OPERATION RESTORED WARRIOR

"We restore the lives of those whose lives have been changed by serving our nation's call."

All of the Operation Restored Warrior programs offer an important relational environment. Our programs will bring irreversible change to your current situation.

Drop Zone Program: This keystone program is a 5-day program presented in the Colorado Rocky Mountains on a beautiful ranch near Vail, Colorado or at a beautiful lodge in the Smokey Mountains of Central Virginia for 6-8 US military veterans (active duty and veterans) who have a common experience in any of the Areas of Operations (i.e. Middle East, Vietnam, Classified Missions) in past or present conflicts and have a desire to be helped through our Christian-based programs. There is no qualification to be a Christian. Our program and its application is experientially based and focused on the problems that are associated with the core issues of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Deployment Related Stress (DRS), and Suicide attempts on all military service members and their families.

ORW Drop Zone's life restoring program has been used with numerous military members from all service branches of the Department of Defense for the past 4 years with unequal results. Hundreds of warriors who have experienced this turning point program have had significant healing of their emotional and spiritual wounds. To date, no participant has had to pay to attend our program. That amazing feat has been accomplished by incredibly generous Americans wanting to give back to our military warriors.  It is our goal that these programs will continue to be funded by American citizens and businesses who want to partner with us so that we may offer these programs at no charge for all participants.

Freefall Program: Presenting a new and fresh spiritual leadership program to all military members assigned to bases active in deployments to the Middle East and around the world. This powerful and often life-changing program is based on the epic larger story that our veterans find themselves in and assists them in uncovering their role in that story that God is telling.
This program provides a life-shaping context to our returning military members who find themselves struggling with issues and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and the imbalance that can result in suicidal thoughts and actions. This program is presented in a large group setting from 25-400.

Our military families are carrying more than their share of burdens and challenges that this current war has brought to bear on our country during this difficult time, and we want to be a refuge for them to heal and begin to have their hearts and lives restored and set free as they were meant be.
 
The Need for the Restoration Power of ORW is Great!

(Some Statistics for Consideration)

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for the veteran deployed once is estimated at 42% *
• Clinical Depression for male veterans who have PTSD is nearly 48% and female veterans is even higher *
• Separation Anxiety hits every family of a deployed military warrior **
• Bereavement/Grief has come to affect just over 4000 families of fallen warriors deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since the start of these battles ***
• At least 29,038 U.S. troops have been wounded in action during their deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq ***
• Divorce rates are at a staggering 70% and infidelity has become an increasingly common issue for the veteran and spouse ****
• Substance abuse and violence is prevalent in a large percentage of veterans returning from combat theaters overseas *****
• Suicide plagues our veterans as well as our active duty military
The effects of ‘war’ and lengthy times away from ‘home and family’ are tragic and sustaining.

Why is ORW's Restoration so Important?
 
"To understand the chosen life of service required to meet the challenges of these two wars, we must respect the "stories of those who have been there and understand that maladaptive behaviors are often the product of survival skills used under the most horrible conditions imaginable. Sometimes these combat skills become roadblocks to healthy living in a normal society. Families of returning military personnel have a hard time fathoming the heighten sense of vigilance, recurrent flashbacks, high anxiety, depression and other syndromes associated with the intense camaraderie enjoined in combat conditions."
 
Refences:
* PTSD Frequently Asked Questions, National Center for PTSD: www.ncptsd.va.gov
** The 7 Stages of the Emotional Cycle of Deployment Source: Jennifer L. Hochlan for Lifelines
*** HONORING THE FALLEN: US Military KIA, Iraq/Afghanistan– January 2008; BlueNC.com.
****“Dealing with Infidelity,” Victoria Parham | January 11, 2007; Military.com.
***** Deployment Web Research Link study to be completed early 2009, http://deploymentlink.osd.mil/deploymed/printProjects