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REBOOTing faith in life

Free course offers help to veterans and spouses

Recent graduates of the REBOOT Combat Recovery course in Lacey. Photo credit: REBOOT Combat Recovery

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To reboot a life is to restore a life.

For many psychologically wounded servicemembers suffering from PTSD and the effects it has on their families, finding a sense of hope and safety in their lives is a challenge.

The REBOOT Combat Recovery (RCR) course presents a way for veterans and their loved ones to make a transformation from hopelessness to psychological health and faith.

To that end, RCR will host a free, 12-week combat trauma recovery course Thursday, March 28, at 6 p.m. at the River Ridge Covenant Church in Lacey.

"The RCR course uses a unique blend of clinical insight and faith-based support for combat veterans and their loved ones seeking answers to defining questions about life, death, meaning and purpose," wrote Eric Scott, an Air Force veteran and the course leader. "It offers education, affirmation and support in an environment of trust."

Looking for a way to give back to the military community -- and on the advice of his wife who had read an article in this publication about a RCR course -- the Scotts decided to take the course as participants and leaders-in-training.

They learned about how a patient's question to Dr. Jenny Owens about whether a soul can die led her to found REBOOT in 2011 on the belief that the spirit of a person is worth fighting for as an alternative to traditional mental health treatment.

Scott related that during a RCR course, a Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier related how his PTSD had led him to try all of the Veterans Administrations programs, to include the use of drugs. Nothing worked.

"As the class progressed," he continued, "the soldier became an active participant, and as the class was ending, told us that if it weren't for RCR he would not be alive to talk to us."

Currently REBOOT has expanded to more than 60 locations in 23 states with a number of new locations in progress.

While the program is based on the Christian faith and its principles, participants do not have to be of any faith to participate.

"In addressing the spiritual and moral injuries of war, RCR is filling a great need to all who participate," said Scott.

"In spite of the best efforts of the mental health community in treating PTSD, a combat veteran commits suicide approximately every 20 minutes."

In extending the hand of hope to veterans and their families as they come to terms with PTSD, REBOOT points to empirical data as to the effectiveness of its leaders and courses.

Since RCR's beginning, over 4,000 individuals have graduated; the course graduation rate is 81 percent; and over 96 percent of the graduates recommend the course.

"I am so grateful to have the opportunity to give back to the community that helped me," concluded Scott.

"These meetings, and the relationships formed, are so important to healing our military families and restoring community."

To register for the upcoming REBOOT Combat Recovery, visit: rebootalliance.com/reboot#join.

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