Originally published: 2024-11-24T19:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.
Navy Veteran Bradley Stenstrom’s journey of healing began when his life took an unexpected turn after serving 22 years in the military. REBOOT was there to help him.
Like many Veterans, he carried with him the emotional scars of war, trauma that surfaced during his work in the security field. While stationed in the Caribbean following the devastating hurricanes in 2017, he began experiencing vivid flashbacks and unsettling memories from his deployments to Beirut, Lebanon, during the early 1980s.
Stenstrom was assigned to oversee security operations in St. Croix. The violence, looting and lawlessness triggered old wounds and he found himself grappling with unexplainable changes in his behavior.
“I would catch my self speaking to the wind,” he shared. This made him realize something was wrong and, upon returning to West Palm Beach, he sought support from VA.
Different from prescriptions and medical advice, the REBOOT Combat Recovery program was where he gained back control.
Fosters a sense of unity
The faith-based initiative is designed to help Veterans address the spiritual and moral wounds of war. The program fosters a sense of unity among the core group who come from all walks of life but share the common bond of military trauma.
Through REBOOT, Stenstrom found a safe space to confront his thoughts among Veterans just like him. One of the most significant moments in his recovery came when he was asked to share his personal story with the core group.
“This was no easy task because it involved revisiting a disturbing event from my time in Grenada in 1983 when three helicopters were shot down,” he said.
Recounting this story took him sleepless nights of soul-searching. The process of sharing brought back vivid crashing sounds, the rush of rescue and unsettling sense of the unknown. It did bring something overpowering to all the bad. It left a sense of release and connected him more deeply than ever before with Veterans.
The breakthrough not only did the unthinkable for Stenstrom by confronting his past, but also helped him reconcile with himself.
REBOOT saves lives by dropping divorce rates, medication abuse and suicide numbers. Stenstrom is one of many who proves this. For him, it was the lesson of forgiveness, both forgiving himself and allowing oneself to be forgiven by others.
Wife stood by me with patience and forgiveness
“Without forgiveness, it is impossible to move forward. My wife, Sherry, has stood by me for 42 years with her patience and forgiveness, qualities that have been and continue to be integral to my healing journey,” he said.
Since discovering forgiveness, he returns to the program no longer as a participant but now as an example and advocate. Instead of battle missions, he now participates in Veteran navigation missions where he supports Veterans navigating their healing journey.
For Stenstrom, REBOOT wasn’t a one-time solution but a continuous journey of growth and service. “REBOOT is about making peace with your demons. The program doesn’t promise overnight solutions, but it offers Veterans a path to understanding themselves and finding the answers that are already within them,” he said.
His journey through REBOOT is a testament to the power of faith, forgiveness and community. It’s a story of resilience and the determination to not only heal but to help others heal as well. Through REBOOT, Stenstrom has found his calling. He continues to dedicate his life to supporting his fellow Veterans on their path to recovery.
“There is an answer. There is a way. You’re not alone,” he added.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.
