WEBVTT 1 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:08.839 Multiple people in my family clean my father are veterans. 2 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.080 Troops that have been to war and now they're back. 3 00:00:10.919 --> 00:00:13.759 And think and be grateful for their service. 4 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:17.719 Sacrifice, love for their country, just unselfishness, all that. 5 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:18.719 They do for us. 6 00:00:18.839 --> 00:00:22.120 There are some people in this country who take extraordinary 7 00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:25.039 steps to provide for the freedom and security. 8 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:26.760 We forget that those people exist. 9 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:30.679 We know them as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, 10 00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:37.719 and Coast Guard. They call themselves soldiers, seals, rangers, airmen, sailors, 11 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:44.119 devil dogs, and so much more. We call them fathers, brothers, 12 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:49.600 sons and husbands, mothers, daughters, sisters and wives. We call 13 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:54.880 them friend and neighbor. These veterans answered the call. Now 14 00:00:55.479 --> 00:00:56.399 we answer. 15 00:00:56.079 --> 00:01:02.359 Theirs, and they. 16 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:03.159 Are the best our country has to offer, and we 17 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:10.920 love them. Today, we honor them and we serve them. 18 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:15.439 David Malsby is your host, and he welcomes you to 19 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:20.359 this community of veterans. As together we are building the 20 00:01:20.519 --> 00:01:25.760 road to hope. 21 00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:25.400 And indeed we are glad to have you along. On 22 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:27.799 a Sunday afternoon, those of you listening through the KPRC 23 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:31.599 nine to five OO on the radio dial in Houston, Texas, 24 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:33.319 thank you so much for joining us. Those of you 25 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:37.079 listening through the Magic Podcast. We certainly do appreciate that. 26 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:39.319 Wherever you listen to podcasts, just look for Road to 27 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:41.840 Hope Radio. There we are and we'd love to have 28 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:44.480 you hit that little subscribe button. It'll just download each 29 00:01:44.519 --> 00:01:47.239 and every week once the show is loaded up. And 30 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:51.959 greatly appreciate it times ten. When you share the podcast, 31 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:53.959 you never know who might hear about us that needs 32 00:01:54.599 --> 00:01:57.959 the programs that we offer. So a big, big thank 33 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:00.480 you for doing that. Great thanks all so for our 34 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:02.920 sponsors allow us this opportunity to spend a little time 35 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:06.000 with you each and every week. A good friends, Billy 36 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:08.759 Connie Stagner A Corey Diamond and Design two eight one 37 00:02:08.840 --> 00:02:11.560 four eight two forty seven fifty five. When it's time 38 00:02:11.639 --> 00:02:15.599 to get that's something special for the someone special in 39 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:17.520 your life, you need to make sure you're doing with 40 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:21.639 people you trust, people who share your values. A Cory 41 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:24.800 ac R Diamond and Design two eight one four eight 42 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:28.199 two forty seven fifty five. Then well, we all have 43 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:32.280 those oops moments in life Oops steam dot com. 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But buy it 55 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:11.439 while you can buy out. Why it's available Republic Grand 56 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:16.000 Ranch dot com. All right, got a couple of guys 57 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:21.319 in the studio with us today. I want to introduce yourself. 58 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:24.879 You've been here before many times actually, so just reintroduce 59 00:03:24.919 --> 00:03:25.719 yourself to the world. 60 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:29.120 Ah. Yes, my name's Christopher P. D. Peters. 61 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:32.520 I go buy p D and Branch and Reserve. 62 00:03:33.080 --> 00:03:36.520 I was in the Army. I served in Afghanistan and Iraq. 63 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:40.439 I'm currently filling a position as a mentor in training 64 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:41.120 at Camp Hope. 65 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:42.120 How's that going. 66 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:46.840 That's going very well. A lot of knowledgeable people that 67 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:49.639 I'm working under, so I have a lot of resources 68 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:52.439 available to me. So it's really great. 69 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:55.759 How far are you into the training program. 70 00:03:56.039 --> 00:04:00.360 I'm I basically have about a half a month left 71 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:01.960 and then I'll be assigned to Bay. 72 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:05.520 All right, very cool, Well, congratulations. When did you graduate? 73 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:10.240 April April? Okay, April twenty five. How long did it 74 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:12.039 take you to get through the program in Camp Hope? 75 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:17.199 I actually spent eight months into the program. So the 76 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:20.560 way it worked out, just the time of the month 77 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:23.079 in which I showed up at camp, I had to 78 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:26.160 wait an extra month to move on to Yellow Phase. 79 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:31.040 And then I took an extra month because I got 80 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:33.959 a new sponsor and I wanted to rework my steps 81 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:37.519 with my new sponsor. And I wasn't trying to rush anything. 82 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:39.120 I wanted to do everything the right way. 83 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:42.920 Gotcha. Well, we're glad to have you as part of 84 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:47.120 the foundation. Thank you. It's awesome, grateful you're here. All right, Matthew, 85 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:48.360 you want to introduce yourself to the world. 86 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:52.240 Yeah, my name's Matthew. Eaton was a combat engineer with 87 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:57.439 second Engineers Station in White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. 88 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:02.360 It did one tour in Afghanistan Route Clearance twenty thirteen 89 00:05:03.480 --> 00:05:07.480 for seven months. I was a little late deployed. My 90 00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:10.120 unit had just deployed when I got to my unit. 91 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:12.839 So I got on a burden and went and caught him. 92 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:13.720 Gotcha. 93 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:17.920 So where'd you grow up again? I grew up in Tucson, Arizona. 94 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:22.839 I was born in Portland, but race in Arizona. 95 00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:27.639 All right, what was your claim to fame in high school? 96 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:31.600 I was a basketball player. I played basketball four years, 97 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:37.160 basically all year round. When I wasn't playing basketball, I 98 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:41.439 was golfing. I wanted to be like Mike. I gotcha, Well, 99 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:44.079 Tucson and some nice courses in the area. 100 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:46.360 Yeah. Are you any good of basketball? 101 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:48.800 I was pretty good at it. Yeah. 102 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:54.240 I tried out community college. College wasn't for me, so 103 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:57.720 I didn't stick around for too long before. I just 104 00:05:57.839 --> 00:05:58.680 continued working. 105 00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:01.920 Okay, all right, point guard, shooting guard. 106 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:04.800 I was a shooting guard small forward. With my heights, 107 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:11.480 there's utility. I played everything. I just yeah, my comfortable Yeah, 108 00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:14.279 my comfortable spot was shooting guard, small forward. 109 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:18.120 All right. Nice, So you played all four years, yes, sir? 110 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:18.720 All right? 111 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:21.160 Very cool. How long were you in community. 112 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:22.600 College the first time? 113 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:25.680 I was there for about three months, close to three 114 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:30.560 months one semester, and then I dropped out. I was 115 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:35.759 going for psychology, but my psychology teacher and I had 116 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:38.639 different views of what I thought it should be like. 117 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:42.519 So I went full time working for my dad. 118 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:44.800 What kind of work was that he. 119 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:50.879 Was He owned a small business renting equipment anything from 120 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:55.360 a lawnmower to a full sized tractor. I started working 121 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:58.439 there when I was around sixteen years old. I would 122 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:02.360 do that on the weekend outside of basketball practice. 123 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:04.879 I saw it off as like the. 124 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:08.360 Janitor basically, sure, and I worked my way up to 125 00:07:08.759 --> 00:07:10.319 then servicing all the equipment. 126 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:11.160 And then. 127 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:14.600 When I was eighteen years old and I stopped going 128 00:07:14.600 --> 00:07:18.639 to school, community school, community college, I then became a 129 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:19.399 store manager. 130 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:20.319 Nice. 131 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:23.040 That was difficult a little bit because I was eighteen 132 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:25.959 years old and I everybody was older than me, right. 133 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:29.319 Yeah, that can be a challenge, Yeah yeah, all right. 134 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:32.959 A reminder, you can find out all kinds of information 135 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:35.199 about our program at Camp Hope as well as our 136 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:39.360 outreach programs that we run across several cities across the country, 137 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:43.639 as well as one on the world Wide Web. Anyone 138 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:48.000 could join it ptsdusa dot org ptsdusa dot org for 139 00:07:48.040 --> 00:07:50.800 all the information. We're gonna take a quick break. We'll 140 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:53.240 be right back with more of Road to Hope radio. 141 00:07:57.800 --> 00:08:09.439 See and we're welcoming back Roade to Hope. Ray, You're 142 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:12.920 glad to have you along. We've got PD. 143 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:17.040 Mentor and training Camp Hope, which means he graduated the 144 00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:21.519 program at Camp Hope, which everyone that's in our mentor 145 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:23.600 program they have to be a graduate with the Camp 146 00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:26.240 Hope is the peer to peer model that we. 147 00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:28.800 Perform. 148 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:33.519 We also bring in a lot of other support systems 149 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:37.279 as well, professional licensed counselors on staff. Everyone in the 150 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:41.120 program sees a counselor at least once a week, some 151 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:44.600 multiple times in the course of the week. We have 152 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:48.559 equine therapy that takes place for some of our guys 153 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:52.600 and other forms as well. We've had art therapy, we 154 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:55.000 had all kinds of therapy that we try to introduce 155 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:59.840 the guys to why they are with us, because what 156 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:04.000 one person finds extremely helpful is not necessarily what somebody 157 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:07.600 else finds helpful. So we try to expose our vets 158 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:10.399 to a number of opportunities while they're with us. And 159 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:13.480 it's a lengthy program. Pet He mentioned he was in 160 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:16.919 the program for eight months and that's basically how designed. 161 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:20.120 Somewhere in the sixty nine month range, though, I will 162 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:23.559 say that we've had guys take up to two years 163 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:24.879 to go through the program. I had a couple of 164 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:29.039 those guys and now several who've taken a little over 165 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:32.039 a year. So it's a very intensive program. It is 166 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:35.480 all day, every day and peer to peer, faith based, 167 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:38.679 and then we bring in a lot of other support 168 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:42.039 systems do everything we can to help our veterans change 169 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:44.240 the trajectory of their life from the moment that they 170 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:48.759 walk onto our campus. So Matthew, when did you join 171 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:49.039 the Army? 172 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:53.399 What year was at I joined the Army twenty twelve 173 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:59.759 August twenty twelve, after my twenty second birthday. I join 174 00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:05.320 up Army, went to basic training and are in Fort Leanderwood, Missouri, 175 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:09.759 and then got my duty station of White Sands Missile Range. 176 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:12.519 Gotcha, why did you choose the Army? 177 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:15.279 Well, this is kind of funny. 178 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:20.360 I tried the Air Force first, and uh, well, what 179 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:22.440 attract you do the Air Force? I had a lot 180 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:24.879 of friends that I grew up with that went Air 181 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:28.399 National Guard, and they were a year older than me, 182 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:32.600 played basketball, and they just lived a life that I 183 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:37.399 would see myself doing. But I went into the Air 184 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:39.960 Force recruiter and within five minutes he told me I 185 00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:40.639 was too dumb. 186 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:42.480 How nice of me? 187 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:45.399 Yeah, so, uh yeah. 188 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:48.600 He offered to walk me over to the Navy, and 189 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:52.559 I had some not some kind words for him when 190 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:54.159 he said that, I. 191 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:57.200 Don't know what happened. 192 00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:59.799 I took his card and I just walked out with 193 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:06.720 my dad. And the very next day at work, air 194 00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:11.639 Force colonel comes into our work to rent a bacco 195 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:14.480 to level out the firing range that flooded out in 196 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:17.279 one of the storms. And I helped him out, I 197 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:21.000 you know, talked him up into everything, and he said, son, 198 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:24.720 have you ever thought about joining the forces? And I 199 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:26.360 looked at my dad and he's like, go ahead and 200 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:28.559 tell him. So I told him. I was like, actually, 201 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:31.519 I was at the Air Force recruiters yesterday and I 202 00:11:31.559 --> 00:11:33.600 told him the story, handed him the card. 203 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:36.080 He was not happy. 204 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:42.279 So a few hours went by, a few hours went by, 205 00:11:42.440 --> 00:11:45.639 and the Colonel's pulling back up and I'm scratching my head, 206 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:47.720 like we did all the paperwork, everything's done. 207 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:49.360 What happened? 208 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:53.799 Then that recruiter gets out of the car with the colonel. Oh, man, 209 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:56.639 say it, I'll do whatever I can to get you 210 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:59.240 in the air Force. I was like, I'm okay going 211 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:00.919 to the Army. 212 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:03.879 So why did you choose the Army? Then the Army. 213 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:10.919 Just because my uncle had joined the Army maybe a 214 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:15.440 year before I did, and I've always looked up to him, gotcha, 215 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:19.159 and so I just thought that would have been the 216 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:22.600 perfect route for me as well. So then I took 217 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:26.320 my ASVAB and I actually got offered intelligence in the 218 00:12:26.440 --> 00:12:29.480 very beginning. So I took that to the Air Force recruiter. 219 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:34.000 You're gonna make that one hurt, aren't you? 220 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:37.080 Yeah, just a little bit, you know, look at this. 221 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:40.879 But I turned it down because of the school for 222 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:45.039 intelligence was forty minutes from when I went to high school, 223 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:47.120 and I knew that I needed to get out of it. 224 00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:51.080 I wanted to get out, so I chose combat engineer. 225 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:55.320 They sold me on it. They said it's it's like infantry, 226 00:12:55.919 --> 00:13:00.519 but with explosives. I said, perfect, nice and get to 227 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:01.279 blow things up. 228 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:04.559 Yeah, so that's what I chose to go with. 229 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:09.159 All right, So that was twenty twelve. Yep, when was 230 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:13.720 your deployment twenty thirteen? I actually got to Afghanistan on 231 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:17.399 April Fool's Day, which I thought was a sick joke 232 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:21.519 because it looked just like White Sands, New Mexico. Thought 233 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:23.360 that they spent twenty three hours to put me on 234 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:24.360 the other side of the mountain. 235 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:29.360 It tricked me. Yeah, Pete, what year did you deploy 236 00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:30.159 to Afghanistan? 237 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:33.440 I deployed in two thousand and one, Yeah, very early. 238 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:36.200 But I was a combat engineer as well. Yeah, and 239 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:42.120 I eventually went to a leadership school for combat engineers 240 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:47.360 called Saffar School, And it's similar to ranger school that 241 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:54.679 the invantry has. It's leadership methods, small unit tactics. It's 242 00:13:55.039 --> 00:14:01.279 explosive intensive, you know, like basically teaches more about explosives. 243 00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:06.879 But yeah, So, like I've met a lot of combat 244 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:11.240 engineers on camp, and it seems like one shows up 245 00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:13.840 like every other day that hey I was a saffer 246 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:17.879 two or hey I was a combat engineer. And it's 247 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:20.840 a very wide field, like because you have combat engineers 248 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:25.759 that are equipment operators, you have combat engineers that do 249 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:32.039 blueprints and design. So like that category of combat engineers 250 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:35.080 includes a lot of different types of jobs. 251 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:39.159 Sure, whereabouts were you in Afghanistan? I know one. 252 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:46.559 I was mostly in a place called Cowst Gardetz. It's 253 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:53.759 southwest in Afghanistan, close to the Pakistan border. Then I 254 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:55.720 spent a little bit of time in Kandahar, a little 255 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:59.879 bit of time in Bogram, but I spent the majority 256 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:03.279 of time in that couch guards area. 257 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.799 What part of AGNI stand where you in? 258 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:12.039 I was south near the Pakistan border. Also in Gosney, 259 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:16.279 I was doing Route Clarence and Gosney, just clearing routes 260 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:20.080 from fob to fob and helping. 261 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:22.879 Shut down some fobs as well. 262 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.480 And how long were you there again? 263 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:26.080 I did seven months? 264 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:31.080 Seven months? Yeah, all right, yeah, Route Clarence sounds like 265 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:33.440 a lot of fun. When's the last time you do 266 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:40.840 something up legally? Twenty thirty? I want to ask you, though, 267 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:44.919 what you blew up after you came home? Just a 268 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:47.919 reminder we know as we go through some of these stories, 269 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:52.879 some of these things can be triggering. So I want 270 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:55.279 to give you our phone number eight seven seven seven 271 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:59.080 one seven seventy eight seventy three eight seven seven seven 272 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:03.279 one seven seventy eight seventy three. It will be answered 273 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:07.320 by a combat veteran. So if you come across someone 274 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:10.440 who is struggling and you know them to be a veteran, 275 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:15.000 don't just tell them to check us out. Dial that number. 276 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:19.480 Hand on the phone, say, look, the person who answers 277 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:22.519 this phone is a guy that has been to combat. 278 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:26.039 He's been through it, He's come home with the issues, 279 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:29.679 and he's learned how to cope with that, how to 280 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:34.519 overcome that and live a thriving life. Eight seven seven 281 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:37.279 seven one seven seventy eight seventy three. Combat vet will 282 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:40.759 answer the phone. It changes everything for our veterans. So 283 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:43.840 please make sure you've got that. You may never need 284 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:47.120 it may not be for you, but again you may 285 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:49.600 come across somebody who does need our services. I got 286 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:53.840 a call just just earlier today from someone reaching out 287 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:56.480 wanting to hear about how do you get into Camp 288 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:58.279 Hope and how does that all work? So eight seven 289 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:01.639 seven seven one seven seventy eight seventy three and again 290 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:06.960 PTSDUSA dot org. On the Internet. Social media is also 291 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:10.799 a great way to keep in contact with us. Obviously, 292 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:15.279 it's a more fluid way of communicating. We are constantly 293 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:19.920 sharing upcoming events. If you'd like to get involved in supporting, volunteering, 294 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:21.400 whatever it is you would like to do to be 295 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:25.400 a part of the organization, there are numerous opportunities throughout 296 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:27.839 the course of the year. We've got like five or 297 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:31.920 six golf events still to take place in twenty twenty five, 298 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.759 so there's a lot of those. You don't have to 299 00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:36.920 play golf. You can be a help with a volunteer. 300 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:40.200 You can help with setting things up, taking things down. 301 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:45.119 There's all kinds of opportunities. Again, PTSD USA on Facebook 302 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:49.759 and on the X as well as YouTube PTSD USA 303 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:52.400 PTSD USA, all right, we're going to take a quick break, 304 00:17:52.599 --> 00:18:06.960 be right back with more of Road to Hope radio. 305 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:14.960 PET When did when did you get out of the Army? 306 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:18.440 I got out in December of two thousand and nine nine. 307 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:23.119 Okay, were you experiencing any of the PTSD symbols at 308 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:24.119 that time or was it later on? 309 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:29.359 Yes, I actually started experiencing them before my last deployment. 310 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:33.839 My last deployment was to anbar province with a reserve 311 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:41.960 unit doing route clearance, and I would pretty much impress 312 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:45.200 upon my guys that if they needed to talk to somebody, 313 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:48.839 that it wasn't a sign of weakness, and that was 314 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:52.079 completely different than the message the Army was given people. 315 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:56.960 And you know, experiencing what I had up to that point, 316 00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:59.720 I wanted to make sure the guys knew where they 317 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:02.960 could turn when they came home, because they wouldn't be 318 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.359 the same. 319 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:07.480 So where did you turn when you came home? 320 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:14.440 Originally the VA, but which one it was? The Huntington 321 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:22.240 VA in Huntington, West Virginia, And I was given a 322 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:26.400 different counselor every week. And what I eventually found out 323 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:32.319 was students use it as a stopover to get credential 324 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:36.440 to eventually move on. So that's why I would never 325 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:41.079 see the same therapist. I would have to constantly reshare 326 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:44.559 my story over and over again and eventually got frustrated 327 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:44.960 with it. 328 00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:50.680 Yeah, what did you do next? So I'm presuming at 329 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:51.680 some point you're stopping that. 330 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:55.200 Oh yes, yes, I'm not going anywhere, so you just quit. 331 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:59.720 I started self medicating, very hot and heavy with self medication. 332 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:08.920 Eventually my marriage hit a rough spot and I self 333 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:16.799 medicated even more, and eventually we split up. And yeah, 334 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:24.920 I ended up experiencing all these different things and didn't 335 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:28.720 know where to turn. Camp Hope is the first place 336 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:32.519 that I had ever learned about or knew about that 337 00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:37.400 would actually provide the help that you guys help with. 338 00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:43.079 I mean, let alone the counseling, the peer to peer atmosphere, 339 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:49.559 but even a situation I was in where I was homeless, 340 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:53.200 I was without a vehicle, I was without a driver's license. 341 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:58.680 A plane ticket was purchased for me and I was 342 00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:02.000 brought out and next thing I know, I had a 343 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:04.000 place to lay my head and I had food in 344 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:04.599 my stomach. 345 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:07.960 So I. 346 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:13.240 Got to reiterate, there's no place that I know of 347 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.440 that's like Camp Hope. 348 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.400 Remind me how you heard about camp. 349 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:22.799 My platoon leader from my first deployment to Iraq actually 350 00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:28.920 came through the program in twenty seventeen, and after one 351 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:33.079 of the guys we deployed with committed suicide, we all 352 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:36.039 showed up to his funeral and he saw what kind 353 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:39.640 of state I was in, and he kind of let 354 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:42.559 me know about Camp Hope. But I wasn't ready yet. 355 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:47.519 I wanted to see if I could manage myself, you know, 356 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:56.799 and manage my alcoholism, managed my using. So eventually I 357 00:21:56.880 --> 00:22:00.839 stayed with another friend. I was living basically on his couch, 358 00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:04.599 and he saw that I wasn't getting any better, that 359 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:09.200 I wasn't handling my issues. He eventually came to me 360 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:12.200 and said, hey, I've done everything I can for you, you're 361 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:14.839 gonna have to find something else. And I remember my 362 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:17.279 pl telling me about Camp Hope and that's when I 363 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:20.960 got the information from him and contacted Camp Hope. 364 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:27.640 Gotcha, you brought something up that the story. I hear 365 00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:33.359 a lot guys would say, you know, we lost one 366 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:36.960 or three or whatever the number is while they were deployed, 367 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:42.559 and almost every time it was a multiple that guys 368 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:47.079 that have lost after coming back home. I hear that 369 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:49.519 all the time, which is one of the reasons why 370 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:52.359 you know, we have this show. And that may sound 371 00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:55.400 a little weird, but we want to get the word out. 372 00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:58.279 Camp Hope cannot be the best kept secret in town. 373 00:22:58.359 --> 00:23:00.880 We have got to get the word out that it's here. 374 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:04.240 It's at zero cost to you. Like you mentioned, we 375 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:06.759 pick up the airline ticket, We take care of everything. 376 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:11.319 You're not getting a bill while you're with us. And 377 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:14.920 it's not, you know, the five star hotel, but it's nice, 378 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:20.440 it's comfortable, it's clean, it's air condition to thank goodness. 379 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:24.200 But we bring about everything we can, all the networking 380 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:29.200 that we have built over the last thirteen years to 381 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:32.119 bear to do everything we can to help our veteran population. 382 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.759 So that's one of the reasons again why we do 383 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:37.680 the show was again we ask you to hit that 384 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:40.519 subscribe button wherever you listen to podcasts for Road to 385 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:43.480 Hope Radio and share that because you never know who 386 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:46.400 might hear about us that needs us or knows someone 387 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:51.400 that needs us. So we truly do appreciate you sharing that. Matthew, 388 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:55.039 you joined in twelve, you deployed in thirteen. When'd you 389 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:55.400 get out? 390 00:23:56.400 --> 00:24:02.200 I was out at October fourteen, Okay, I when I 391 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:06.160 got back from Afghanistan, I was struggling a little bit, 392 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:14.359 and I was given our unit was disbanding, but I 393 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:16.559 had got myself into a little bit of trouble and 394 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:21.160 I got a seventy two hour notice to turn my 395 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:23.519 stuff in and call it a day. 396 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:27.160 So I don't need to get into that. But what 397 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:30.279 were some of the things that were affecting you from 398 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:31.759 your time in combat? 399 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:36.480 I was loosing sleep. 400 00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:39.000 I was having you know, night terrors and things of 401 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.640