A Deacon’s Passion
By: CNOCM (AW) Susan Fritz, (RET)
Six years ago, following my ordination to the diaconate, I was called to the ministry of Warfighter Advance, a ministry that has become near and dear to my heart. As a diaconal candidate, I was required to have a psychiatric evaluation. It just so happened that the doctor was the executive director of Warfighter Advance and a reserve Navy Commander. I was retired from the Navy but still working as a government civilian for the Navy. Being both Navy, naturally we hit it off. As we talked, she explained the mission of Warfighter Advance. I couldn’t help but want to get involved.
Warfighter Advance is a nonprofit non-medical program that provides training, team events, and alternative methods of dealing with PTS. The goal of the program is the successful reintegration of every warfighter. The ADVANCE 7-Day is a unique program that offers a solution to operational stress, psychological trauma, and reintegration issues while keeping the veteran’s careers on track. Our program is available to active duty, reserve, veteran and retired military personnel, as well as first responders. We accept military personnel from any conflict, operation, or branch, and all expenses are 100% covered.
These individuals are all highly trained team members who have suffered some kind of moral injury, those things that they cannot unsee or sexual trauma and are having trouble reintegrating back into civilian life. Most of them have resorted to medication just to feel better and to cope as much as possible. Warfighter Advance offers them alternatives to the medicine. We are not a medical program and do not provide any kind of diagnosis or medicine.
The first thing Warfighter Advance does is to give the participants back their team. The evolutions are held 6 times a year at Lions Camp Merrick in Nanjemoy, Maryland, located on the beautiful banks of the Potomac River. We welcome participants from around the world with a nice welcome dinner and introduction to the program. Each receives a set of clothing that represents their branch of service, room, meals, and transportation. Upon graduation, they become part of the alumni which has grown to over 500 strong. Each alumnus is provided with a means to stay in contact with their group and each person is contacted on the 22nd of each month by a regional person to check to see how they are doing or what we can do to help. That line of communication has become an important lifeline to many.
The program is centered around providing information and working to give them back their power that they have either lost or gave away. All the participants must do is show up and participate. For a week, the participant is provided with a morning of learning through lectures, subject matter experts and demonstrations. The afternoons are filled with team building exercises that encourage all of them to work together as one to accomplish the task.
The chaplain, who is an integral part of the program, provides spiritual guidance and counseling throughout the week. An evolution is not held without at least one chaplain present all week. As one of the chaplains, I write prayers my own prayers every day that are tailored to the specific group that is attending and what is happening such as the weather and obstacles overcome the day before. An important part of the program happens on Friday, where the group travels to Washington DC for the day. We visit specific monuments with the Vietnam wall an emotional stop for those Vietnam veterans in the group. We also take the time to visit the specific service memorials depending on services represented in each group. But the first stop is Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington is the focal point of the day and tends to be the most emotional part for the participants and the staff. For a lot of our people this is the first time they have visited a comrade who was lost to them. For those who served in a combat zone, it is probably the first time that they have gotten to say goodbye. It is a very emotional and draining day. There is always a chaplain for this visit. Prayers are offered at every grave site that is visited. Even as the chaplain, I have shipmates at Arlington that are visited every time Warfighter Advance goes there.
Every one of our staff members, instructors, and subject matter experts have served in the military or as a first responder. Some of us are retired, some have been discharged at the end of their service and some have been medically discharged but every one of us has gone through Warfighter Advance and have been helped. Every one of us gives back to the program ten-fold because we want to help others who, like us, have suffered some kind of moral injury and we become part of the team. Without our volunteers and returning alumni, this program wouldn’t exist in its current form. The program has come a long way in a short time and those of us who give back are dedicated to making this program work. My church has been great about supporting this program through me. The program is literally held in their backyard, so it is easier for them to identify with it. This program exists because of word-of-mouth testimonials and the alumni helping to recruit the next classes. Our statistics prove we are a successful program, with over 500 alumni all over the world. We can boast that no one who has gone through our program has committed suicide. Yes, members have died but not by their own hands.
When you are passionate about something, it becomes easier to prioritize it in a busy schedule and find ways to bring it up in conversation. Though at the time I didn’t know the path I would walk, my heart recognized this as a diaconal call when I first learned about this incredible organization. I have come to see the power of taking the church into the world through ministry in sometimes unexpected ways and places, and today I serve as a board member, treasurer, and chaplain.
Warfighter Advance stands by our mission, the successful reintegration of every warfighter. I could not be more proud or more humbled to assist this worthy cause.
For more information contact Deacon Susan Fritz or check out www.Warfighteradvance.org.
The Rev Susan C. Fritz
Deacon, Christ Church Durham Parish
Nanjemoy, MD