‘If they are dreaming of the waves tomorrow, they won’t take their life today.’

Operation Surf is a US-based charity that works to empower injured military and veterans and help them through Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other traumas. How does it do this? Through the healing powers of the ocean.

By providing carefree windows of joy where veterans can learn to surf in a safe and understanding space, the organisation supports participants not only in the sea but also in other aspects of life. They provide the needed tools, resources, and peer-to-peer support both in and out of the water to help participants continue their newfound mindset and utilise what they’ve gained in the sessions on land, too.

The impact of PTSD and trauma on US veterans

The heartbreaking reality is that 22 lives a day are lost to suicide by veterans. Roughly one in three veterans suffer from PTSD, and less than 40% of these people seek help. These alarming figures that demonstrate the huge number of military veterans who are impacted by PTSD and suicide are so shocking that the matter has been ‘classified as a National Health Crisis by the VA and CDC.’

That’s why the support of charities like Operation Surf is so incredibly important. They work relentlessly on a mission to ‘restore hope, renew purpose, and revitalise community.’

The programmes

Operation Surf provides a variety of curriculum-based programmes to help participants regain confidence, build camaraderie, and find solace in the natural beauty of the ocean. They do this by demonstrating their core values:

• Care
• Inclusion
• Commitment
• Integrity
• Communication

The organisation brings together an empathetic community of veterans and active-duty military personnel who feel understood by one another, their mentors, and surf instructors. All while learning a new sport that helps them stay positive and focused on the future. Participants have access to surf equipment, instruction, and ocean education.

The programmes vary in length, from week-long programmes for veterans or Special Operations Forces (SOF) and their spouses to three-month programmes called OS3.0. At the end of the three-month programme, graduates receive a new sense of community, as well as their own wetsuit and a surfboard.

Not only do some of these programmes help the veterans themselves, but they also support their families too.

Outside of the surf programmes, veterans have continuous and invaluable access to emotional support through The Canteen. Current, past, and future participants can virtually access Operation Surf support and keep in touch with the community.

The support doesn’t stop there. Twelve times a year, the Second Saturday Monthly Surf Day is held at different surf spots around the central coast of California for both veterans and the public to experience.

dryrobe® X Operation Surf

Through the dryrobe® Warmth Project, we support charities and non-profit organisations that share our values of promoting wellbeing through outdoor activity and protecting the environment.

We believe that the ocean is a place of transformative power, and we love the inclusion and support of Operation Surf for the veteran community, which ensures that those who are trying to live with PTSD and other traumas receive the care and access they need to Ocean Therapy. We are proud to join forces with this incredible charity through financial contributions and product donations to keep participants warm and dry between surfs through the dryrobe® Warmth Project.

Helping to wash away trauma

The team at Operation Surf consistently works to strengthen their means of care and provide the best quality of aftercare for the US military community. Veteran participants share their journeys coping with trauma and how Operation Surf has supported them…

"Operation Surf gave me my life back. I was lost in my own darkness for years, but the ocean and this community showed me there was hope. I am forever grateful." - OS3 Veteran Participant 2023

"Operation Surf brought back a sense of serenity and joy that I thought had been completely stolen from me. This experience reminded me that I'm alive and that I can feel inner peace."- OS3 Veteran Participant 2023

"This is a program that will truly change your life. I met everyone involved and spent a good amount of time talking with each of them. They are a truly selfless group of people who really care about improving lives. Right before I showed up to the program a soldier and great friend of mine took his own life. If I hadn't had the Operation Surf experience I know I would still be in a very bad place. The staff and all of the support personnel just spread love and happiness to those who really need it. I feel that I have a new family that I can reach out to and depend on at any time."- 2023 Veteran Participant

"Sometimes in life, we experience pain and heartache, but knowing that we're not alone in our life journey can help with these feelings that we sometimes struggle with. When I look back at my life and wonder how I ever survived, I'll remember the incredible family ‘Ohana’ that I met through Operation Surf. Surfing is now a part of my life, and I wouldn't change it for the world."- 2023 Veteran Participant

If you want to get involved in Operation Surf’s mission and help more veterans experience this life-changing opportunity, you can donate to Operation Surf here. You can also stay connected and track the impact of your donation by following them on social media, details are below.

Follow Operation Surf:

Facebook: Operation Surf
Instagram: @operationsurf
LinkedIn: Operation Surf

operationsurf.org

#dryrobeterritory

Published on November 07, 2024