The journey home can be difficult. Let us help. 

For more than 30 years, Outward Bound has been proud to deliver wilderness expeditions for our nations' veterans. These expeditions, customized specifically for veterans and active duty servicemen and women, are designed to help ease the often difficult transition home by drawing on the healing benefit of the wilderness, teamwork, and challenge.

Thanks to the generous support of our donors, these courses are available tuition and travel-expense free to any veteran or active duty service member.

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These expeditions are designed to be fun and challenging. They are suited for those in good physical condition and are opportunities for veterans  to:

• Re-experience many of the positive aspects of military service through challenge and teamwork
• Develop skills to assist them in adjusting to life at home
• Candidly discuss obstacles faced by veterans 
• Rediscover their physical and emotional strengths
• Help translate military values and commitment to service in a civilian environment
• Enjoy a unique and inspiring adventure surrounded by fellow veterans in the beauty of the country for which they have served

Why We Serve

Every day men and women in uniform return from active duty only to face the unexpected challenges of readjusting to life at home. Here are some quick facts about what US veterans are facing today:

• 2-2.5 million soldiers, served in Afghanistan and Iraq
• It is estimated that up to half of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have a mental health diagnosis.
• The suicide rate for veterans is 1.5 times higher than that of the general population
• 20 veterans commit suicide a day

Results and Outcomes

A study conducted by the University of Texas invited veteran course participants to participate in a web-based survey two days prior to their course, within 48 hours after their course, and then again 30-45 days after their course. Outcomes were then measured against a control group of veterans that did not attend an Outward Bound course. Findings concluded that NCOBS program attendees noticed significant:

• Reduction in mental health symptoms 
• Increase in openness to seek professional psychological help 
• Increase in life satisfaction 
• Significant increase in motivation or behavior that promotes personal growth in one’s life 
• Decrease emotional restriction 

Want to Sign Up? 

Make sure you watch our 6 Myths About the Outward Bound Veterans Program to get prepared. Thanks to our amazing donors, these Veteran courses are free, including travel! This means we can only fund so many spots on course each year. To ensure we use these funds effectively, we need participants to understand what is required of them before and during course.

Sources

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (2016); Suicide: 2016 Facts and Figures; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2017) ; VA research on Suicide Prevention; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2019); Suicide prevention; U.S Department of Veteran Affairs (2018); VA National Suicide Data Report: 2015-2016; U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (2017); VA Releases Suicide Statistics by State; U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (2017); Facts about Suicide among Women Veterans; Suicide Prevention Resource Center (2017; Suicide among Veterans Highest in Western U.S., Rural Areas; Thomas, L. P. M., Palinkas, L. A., Meier, E. A., Iglewicz, A., Kirkland, T., & Zisook, S. (2014); Yearning to Be Heard; Crisis, 35(3), 161–167; U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs; Suicide Prevention; Bohnert, K. M., Ilgen, M. A., Louzon, S., Mccarthy, J. F., & Katz, I. R. (2017); Substance use disorders and the risk of suicide mortality among men and women in the US Veterans Health Administration; Addiction, 112(7), 1193–1201; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2008; Does alcohol and other substance abuse increase the risk of suicide?; National Institute on Drug Abuse (2019); Substance Use and Military Life; U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (2019); VA launches new health care options under MISSION Act

We all struggle in life – young, old, Veteran, civilian, male, female. There is no set criterion that limits life’s downfalls to a set group of people. How we choose to meet those downfalls head-on and make the appropriate course changes to deal with them is what sets us apart from everyone else. My short, yet amazingly sweet, trip with a group of Veterans has brought a sense of peace into my life that I could never fully repay. We all went out there, as complete strangers, for our own reasons, but fate would have us leave as family – always there for support and love when needed. While some were struggling with inner demons or nightmares brought back from war, I ran to NCOBS for more personal, and originally what I thought of as selfish, reasons. I didn’t want to be here, alone, for New Year’s. What ended up happening is coming to a realization that I was running from my life and everything that I hated about it – or myself. > Continue reading