Exercise, Nutrition, and Mentorship for Veterans’ PTSD and Suicide Recovery

Every day, more than 40 U.S. veterans lose their lives to suicide or substance-related causes. These are not just numbers—they are the final cost of invisible wounds: post-traumatic stress, depression, addiction, and isolation left untreated or misunderstood. Behind each statistic is a warrior fighting alone, without the tools to heal.

WarriorWOD was founded to change that—permanently.

Created by a combat-wounded Marine, WarriorWOD delivers a free, six-month recovery program that helps veterans reclaim their health, identity, and purpose through three life-saving interventions: exercise, nutrition, and peer mentorship. This is not a wellness trend—it’s a trauma-informed, data-backed model built by veterans, for veterans.

Since launching, WarriorWOD has served over 2,500 veterans nationwide, with 225 completing the full recovery program. The impact is as profound as it is measurable:
29% reduction in PTSD symptom severity
32% improvement in mood, clarity, and emotional regulation
15% decrease in substance use relapses
9 confirmed suicide interventions

These aren’t just outcomes. They are turning points. The difference between despair and dignity. Between isolation—and a second chance at life.

How the Program Works — Why WarriorWOD Heals What Others Miss
WarriorWOD is not a support group. It’s not just a gym membership. And it’s not another list of pills or appointments.

It is a complete, six-month transformation system—built by veterans, for veterans—to heal the root causes of trauma and disconnection.

Each participant receives a fully funded recovery plan anchored in three proven, research-backed pillars:
1. Fitness Support — Rebuilding Strength, Structure, and Identity
Veterans receive access to a local gym or adaptive equipment at home, paired with a personalized training plan. Fitness here is clinical, not cosmetic.

Why It Works:
Exercise reduces cortisol and adrenaline, boosts dopamine and serotonin, and activates neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire from trauma. For many veterans, this is the first time they’ve felt control, momentum, or self-worth since leaving the service.

2. Nutrition Coaching — Fueling the Brain, Regulating the Mind
Veterans meet virtually with certified nutritionists twice per month. Sessions focus on reducing inflammation, stabilizing mood, improving sleep, and supporting the gut-brain connection.

Why It Works:
A poor diet increases the risk of depression and anxiety by 40%. A whole-food approach can reduce those symptoms by up to 33%. WarriorWOD treats nutrition as mission-critical—because no one heals while running on empty.

3. Peer Mentorship — Restoring Connection, Trust, and Hope
Each veteran is matched with a trained Battle Buddy—a fellow veteran who’s walked the same path. These weekly check-ins provide support, accountability, and emotional safety.

Why It Works:
The leading driver of veteran suicide isn’t trauma alone—it’s isolation. Veterans trust veterans. This mentorship builds belonging, resilience, and a sense of purpose that no medication can replicate.

Why It’s So Effective — The WarriorWOD Advantage
Most systems fragment care—therapy in one place, medication in another, with no continuity or community.

WarriorWOD unifies it all. Our integrated model creates a feedback loop of recovery:
- Exercise builds physical and mental momentum
- Nutrition supports brain chemistry and emotional clarity
- Mentorship sustains engagement and accountability

Together, they generate transformation—not just for a week, but for a lifetime.

More Than a Program—A Path to Purpose
WarriorWOD doesn’t just help veterans survive. It helps them come home to themselves.
Participants report better sleep, greater clarity, decreased reliance on medication, and a renewed sense of identity. Many rejoin their families with presence and purpose. Some become mentors themselves.

“My Battle Buddy saved my life.”

“This was the first time I felt like myself in a decade.”

“WarriorWOD gave me my mission back.”

This is more than a program. This is transformation.

Who We Serve
WarriorWOD is open to all U.S. veterans—regardless of service era, background, or discharge status—because healing should never have barriers.
We serve veterans who need more than a referral or prescription. Those who are ready to rebuild, but need a path they can trust.

We are especially focused on:
Veterans facing post-traumatic stress, suicidal ideation, or substance misuse
—Where pain is real, even if unseen
Veterans in rural, low-income, or underserved areas
—Where traditional care is limited or out of reach
Veterans seeking a non-clinical, peer-led alternative to conventional systems
—Those who want structure, connection, and ownership—not just treatment

WarriorWOD meets them where they are—with tools that work, and people who understand.

We operate nationally, with strong regional infrastructure in South Carolina—home to the highest veteran population per capita in the U.S.

Our key partners include:
- South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs (MOU)
- Orlando VA Regional Clinic (MOU)
- 40+ gym affiliates across the country
- Academic partners: MUSC, College of Charleston, Kingston University London

Mission Statement
WarriorWOD combines exercise, nutrition, and mentorship in a research-backed, results-driven recovery program for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, suicidal ideations, and substance misuse.

Our vision is a world where every veteran has access to the tools that heal—not just medication, but movement, nourishment, and human connection.

Recognition and Results
WarriorWOD has been recognized by:
- Governor Henry McMaster and Senator Tim Scott
- Constellation Quality Health (2024 Innovative Partner)
- Boeing Military Hall of Honor, CCME Foundation, Aflac, and others
- Local and Regional Jefferson Award for Public Service

We track outcomes using the PCL-5, C-SSRS, and internal mentorship reports. Our evaluation meets clinical and research-grade standards.

How Your Donation Transforms a Life
When you give to WarriorWOD, you’re not just donating—you’re stepping between a veteran and the edge.

$1,500 funds one full six-month recovery journey. Your support covers:
- Gym access or adaptive equipment
- Certified nutrition coaching
- Battle Buddy mentorship
- Suicide risk assessments & monitoring
- Case management and onboarding

Your gift doesn’t get lost in overhead. It goes straight to the hands of a veteran who’s ready to heal—and finally has the path to do it.

You won’t just help them survive. You’ll help them live. Fully. Strongly. And with purpose.

Maximum Impact. Full Transparency.
- 93% of every dollar goes directly to program services
- WarriorWOD is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 87-1065126)

Even small gifts go far:
$25 – Funds a week of peer mentorship
$100 – Provides a month of gym access
$500 – Supports clinical tracking and suicide risk monitoring

Be the Reason a Veteran Lives, Heals, and Thrives
Among WarriorWOD veterans, 35% report a renewed ability to experience joy.
Every one of the 9 veterans who entered our program in 2024 with active suicidal ideation completed it with measurable gains in connection, purpose, and quality of life.

“For the first time in years, I laughed without guilt. I didn’t just survive the day—I enjoyed it. WarriorWOD gave me back the part of myself I thought was gone forever.”

Our veterans walk taller. They reconnect with their families. They return from the edge—and in many cases, they stay to help others do the same.

They go from numbing to feeling. From surviving to leading. From silence to purpose.
“This gave me my mission back.”
“My Battle Buddy pulled me out of the darkest place I’ve ever been.”
“WarriorWOD didn’t just save my life—it gave me one worth living.”

This is not charity. This is transformation. This is healing that works.
Join the mission at www.warriorwod.org