Operation Resilience

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Preventing Veteran Suicide

Operation Resilience serves post-9/11 military units who survived traumatic experiences on the battlefield and have been impacted by Veteran suicide upon their return home. The program reunites military units for four-day retreats to help them build upon the trust and camaraderie they established in combat to serve their next mission of Veteran suicide prevention.

During their retreats, Veterans build resiliency skills through peer-to-peer support, physical activity, and social connectedness, and are provided with tools and resources to maintain their mental health during times of struggle.

Operation Resilience Follow-Up Care

The support Veterans receive through Operation Resilience continues beyond a retreat’s conclusion, as participants are contacted within 72 hours for an initial check-in from our staff. Additional check-ins occur 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 6 months, and one year after the program’s completion. These calls are non-invasive and are made with the sole intention of keeping participants engaged in protecting their mental health, providing access to additional resources when necessary, and advancing Operation Resilience’s mission of Veteran suicide prevention.

Nominate a Unit

Please use this form to nominate a unit for participation in Operation Resilience.

Apply for Operation Resilience

FAQ

How does a unit apply for participation?
Units can be nominated for participation in Operation Resilience by submitting the necessary form in addition to a recommendation letter from the company leadership. This letter must detail the timeframe the unit was deployed and an overview of their combat operations.
How soon will I know if my unit is selected?
Applications are reviewed quarterly, and units are notified when application reviews are taking place or if more information is required for their submission.
How many Veterans are required to schedule a retreat?
A minimum of 50 participants is required to schedule a retreat, and our staff will establish online registration and registration benchmarks to meet to ensure a minimum of 50 participants.
What if my unit isn’t selected?
If your unit isn’t selected or a retreat is postponed due to limited registrations, our staff coordinates with unit leadership to offer resources to similar organizations.
What units qualify?
Our selection process focuses on combat units who experienced heavy conflict in Iraq and/or Afghanistan during the Global War on Terrorism, with a particular emphasis on Veterans within the 18–34-year-old demographic as this age group experiences the highest rates of Veteran suicide. Another priority in our selection process is choosing units who have already been affected by suicides in their unit.
What can we expect from a retreat?
Retreats take place over a long weekend, starting with a Thursday evening kickoff followed by two days of activities and a Sunday morning sendoff. The retreat includes recreational activities, opportunities for Veterans to build coping skills, and find helpful information at a resource fair with local and national programs.
Are travel and other expenses covered?
All expenses during scheduled retreat activities are covered by The Independence Fund, and a $250 travel stipend is given to each participant. If a Veteran’s travel expenses exceed $250, please communicate with our team if you cannot support the difference.

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