Project Odyssey–Revitalizing an AW2 Soldier’s Confidence

By SSG (Ret.) Leslie Wohlfeld, AW2 Veteran

While participating in Project Odyssey, activities like horseback riding helped SSG (Ret.) Leslie Wohlfeld positively deal with PTSD

My name is SSG (Ret.) Leslie Wohlfeld and I am an Army Wounded Warrior. I would like to share with you all my experiences with the Wounded Warrior Project’s (WWP) Project Odyssey this past summer. With encouragements from my AW2 Advocate, Laura Castillo and my doctor at Brooklyn VAMC, I took a leap of faith and decided I would go ahead and meet other female Veterans from OEF and OIF.

Since my return from deployment in Feb 2004, I spend most of my days and nights in a “silent world” recovering from the physical and emotional effects of war. This leaves me mentally and physically drained. I tried working several different jobs, only to quit. Prior to Project Odyssey I avoided public gatherings and large noisy crowds because I felt unsafe, anxious, and overwhelmed.

After resigning myself to no public engagement other than going to my VA medical appoints, I received a phone call from WWP asking me to join them at Project Odyssey.  I spent 5 days and 4 nights in the New York Windham Mountains. During the month of June 2010, I, along with 12 other female combat veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq, had an extraordinary experience. The staff and volunteers from Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF), WWP, and Vet Center, helped teach me different techniques in how to navigate my journey towards recovery from PTSD and my lower extremity injuries. 

Every day we were involved in different forms of physical activities during the morning followed by relaxation in the afternoon. The activities were numerous and diverse, each teaching me something new. For example, I learned how to properly ride a horse without falling off while taking picture–a feat if I do say so myself. Lucky for me, the horse knew the path.

Other activities included my first time in a kayak when I learned how to not tip over–saving myself from taking a dip in the lake. Thanks to my certified trainer we both stayed dry. Or, on another occasion, an ASF volunteer helped me get unstuck from a muddy hiking trail with a 3 wheel bicycle. I still remember hearing a battle buddy behind me, reassuring me to continue and not to turn back. She’d say, ”yes, you can do it.”  After our physical activities, we learned how to truly take deep breaths with some yoga and how to prepare our own healthy snacks.

During this experience, I never felt alone, there was always someone with me, a battle buddy, volunteer, or staff checking in to ensure that everything was okay.  Each day’s activities had an underlining theme–balancing one’s life. The energy I felt during this experience led towards a revitalization in my confidence.

Returning home, I realized it is okay to laugh, cry, relax, and trust others, knowing we are not alone in our individual battles during the healing process. I am very fortunate to have participated in this Odyssey. The bond and camaraderie I walked away with resembles a precious stone.  One cherishes it for a lifetime.