FRANK
featured warrior
USMC
WQW Alum
A Warrior’s Journey
I joined the Marine Corps for a various number of reasons, least of which was to escape the looming jail time I faced as a teenager, from a tumultuous upbringing and basic rebelliousness for anything that wasn’t pure in nature. While not proud of my past, I was now going to be a father, and I needed to make changes in my life to foster a love rich environment for my newly created family. If I had only known what my military career would do to me mentally, I may have found a different way to accomplish these goals.
“Simply put, [Built for More] re-engages the active duty lifestyle, makes you accountable to fellow combat vets that live close to you, almost in a fire team plus type element. It is the best continuous programming idea I’ve ever seen.”
While in the Marine Corps, I excelled with meritorious promotions, recommendations, awards, etc. In time, I realized that I wanted to be an active-duty Marine for the rest of my life, but a fateful day in early 2005 would essentially make my mind up for me. From that moment on, I would begin to see that the war affected me more than I spoke of, acknowledged, or was even aware of for many, many years. As my life began to unravel, catchphrases like “I’m always good,” “it is what it is,” and “fake it til you make it” were, in hindsight, the words lived by.
My path to finding an iota of peace after my time at war was littered with common deception and misunderstanding. I spent a lot of years in denial, and once I accepted that I had issues, I sadly dealt with trauma in the wrong ways. Nothing I was doing, good or bad, was bringing me peace. I tried burying myself in work but failed. I tried volunteering and helping others outside of my home, and while it helped, it was always short-lived. I was all but lost in my attempts to find solace, purpose, and direction. When my wife told me about Warriors & Quiet Waters, I was apprehensive, of course, but I was willing.
Intro to my first experience with Warriors & Quiet Waters. From the moment I met the first face there, the staff of mostly veterans was warm and caring, and when I got to the ranch and met the ladies that take care of us from the kitchen, well, they’re famous to us, to say the least. The days were filled with fish, and the meals were great, with time for reflection before calling it a night. I learned a lot about fly fishing that first fishing experience, but also about being out in nature and how curative being in the water and nature, in general, can be for me.
I returned again and then again for a coaching FX, and that changed my life. My coach, Chris, and I worked through so many parts of life, always leaning forward. It was better than any counseling that I have received since I got hit on my second tour in 2005. Because of Warriors & Quiet Waters and with Chris, I was in college again as a double major, in a fraternity, on the dean's list, and a part of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Every aspect of my life started to improve. A year later, we all came back together at the ranch to finish the coaching evolution, and as bittersweet as it was, I look back on it now as a profound year in my life where I was able to, and continue to, accomplish much from the foundation of our work together. Chris and I remain friends to this day, and talk from time to time.
Since then, I’ve returned to the ranch multiple times, as Warriors & Quiet Waters is what works for me. Whether just fishing for a week around like-minded Veterans, an unparalleled staff, or amazing accompanying programming, it’s been what I’ve leaned on, and I’ve made the trip up to Montana every year I have been able to. Most recently, I was up in Montana for the Built for More program, and even though I didn’t fish for the first time that I made the trip, this was a completely different and much-needed concept of programming for the continuing needs of post-911 veterans. The locale of other veterans close to where you live allows you to develop a close group of like-minded individuals that can help you accomplish your chosen continued purpose in life, that you work on, and figure out within the Built for More program. Simply put, it re-engages the active duty lifestyle, makes you accountable to fellow combat vets that live close to you, almost in a fire team plus type element. It is the best continuous programming idea I’ve ever seen.
All of my experiences at the ranch, counsel from my coach, and now the continued support of my cohort from Built for More has led to a better life overall, with outlets, growth, and direction. The continued opportunities to be involved with Warriors and Quiet Waters centers me as a person, getting me back to nature in different ways as I continue to learn how to incorporate them into my life.
This cannot be understated. From where I was before coming to the ranch the first time to now, I’ve been able to become a productive asset again to my family, friends, neighbors, and society as a whole. I went from being a shut-in and not leaving my bedroom for up to six months at a time to being active daily with goals, aspirations, and hope.
