St. Augustine — Reboot Combat Recovery, (Reboot) a Veteran inspired course on military trauma, launches its first program in St. Augustine on August 22.
Since 2011, the 12-week, faith-based, peer-led course has helped veterans and active-duty military and their families heal from military- service related trauma.
Working in tandem with military installations, churches, non-profit organizations, universities and clinics, Reboot assists retired and active military members achieve “breakthroughs” in their war against trauma. Course leaders - underscore course - tackle the healing process by tapping into the recovery of the wounded soul.
Course leader and Navy Veteran Rich Mendez described trauma as a personal intersection with all that’s broken in today’s world. He explained that harboring trauma can lead to battling dark days of drug and alcohol abuse, assault, domestic violence, sleeplessness, rage, divorce and of course the staggering rates of suicide.
“So,” he said, “Reboot begs to question, ‘If a person can experience a physical wound, isn’t it possible to experience a wound to one’s soul?’ Because we believe that a person’s soul can be wounded by trauma, the curriculum tackles understanding its root source along with a laundry list of correlating symptoms. We then introduce healthy steps to effectively deal with that unresolved trauma.”
Mendez stressed the importance of addressing the root causes behind betrayal, guilt - both legitimate and false -, unresolved grief and what the inability to forgive does to the human psyche.
“Un-forgiveness is like squeezing a cactus,” he said. “You’re the only one who’s going to get hurt.”
Reboot offers healthy alternatives along a path that “recourses” one’s perception. For example, healthy steps taken to forgive - even the seemingly unforgiveable - are not considered a “pass.”
“It’s about dis-empowering the individual who’s caused the hurt,” Mendez continued. “We invariably see - over and over again - that forgiveness offers a tremendous amount of freedom and healing.”
Mendez said the course also clarifies the difference between real and false guilt, describing the latter as becoming overwhelmed by decisions made in no win situations; instant decisions made legally and lawfully to perform the mission at hand.
Reboot’s proven record of success includes participants now serving as course leaders. With a course curriculum that projects into one’s future, Mendez remains confident that military members and their families can heal from the high cost of dealing with PTSD.
“Military members learn to understand and deal with the root causes of trauma,” he concluded. “This not only serves the Veteran, it serves spouses and family members. Reebot renews hope to get those who need it the most to the other side; to focus on a future knowing that you’re not defined by your past.
The free course begins on Monday, August 22, between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and continues every Monday thereafter. Dinner is provided. Class size is limited.
Meeting location: Colonial Community Church, 550 SR 207, St. Augustine, Fl. 32084
Contact information: Rich Mendez
rich.militaryministry@gmail.com
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