23rd Veteran, a nonprofit organization, based out of Duluth, Minnesota. Aims in providing happier and healthier lifestyles for veterans for just about a decade. And in recent years, they have been hosting their annual 23rd Veteran Reconditioning program.

23rd Veteran Recon is their flagship program. It is free for any participant. Personal trainers, positive psychologists, and military personnel collectively created the 23V Recon Playbook. A 14-week full-exposure and holistic approach to removing the negative effects of trauma. Based on self-reported data, this is one of the most effective programs developed for military and veterans who’ve experienced trauma and is free for any participant.

What is 23V Recon?

It starts out with a week in the wilderness, for this year it was a week in Alaska. They took strangers, in this case here in the Iron Range, didn’t really know each other, went out to the wilderness for a week, took away the cell phones, and were just meant to bond.

They then proceeded to have meetings 3 times a week at Mesabi Fit in Virigina, MN. They do workouts and then proceeded to work on positive psychology. Daniel Crawford, one of the veterans helping with the program explained why it was that order of operations.

“After the workouts, while our brain is changed, our brain releases a chemical called BDNF, brain derived neurotropic factor, and acts as a memory steroid. So, while we’re sweating, while our heart’s beating, our blood pressure’s up, we sit down and do gratitudes.”

Daniel has also contributed to the program by raising money and awareness, most notably through his walk to Texas. Last summer, he announced to the world that he was going to walk from Minnesota to Texas to make this happen. He set out February 3rd, left Minnesota, and I walked to Marlboro Falls, Texas. During this endeavor he met Will Steger and Michael Waldron, the founder and executive director of 23rd Veterans.

With the awareness and program growing, St. Louis County even donated $30,000 to help fund the program as donations and support from people across the Iron Range keep the program alive.

Testimonies from Veterans

Ray Elj – Found program through United Way
“So, there’s been changes in my mental well-being, not as well, like just, and physically a lot. These workouts are a killer, which is good, but our mental aptitude, I guess, has increased a lot. Able to handle stressors a lot better now and just identify some of our triggers, things like that, that would have set us off before and work on our communication skills.”

Stven Galli – Best Friend brought him into the program
“It’s open to any veteran and it helps you out in different ways. Personal life, at home, be a better husband, be a better person, whatever. But it’s not geared just towards combat veterans.”

Mark Haverland – Fitness Coach Trainer for 23rd Veteran Recon
“I know I saw these guys at orientation before they left to go to Alaska and then they spent that week in Alaska. And even in that one week after they came back from Alaska, you could see a significant change in just their behavior, how they express themselves.”

“Being the coach after they came back, it’s one thing I’m very grateful for is they accepted me into the group, and I can actually be part of the program myself as well as coaching it. And just seeing the changes in how everybody supports one another and the brother sisterhood that they have, it reminds me of being back in the military honestly.”

Charlie Cossette – Found program via word of mouth by some friends
“And how this has really changed me inside and made me feel able to communicate and share my feelings with other people.”

Elizabeth Tobolaski – Volunteered at a suicide prevention event and joined the program once life could fit it in
“The best thing I think I’ve gotten so far out of it is just a more positive mindset and just the camaraderie that I haven’t had in so long”

“I’ve set a few personal goals. One, obviously, is I want to get better in shape and then the other one is I’m really focusing on myself to try to develop my inner character and just to make myself a better person for those around me and for myself.”

The program also works to have one or two non-veteran allies as a part of the program to help support one another and grow everyone involved. This year it was 9 veterans and 2 non-veteran allies.

Tim Roxx – non-veteran ally volunteer
“Just the other day my kid pops out of bed, and he wanted to do gratitudes with me. So that was just something that really shows that this mission is worth doing and worth being a part of.”

Signing Up

Any and all veterans are welcomed and encouraged to attend the program. It is free to participate in and all that is required is contacting and signing up at their website. And from fellow veterans they shared some words of encouragement and hope.

“Yeah, what I’d like to say to fellow veterans is you’re not alone and if you need help, there’s tons of options out there for us and it’s an amazing chance to focus on yourself if you go this route or any route that there is for help. But if you need help, try to get it help.”

“Don’t hesitate if you want to do it. Do it. You don’t have to, you know, I don’t know how to put it, but it’s worth going. Even if you don’t think it’s for you or you’re thinking you’re going to be taking someone else’s spot that you think they need it more than you, it’s just a good experience. It’s free. It’s definitely worth it. Thank you.”

“You can do more than you believe is possible.”