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At Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation (WQW), we believe that we are part of the solution regarding our nation’s injured defenders by providing a respite from the stresses of war, the monotony of lengthy hospital stays and traditional therapy, and the many day-to-day struggles involved in their journey home.

Warrior Spouse 2017 Couples FX Participant

Not often are spouses given a break to be truly taken care of and that break has made a world of difference in my perspective and view of the future.

Wallace and Scarlet Fanene Warrior and Spouse, 2016 Couple’s Fishing Experience Participants

The experience of being out on the river has been humbling and peaceful and we know that what we’ll take home from this experience will feed our family mentally and emotionally.

SSG Mansour 2015 Alumni FX Participant, 2015 Couple’s FX Participant

Words cannot express the gratitude for all you have done for me and my wife, and children. You all have made me want to be a better husband and father.

SSG Gibson 2013 Warrior Participant, 2014 Couple’s Participant, 2015 Alumni Participant

WQW is more than a place to just fly fish. It offers veterans a chance to connect with each other and create lasting relationships.

How you can help

How you can help

We support the healing process of post-9/11 combat veterans and their loved ones through the generosity of people like you. Please join us in supporting their unique and powerful journeys.

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Check out our recent Instagram posts!

Nov 30

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Marcus joined the Army to provide for his family and serve his country. After being wounded by an IED during his time as a Calvary Scout, Marcus found out about Warriors & Quiet Waters from a fellow soldier. His first Fishing Experience (FX) was in May 2017. It was two months before he was scheduled to have major back surgery, and his wife, Susan, was worried he would stumble or fall fishing the rough river terrain here in Montana. But he was excited to visit Quiet Waters Ranch. It was during this Solo FX that our photographer Sgt Mac @studiomacleodphotos took this photo of Marcus that Susan said will “forever embody the spirit of WQW” for her. In this picture, Marcus’s volunteer Companion Brian is at the top of the river bank leaning down with his arm stretched out pulling Marcus up because he couldn’t make it up from the bottom of the river bank on his own. To Susan, we are the hand reaching out to help. All a Warrior needs to do is reach back out and accept it.#warriorsandquietwaters #wqw #veteran #transition #montana #flyfish #veteranswhofish #bozeman #veteranshelpingveterans #veteranssupportingveterans #healingthroughnature #warriorsfirstalways #militaryspouses #vso #combatveteran #givingtuesday

Nov 29

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Compassion. When I think of the Warriors & Quiet Waters Community, that’s the first word that comes to mind. Here on social media, in-person during our Fishing Experiences, or even virtually last year during the pandemic, it’s so clear to us here at WQW that we have a giving and supportive community that makes up what we like to call the WQW Family. It’s people like you who are the first to raise your hand when we need a last-minute volunteer or someone to donate goody bags for Warriors and their families. It’s people like you who help ensure that veterans who visit Quiet Waters Ranch get an opportunity to thrive. Tomorrow, on #GivingTuesday, we’d like to make sure that your generosity triples. Yes, triples. Thanks to a donation from an anonymous family trust and from Ed & Barbara Brandt, all donations up to $5,000 received on Giving Tuesday will be tripled. We’re really excited to announce this opportunity that will give even more veterans and their loved ones the opportunity to find peace, meaning, and purpose with Warriors & Quiet Waters. We’re even more honored that Marcus (pictured above) was willing to share how participating in a WQW program changed his life. “TBI and PTS were life changing. Like everything in life, I had to find a healthy way to deal with these issues. That’s where WQW came in and gave me the tools to change my life.” Tomorrow, we’ll be sharing more of Marcus’s story. We hope you can follow along and hear how your generosity is saving veteran lives.#WQW #WarriorsAndQuietWaters #veterans #veteran #SupportVeterans #Montana #SmithRiver #CombatVeteran #ptsd #tbi #ptsdawareness #ptsdrecovery #veteranshelpingveterans #veteranswhofish #warriorsfirstalways #flyfish #fishing #bozeman #vso #serviceaboveself

Nov 12

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Yesterday, 10 people from the WQW Family came together for one mission: to collectively raise $10,000 for Warriors & Quiet Waters on Veterans Day.This group truly outdid themselves. Over 75 people donated $22,500 in support of post-9/11 combat veterans and their loved ones. We can't thank this group of 10 enough. Many who fundraised for us yesterday are Warriors who have gone through our programming and shared their experience with WQW on social media in order to exceed this goal. Because of their hard work, these donations can send over 4 Warriors to Quiet Waters Ranch for a week of peace and purpose in 2022. Thank you to everyone who made a difference yesterday! We hope you had a great Veterans Day!#WarriorsAndQuietWaters #wqw #veterans #veteransday #veteran #montana #supportveterans #veteranssupportingveterans #combatveteran

Nov 1

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“This experience gave me an opportunity to see other veterans who are going through the same transition issues. I wanted to see that my new normal is similar to other veterans.” -Anonymous Warrior#WarriorsAndQuietWaters #veteran #transition #newnormal #montana #flyfish #veteranswhofish #bozeman #veteransforveterans #veterans #veteranssupportingveterans #veteransupport #healingthroughnature 📸 @studiomacleodphotos

Oct 13

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When fall and winter collide, it makes for some beautiful pictures.This week we’re hosting an Couples FX, meaning 6 Warriors are bringing their spouses with them to find peace and purpose together through fly fishing in Montana.#warriorsandquietwaters #veterans #veteranswhofish #flyfishing #bozeman #montana #fall #flyfish #veteran #militaryspouses #wqw #vso #warriorsfirstalways #combatveteran 📸 @studiomacleodphotos 🎣 gear by @simmsfishing and @sageflyfish

Oct 5

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First fish of the day is released. It’s a Solo FX week here at WQW. - SGT MAC#WarriorsAndQuietWaters #veteran #vso #veteranswhofish #veterans #bozeman #montana #flyfish #flyfishmontana #wqw

Sep 11

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9/11: Twenty Years Later - Hear Shannon's Story of Hope. Warriors & Quiet Waters: Today, on September 11, 2021, we want to honor the 20th Anniversary of 9/11. We're sharing the story of Shannon, a Navy Veteran, who served in the aftermath of 9/11. As Shannon says, "There are some amazing stories we will never know." We're incredibly humbled and honored to be able to know Shannon's. This video is dedicated to the corpsmen who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.#WarriorsAndQuietWaters #Military #911 #September11 #20years #Navy #Veteran #NavyVeteran #Afghanistan #Iraq #USMiliary #SupportVeterans

Aug 16

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Hold Fast, Stay True. As I watch events unfold in Afghanistan today, that nautical tradition rings in my head. Hold Fast onto something sturdy, so I can weather the storm coming over the decks. Stay True to my compass and course, so I can arrive at my destination. I am struggling watching Afghanistan fall to the Taliban. But I hold fast to the knowledge that I fought for those on my left and right. I fought to uphold the legacy of my Corps and my unit. I fought because it was my duty. I stay true to the fidelity, commitment, and sacrifice of Heroes I witnessed — those still standing, those who were wounded, and those who we lost. I will honor the memory of our fallen and stand beside our wounded and our Gold Star Families forever. Despite what we are witnessing today, that’s what my service stands for.Semper Fidelis,Brian Gilman, Col, USMC (Ret.)CEO, WQW📸 @studiomacleodphotos#WarriorsAndQuietWaters #Veterans #HoldFastStayTrue #Veteran #afghanistan #afghanistanwar #military #vso #service #GoldStarFamilies #ServiceAboveSelf

Aug 13

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Use What You Got, feat Saul Martinez, U.S. Army, of Warriors & Quiet Waters. In 2007, Saul was deployed to Iraq where he was wounded by an IED, resulting in the loss of both of his legs. Since then, Saul has learned to live life as an amputee. In this short video, Saul shares how people should interact with amputees, what it's like living with prosthetics, and how he reacts when kids ask about his legs.Knowing how to interact with amputees is important for all of us in the Veteran community. If you want in on an exclusive opportunity to hear Saul speak, tickets for WQW's 3rd annual Warrior Taste Fest are now on sale, where Saul will give the keynote address. Purchase your tickets through the link in our bio.Saul has been in an AT&T commercial with famed golfer Jordan Spieth, was painted by President George W. Bush in his book "Portraits of Courage" and is currently a PXG Brand Ambassador.#WarriorsAndQuietWaters #Veteran #WarriorTasteFest #Montana #ArmyVeteran #Military #Amputee #Army #Bozeman

Jul 22

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In a first for WQW, warriors spent the day on the Missouri River as it snakes thru Upper Holter Lake and Gates of the Mountains. Bucks, bighorns, 10,000 year old pictographs, the Mann Gulch fire history, and of course Lewis & Clark were on the docket in addition to fly fishing for big rainbows. Thanks to guides Trevor and Kit for a great day on the water. — SGT MAC

Jul 14

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New to WQW this year is our Conservation FX. For the inaugural event, six warriors are spending the week in Montana’s Ninemile Valley where they will fly fish a recently recovered stretch of creek and then learn how Trout Unlimited continues to restore Ninemile Creek to its natural state before it was mined for gold. Thanks to the WestSlope Chapter Trout Unlimited for helping to make this week happen. To see photos of the ongoing event, please visit WQWphotos.org. — SGT MAC

Success has historically been measured by freely offered alumni testimonials. In an effort to quantifiably measure the short and long-term impact of WQW’s therapeutic programs, WQW has partnered with Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) to construct a pre- and post-FX survey, as well as an annual survey for participants. IVMF is tasked with providing WQW with direct evaluation services and capacity-building support for the purpose of improving our programs and communicating our impact to current stakeholders, participants, and potential funders and partners.

Meet Marcus Ziegler, a WQW Alumni

Meet Marcus Ziegler, a WQW Alumni

Luke, a WQW Warrior Alumni, shares the impact Warriors & Quiet Waters has had on him.

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Meet Luke Cureton, a WQW Alumni

Meet Luke Cureton, a WQW Alumni

Luke, a WQW Warrior Alumni, shares the impact Warriors & Quiet Waters has had on him.

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$30,000 Raised for Warriors & Quiet Waters on Veterans Day

$30,000 Raised for Warriors & Quiet Waters on Veterans Day

Supporters brought in $30,000 from over 100 donors for Warriors & Quiet Waters on Veterans Day.

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Warriors and Quiet Waters

351 Evergreen Drive, Suite A Bozeman, MT 59715

406.585.9793
info@wqwf.org