THE LATEST JOURNAL ENTRIES
When Warriors & Quiet Waters launched the Built for More hunting, we knew that finding the right partner to provide packs for the Warriors was critical. Serendipitously, one of the leading hunting pack manufacturers is just down the block from us in Bozeman: MYSTERY RANCH.
We've created a narrative that portrays combat veterans as victims – damaged by their service, requiring care, needing to be "helped." This narrative is not just wrong; it's destructive.
A behind-the-scenes look at the Christ Presbyterian Academy video storytelling project with WQW’s Built for More Warriors.
A personal reflection on 35 years at Simms/Revelyst and 10 years on the WQW Board of Directors from Diane Bristol.
FEATURED
LEFT OF BANG
The suicide crisis among post-9/11 combat veterans isn’t coming. It’s happening now. And what we’ve been doing to stop it isn’t working. In military terms, we need to get "left of bang."
Getting left of bang requires abandoning approaches that aren't working.
It means recognizing that access to mental health services, while important, isn't sufficient. It means understanding that veterans don't need to be "fixed" – they need to be empowered to build lives that feel as meaningful as their military service.
Most importantly, it means seeing veterans for what they actually are: not victims of their service, but carriers of its values. When we help them find ways to continue serving, to continue mattering, to continue making their fallen brothers' and sisters' sacrifices meaningful, we don't just prevent suicide – we unleash some of the most capable leaders our nation has produced.
the journal
When Warriors & Quiet Waters launched the Built for More hunting, we knew that finding the right partner to provide packs for the Warriors was critical. Serendipitously, one of the leading hunting pack manufacturers is just down the block from us in Bozeman: MYSTERY RANCH.
We've created a narrative that portrays combat veterans as victims – damaged by their service, requiring care, needing to be "helped." This narrative is not just wrong; it's destructive.
A behind-the-scenes look at the Christ Presbyterian Academy video storytelling project with WQW’s Built for More Warriors.
A personal reflection on 35 years at Simms/Revelyst and 10 years on the WQW Board of Directors from Diane Bristol.
We’re proud to feature Anthem Snacks as our Brand Partner, and recently sat down with Anthem’s VP of Marketing, Paige Billings, to learn more about why it’s so important to their team to support the work we do at WQW, and our veteran population as a whole.
Produced in partnership with Outlaw Partners, this video captures the essence of what Warriors & Quiet Waters is all about. It’s not just a highlight reel—it’s a window into the purpose, people, and outcomes that define our mission: to guide post-9/11 combat veterans to find peace, purpose, and belonging through our Built for More program.
What happens when you bring together the best food minds in Gallatin Valley under one roof? You get Warrior Taste Fest—a one-night-only culinary showcase where you can eat, sip, and vote your way through the region’s top restaurants, caterers, and craft kitchens.
Established in 2023, the Alumni Engagement Program (AEP) offers long-term support for Warriors, spouses, and caregivers after they complete in-person programming with WQW.
“I caught a fish. Then another. I tied my own flies. I fumbled and learned and kept going. And somewhere in all of that, I found something I didn’t expect: joy.”
After war, many Americans may not so readily witness the visible and invisible wounds of combat that often accompany veterans’ return home.
Human beings are not fragile. We are not made of glass, shattering at the first sign of adversity.
As we reminisce on the past year, we’re excited to share our ten favorite photos that truly capture the spirit of 2024's peak experiences in nature.
Currently, we face a staggering challenge: since January over 1,600 veterans have added their names to our waitlist and are awaiting the chance to apply to Built for More.
Meet Chris Beach, WQW Built for More program alum. Chris shares the story of his service, the struggles he faced after separating from the military, and how finding the Built for More program has truly changed his life.
At the heart of the transition from military to civilian life is the need to recognize and empower the identity transformation and finding new purpose and community.
What if the strongest predictor of your long-term health and happiness wasn’t your genetics or lifestyle choices but the strength of your relationships?
On Friday, September 6th, 2024, over 600 WQW community members came together for one of the most highly anticipated events of the year: Warrior Taste Fest.
As we step into the vibrancy of spring, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead.
No, that's not a typo. Those are titles for three different chapters in my life.
On the last Monday of May each year, Americans pause to remember and honor our war dead. It’s a fitting tribute for those who sacrificed all that they had – and ever would have - in service of something bigger than themselves: things like the honor and safety of their comrades; their mission; the legacy of their unit; the sanctity of our National Ensign; and the security of our Nation.
We are thrilled to share the incredible news that our board chair, Sandy Stash, has been elected as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE).
Warriors & Quiet Waters asked CEO Brian Gilman, Col, USMC (Retired) to share his favorite books in three different categories: Leadership, Outdoor Immersion, and Fiction. In addition, Brian shared his thoughts on the benefits of reading.
Seventeen years ago, on April 16, Warriors & Quiet Waters gained official recognition as a 501(c)(3) organization. Today, we rejoice in the history and the promising future of WQW.
WQW’s Alumni Council met at Quiet Waters Ranch in March to plan for the year ahead. WQW asked partner Sage Lodge to prepare a special dinner to thank the council for dedicating their weekend in service of the WQW Alumni.
WQW Impact: How Two Brothers Recreated Meaningful Memories on the Yellowstone
WQW’s new Board leadership is comprised of a diverse mix of national industry leaders that will help guide the organization’s capacity building and strategy to maximize its impact on post-9/11 combat veterans.
WQW Alum and Guide, Jordan, had a once in a lifetime experience exploring the Preserve and the surrounding Lee Metcalf Wilderness, and seeing various forms of wildlife, such as elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and a wolf.
Reflecting on Warriors & Quiet Waters in 2023, three words resonate profoundly: Mission, Vision, and Values.