WarriorWOD

www.warriorwod.org

info@warriorwod.org

@theWarriorWOD

2022

Table of Contents

01

Introduction

p 03

02

Mission & Vision

p 04

03

Who We Serve

p 05

04

Program & Initiative

p 06

05

Impact

p 07

06

National Reach

p 08

07

Financials

p 09

Introduction

The statistics are staggering. The prevalence of invisible wounds among the veteran population is growing. One in three veterans experiences PTSD or major depression. Severe mental health challenges from military service have direct ties to substance abuse, homelessness and significantly impact the individuals and their families. Additionally, veterans are at a 50% higher risk of suicide than their peers who have not served. Every day 22 veterans die by suicide, and another 30 die by drugs and alcohol.

Each Veteran receives a 6-month gym membership to the fitness modality of their choice at no cost. WarriorWOD meets the Veteran where they are regardless of fitness level and encourages them to exercise. Also, at no cost to the veteran, we provide nutrition coaching. The Veteran meets with a virtual nutrition coach weekly to review macro intake, goals, weight gain/loss, body image, and healthy eating. Mentorship is the lynchpin that brings everything together. Our Battle Buddies are also veterans that can easily empathize and build a bond. The mentorship fosters accountability, motivation, and ownership in the program, driving results and reducing PTSD symptoms. These three parts of the program result in an improved quality of life, reduced PTSD symptoms, better social functioning, and decreased use of antidepressants, alcohol, and illegal drugs. Ultimately by addressing the root cause of PTSD, we will reduce the staggering veteran suicide rate and number of deaths from substance abuse.

The “Exercise is the RX for Veteran PTSD” program consists of three components: exercise, nutrition, and mentorship.

A nation that understands and prioritizes Veterans’ fitness as a leading prescription of combat's mental and physical wounds, providing them the quality of life they have earned through services for our country.

Who We Serve

OUR NATION'S HEROES

Our nation’s heroes may have returned home physically, but for many, they are still in the fight mentally. This fight at home has killed more veterans yearly than 20 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. Every year, suicide claims an average of 6,100 veterans. We also lose an additional 6,000 to substance abuse. Annually, that is over 12,000 heroes that are no longer with us because they would rather take their lives quickly through suicide or numb themselves to death through substance abuse than face their invisible wounds. To put that in perspective, Iraq and Afghanistan claimed 6,951 Americans in combat.

WarriorWOD refuses to stand on the sideline, knowing that too many veterans would rather take their lives than live another day suffering from invisible wounds.

Program & Initiative

"EXERCISE AS AN RX"

We have taken action through our “Exercise as an RX” program.

Our program provides direct services to support the mental health of underserved veterans and their families by prioritizing exercise, nutrition, and mentorship as the prescription for veterans' recovery from PTS, and through this program, decrease veteran suicide and deaths by substance abuse rates.

Numerous research studies have proven that exercise and nutrition significantly improve mental health. Each Veteran receives a 6-month gym membership at no cost in the modality of their choice. Also, we provide certified nutrition coaching at no cost to the veteran. Finally, mentorship is the lynchpin that brings everything together.

Our mentors, called Battle Buddies, are veterans who can easily empathize and build a bond. The mentorship fosters accountability, motivation, and ownership in the program, driving results and reducing PTS symptoms.

Valor Series

The Valor Series is an initiative focused on building a resilient community around our Nation's Heroes. Local exercise and nutrition resources galvanize together to support our veterans' recovery from their invisible wounds. During the Valor Series, veterans are exposed to resources and education that provide them the tools to enhance their recovery from their Post-Traumatic Stress.

Impact

OVERALL SYMPTOMS IMPROVE 18%

WarriorWOD's "Exercise as an RX" Program significantly reduces Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms of the Veterans in the program.

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Pre-, During- and Post-program surveys track 20 different PTS symptoms. When comparing the symptoms before and after being involved in the WarriorWOD program, data indicates an overall 18% decrease in symptoms across all standard Post-Traumatic Stress Categories and Symptoms.

Avoidance is a typical trauma response. It is a coping mechanism that you may use to reduce the adverse effects of trauma, such as distressing thoughts and feelings.

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Through WarriorWOD's program, participants saw a 15% improvement across Avoidance symptoms.

After a Veteran has experienced a traumatic event, whether in combat or state-side, there will be changes in both their physical and emotional reactions. Many of these changes adversely affect a Veteran's Quality of Life.

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Through WarriorWOD's program, participants saw a 22.5% improvement across Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions symptoms.

People with Post-Traumatic Stress have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people.

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Through WarriorWOD's program, participants saw a 19.6% improvement across Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood symptoms.

National Reach