020

February 09, 2020 0 Comments

Hopefully started off the NEW YEAR right with some serious goals. Fitness is one of the most important aspect of veteran transition. We want to see you healthy mentally and physically. That's why every gear purchase supports our mission. Last year we helped hundreds of veterans succeed in their relationships, their financial, physical and emotional goals. We want to do EVEN More this year

The New Enemy - Post Traumatic Stress

June 27, 2019 0 Comments

The word Post Traumatic Stress DISORDER is ridiculous. I understand the Post Traumatic Stress part but the DISORDER? Why? Does having PTS really mean you have a disorder. Maybe to a clinical psychologists who refer to the DSM IV to diagnose a certain mental health issue it can be a disorder. However, the word disorder used for veterans can cripple your mental stability.

Follow