Seed Newsvine
They raised their hand and swore
an oath to defend the country against all enemies both domestic and
abroad. They did their duty. They stood the line. They risked their lives. They took other
lives in defense of the nation. They
protected each other. They fulfilled their
commitment. They received their honors
as they took off their uniform and rejoined civilian life only to find that comradery that helped them through the challenges and stress of military service was also
boxed away.
While in service no brother or
sister in arms was left behind. However, many found themselves without a support
system to help them through the transition from military personnel to veteran. It
takes more than three hots and cot to move past the experiences that permanent
altered lives from the inside out. The
person, who raised their hand and took the oath, no longer exists. Whether combat or non-com, peace time or
conflict, putting on the uniform meant setting aside their individuality for
the good of the whole. Basic did more than train them for battle; it
broke down the barriers between them and rebuilt them as a unit, which is was
capable of working as single entity. Egos
were set aside. Their competition in
training strengthened and enhanced the whole. Their lives depended on their ability to trust
and rely on each other.
Civilians can’t or won’t understand. Serving is more than a job, it is who they
became as a person. They no longer saw
themselves as “I” or “me”, but as “us” and “we”. While civilians compete for themselves,
military personnel fight for the group.
That mindset doesn’t just end by taking off the uniform.
Horses and Heroes is a Reality TV
series, which combines the highly effective Peer Support Therapy with Equine
Therapy. Unlike most in the genre, it will focus on healing and positive growth
rather than endorsing bad behavior. Each
season will bring together the veterans from WWII to the current conflicts.
They will be sharing their challenges and supporting each other as they find
new solutions. They know the talk, because they have walked
the walk. They see the dodges and will
be able to call each other on them. Sparks
may fly. Tempers may flare, especially when they force each other to face the
ghosts. When it airs, it will reach into
the homes of the veterans, who need to hear that they are not alone and give
them the information as well as the permission they need to also heal. They will help each other find their way back
to the world. Veterans can’t go back and
make a brand new start; but they can start from now and make a brand new end.
No comments:
Post a Comment