Stressbusting initiative for US war veterans

A few days earlier I had blogged about how an increasing number of American soldiers are buckling under pressure of war and loneliness and committing suicide. Today I came across this wonderful initiative to help US veterans deal with post-traumstic stress disorder. Titled as Project Odyssey, organised by the Wounded Warrior Project in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other similar organisations, the aim is to get veterans together in different kinds of activities and make them come out of their post-war trauma.

Fighting a war is not like enjoying a holiday and especially so for people from America who rarely see poverty and a scramble for basic existence and survival. Their come face to face with something worse than their worst nightmares when they get deployed in war torn areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Under the project selected veterans are brought together in exotic locales and what ensues is activities which create bonding among people who have been through and experienced same situations.

Recently 21 veterans from across the US were brought together for a small camp and bonding outing at the Wildcatter Ranch in Texas. Sited about 120 miles northwest of Dallas, Wildcatter Ranch is an upscale resort set amidst picture postcard settings above Brazos river in Young County.

This is a testimony of the common people's love for their forces. The ranch's owners, Anne and Mike Skipper, shutdown their entire business for four days to cater to the visitors. Having heard about Project Odyssey from a friend, Skipper, a theatrical producer, did some research about it. When the couple learnt about the initiative, they voluntarily offered their property and staff for the programme which included activities such as riding a cow, skeet shooting, games such as "blindfold maze" among others.

I believe that such programmes go a long way in making sure that war veterans are cared for and start leading a normal life. All 21 participants of this project had suffered from post-war trauma, depression, Isolation, post-traumatic stress and one of them had not been out of his apartment in six months.

As far as I know there are no such programmes from the government or NGOs in India. The Sainik resettlement board of the army helps ex-servicemen in finding jobs in civil life and settle into life. But nothing is done to address their emotional trauma, stress etc. Their families who don't know anything about the stress they face on the border or fighting insurgents in Jammu and Kashmir, North eastern states etc. It is high time that we started something for our soldiers too.

Read more about the Project Odyssey
Video of Project Odyssey