Vets on Deck: sailing for a purpose

CHARLESTON, SC – Every day, hundreds of boats leave their docks and set sail in the Charleston Harbor. Most boaters go out to fish or to enjoy a day on the water. But for one boat and its crew, each time they set sail, they have a much bigger purpose. That boat is part of Veterans on Deck (VoD), a non-profit sailing program serving Charleston's military community.

The purpose of VoD is to help prevent and treat the invisible wounds that affect members of the U.S. Armed Forces during and after their service. They accomplish this through a sailing program that offers holistic support and resiliency training.

“I started attending the program as a motivation to get out of the house,” said U.S. Air Force Veteran Andrew Mitchell. “My primary care doctor suggested the program to help aid in me being more independent. Veterans on Deck was my why and the reason I was able to gain more independence.”

Their program focuses on working with Veterans and active-duty military with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Military Sexual Trauma. Still, all Veterans and active-duty military can sail with them. They offer sailing in Charleston Harbor as an informal type of therapy and allow you to meet individuals who may have had similar experiences while serving in the military.

"Veterans who have sailed with VoD report a great sense of comradery," said Paul Jacques, the President and CEO of VoD. "While on active duty, each veteran was part of a larger team, and the people who made up that team were important to them. Sailing is a team effort; all aboard have a common bond, serving our country in the military."

Each week they set sail on three different days utilizing three sailboats. The Veterans and active duty that participate are never charged a fee for the experience.

"VoD is a volunteer-run organization, so all donations are used for insurance, dockage, and boat maintenance," said Paul. "We are very frugal with the financial resources that our donors provide. VoD has received grants, donations from foundations, and support from numerous community groups and individuals. As a 501(C)3, people have donated boats to VoD that we either sail or sell."

Veterans on Deck started in 2010 when Dr. Ron Acierno, the Director of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System in Charleston, sought a different way to help Veterans suffering from PTSD. Even though the veterans participating in the current program were leaving with diminished overt PTSD symptoms, they were still suffering from social withdrawal and isolation. Dr. Acierno wanted to find a means to address and treat these lingering social issues. He turned to other civic leaders in the community who were themselves Veterans, and they began to develop the framework for what would eventually become Veterans on Deck.

"Doctor Acerno established VoD, believing that sailing would benefit veterans with PTSD," Paul said. "He and his team studied the clients who engaged with VoD, and they reported that anxiety levels decreased, and the social reintegration was beneficial."

For Veterans suffering from PTSD, interaction is not the only aspect of a social event they wish to avoid. There is also the element of social stress. Dr. Acierno and his colleagues designed a program where Veterans could gather socially but still be required to participate in an activity that affected a certain amount of social stress.

To be able to converse with others who have the same experiences and understand the language of the military was important to me, said Andrew. Using these past experiences and connections we can work together easily on the boat, and it also leads to good social interactions.

For these men and women to be helped, they had to be in a socially stressful situation that could be controlled and ultimately mastered, hopefully with positive social effects. A sailboat was the perfect location to hold these gatherings, and the sailing process was the ideal stressor; sailing can be a novel activity, is at times stressful, and, most importantly, requires teamwork to sail the boat.

"Sailing is a complex sport and takes a team effort, all working together," Paul said. "The comradery of shared military experiences helps to pave the way towards working together to sail the boat. A smooth tack or jibe, shoving off from the dock, or docking after a great sail, securing the boat until the next sail, all bring a sense of accomplishment."

 Veterans on Deck was officially approved for non-profit status in South Carolina in 2011, in addition to receiving "community partner" status with the VA. Since then, VoD has connected with several other veteran service organizations in the community and continues receiving VA referrals. VoD has extended the scope of participation through community engagement, outreach, and social media.

The Veterans who participate in the program are not the only ones who get something out of it.

"I've been sailboat racing for 28 years," Paul said. "Sharing my knowledge and experiences sailing is rewarding. However, the biggest reward is seeing the joy and excitement on the faces of first-time veterans sailing aboard one of our boats. Their joy rejuvenates my love for the sport."

No pre-registration is needed to join a voyage. You can get more information from their website: https://veteransondeck.org/, or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/veteransondeck.