In late April, veterans with PTSD and their partners will attend a free weeklong retreat in Wichita Falls, Texas. This will be the 14th Veterans Freedom Retreat (VFR) since October 2016. The program focuses on a holistic approach, treating the body, mind, and soul through experiential education, counseling, and alternative modalities.

The program has prevented 11 suicides and led to 19 marriage vow renewals, according to former Air Force Capt. Harold “Bud” Hughes, chairman of the board of VFR and president of MOAA’s Greater Granbury (Texas) Chapter.

VFR is modeled after veterans’ retreats at the National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center in Angel Fire, N.M., established in 2009 by MOAA member Lt. Col. Chuck Howe, USA (Ret). Like the retreats in Angel Fire, VFR also focuses on couples.

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“The reason is if you just address the veteran, when he or she returns home to the family environment and they don’t have someone there who understands what has happened, they can end up back in a toxic environment,” Hughes said. The veteran’s partner also can have trauma from living with the veteran.

Hughes said participants have a more than 60% reduction in symptoms.

The cost to hold one weeklong retreat is about $35,000, which includes renting the facility, purchasing food and other supplies, and bringing in staff, psychologists, and counselors to facilitate.

The generosity of individuals and groups — including the from Greater Granbury Chapter — helps to make the retreats possible. In 2023, the chapter applied for and received a Community Outreach Grant from The MOAA Foundation to support VFR. Individual chapter members have also made donations.

“Every donation helps,” said Hughes, adding that “everyone [in the chapter] is behind what we’re doing.”

“If you look at the overall thrust of MOAA — helping active duty [servicemembers] and veterans to have a better life — that’s exactly what the retreats are doing. How could you not support it?”