OPERATION RECONNECT
Operation Reconnect is a plan of action designed to help current and returning Veterans re-establish mutually supportive relationships by involving Veterans and their family members in outdoor activities.
Outdoor activities can provide a backdrop in which Veterans can rebuild meaningful relationships with their spouses and children, build meaningful leisure activities, and increase their physical activity
Many Veterans return from active duty with insufficient social and emotional supports, and too few meaningful leisure activities. Other Veterans return from active duty with unresolved issues, which they often attempt to avoid or ignore. These Veterans expend significant effort and energy on this avoidance – energy and effort that would be better spent on recovery and re-integration.
Operation Reconnect intends to help Veterans feel more energized to pursue a course of psychotherapy. Operation Reconnect can also assist with psychological recovery by helping Veterans and their families to benefit from the positives that military service instills: esprit de corps, training, accountability, target acquisition, attention to detail, tracking, survival skills, and teamwork
Operation Reconnect hopes to assist Veterans’ recovery and adjustment by involving Veterans and their family members in productive and reinforcing outdoor activities. Operation Reconnect will teach Veterans useful and adaptive daily living skills. By engaging Veterans and their families in fishing, camping, hunting, and other outdoor activities, they learn why preparation for these activities is important to a successful outcome, and so learn valuable life lessons.
Operation Reconnect means to dovetail with the success of many other local organizations, utilizing a Coordinator to manage the various activities and resources. Programs listed below are some of the possible candidates for this integrative effort. The Vet-to-Vet Support Group program will be an integral part of Operation Reconnect. Operation Reconnect’s coordinator is a trained and certified Vet-to-Vet facilitator, and will be using the group materials and techniques to provide a cohesive, structured, and healing atmosphere.
Operation Reconnect’s immediate target population is Veterans living in the North Vernon, Indiana area. However, Veterans from anywhere in Indiana would be welcomed to participate.
Additional likely partners:
Jennings county national resources (contact NRC)
Harold “Soup” Campbell, Mayor City of North Vernon; 143 E. Walnut St N. Vernon IN 47265; phone: 812-346-3789; fax: 812-346-8145
Steven M. Herman, Ph.D., HSPP, Director, Mental Health Clinic; Lead Psychologist, Richard L. Roudebush VAMC, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in Clinical Psychiatry, Indiana University Medical Center; phone 317-988-2642; fax 317-988-5391
Crosley Lake: (574)834-2331; Steve Mund; Brad Rhienholt, Conservation Officer; info@campcrosley.org
4-H Club Jennings Co. Tel: 812-592-1742. Trevor Lane 1030 S. County Rd. 500 E.; trevor.lane@hotmail.com
The Presnell Plantation in Morgantown; 950 S. Morgantown Rd., Morgantown, IN 46160; (866) 295-4390; Barb Wilhoit (866) 661-8818; Read more at: http://www.hookandbullet.com/hunting-presnell-plantation-morgantown-in/#ixzz36zzGBCk0
CedarLake.org
Martina Netherton
Vice-President Community Services
(502) 327-7706 ext. 3327
Email
Crusader Advanced Tactical Training
P.O. Box 123
Morgantown, IN 46160
Tel: (855)728-4868
Fax: (800)381-5294
Trinity Full Gospel
1810 W. U.S. Hwy 50
North Vernon IN 47265
Robert Johnson (Pastor)
812-390-8520
Prepared by:
Willie Steele
Operation Reconnect Coordinator
Certified Vet-to-Vet facilitator
812-953-3071
812-292-0008 (cell)