{"id":8180,"date":"2024-07-14T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-14T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8180"},"modified":"2024-07-14T18:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-07-14T18:30:00","slug":"finding-purpose-in-the-herd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8180","title":{"rendered":"Finding purpose in the HERD"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2024-07-14T18:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

Air Force Veteran Scott McLean has always found peace in the eyes of animals.<\/p>\n

It all began with his military service as a police officer, where he often spent more time with his canine partner than in his very own home. He refers to his patrol canine as his \u201ctherapist,\u201d the one he could share his thoughts with while cruising around in his police car at the Air Force base.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In service, it was not always a joy ride. It was a time where the youthful McLean witnessed traumatic events that years later would lead him to checking boxes off a symptoms list for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).<\/p>\n

He was struggling with alcoholism and the loss of his wife. Fortunately, his wingman urged him to take a visit to VA<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI used to think if I go to VA, I am taking money away from a kid who lost his leg or something. Now, I owe VA my life,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n

Getting connected and beginning therapy was just the start of him finding what he refers to now as his \u201cpurpose.\u201d Located in Delray Beach, Florida, he discovered a hidden oasis known as the HERD Foundation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gave me a sense of freedom.\u201d<\/h2>\n

Following a deep, emotional therapy session, his therapist referred him to the foundation, where he discovered the tranquility horses can bring.\u00a0\u201cFor the non-spiritual guy that I am, I cannot deny that my heart and soul opened. It gave me a sense of freedom, uplifting and release that I had not felt since before my service days,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

VA laid the steppingstones for him to follow where he found bonds and connections among the mental health team and the barn of horses. So much so that he is now the HERD Foundation Veteran Ambassador.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI never would have done this if I did not go to VA. I always knew I had something to give, but I did not know how or where. VA was that game changer and now I know my purpose,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Over 30 years sober, his story is one he hopes Veterans use as inspiration to find their own story. He is now the one urging Veterans to seek the support of VA.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He encourages Veterans to pick up a pen and write their own VA story: \u201cBe your own Veteran and get the help you need. It is there just like getting sober. You have to want to get sober; no one can force you. VA is the first step.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Veteran spent more time with his canine partner than in his home. Today, he\u2019s the HERD ambassador.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-news"],"yoast_head":"\nFinding purpose in the HERD - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Veteran spent more time with his canine partner than in his home. 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