2023 Annual Report

intentional growth FROM THE TOP

I am deeply grateful and inspired as I reflect on the intention we set at the start of the year – to thoughtfully expand our impact beyond Montana through community-driven experiences.

It wouldn’t be possible without an amazing team that has grown in both size and strength, empowering The Station to not only meet the diverse needs of SOF Warriors and their Families but to broaden and deepen our care in the communities in which our participants live. Through their commitment to service and genuine care for others, our team delivered hundreds of transformative events, touching every facet of the SOF Family.

With initiatives like the Interwoven outStations and newly developed homecoming programs in Montana, The Station continues to meet and walk alongside our Community in meaningful ways, healing those who continue to quietly serve our Nation.

Our approach is simple: We encourage participants to treat our programs as their own, embracing what resonates and learning to integrate these experiences into their daily lives. The true impact of The Station's work transcends these pages and is most evident in the lives well-lived beyond our programs.

As participants grow and move forward, we learn about the true success of our programming through personal stories and anecdotes. From service members reconnecting with their families to spouses reclaiming their health and purpose, children learning how to deal with the stressors and uncertainties in SOF and most of all, those who learn to let go of the things that no longer serve them. These testimonies remind us that the journey home from war is long, slow, and filled with challenges most of the world will never see. These are the stories that continue to inspire and activate The Station.

As we look forward, our SOF Warriors continue to face perilous missions in undisclosed corners of the globe. The physical and emotional toll of their service is immeasurable, and the need for our support has never been more critical. We remain steadfast in our commitment to secure the vital funding that makes all of this real and possible. For those who participate in or support our life-changing programs, we remain forever grateful for YOUR involvement in making The Station Foundation a true homecoming experience for the SOF Community.

KEVIN STACY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE STATION FOUNDATION

montana programs

“Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of community.” − bell hooks

Note: bell used lowercase letters for her name in order for people to focus on her message rather than her.

The Station® History And Overview

From inception, The Station knew you could not heal a community in isolation. That is why we extend care beyond the service member and provide support to the entire SOF Family unit.

Our programming equips the entire family with crucial resources to navigate the emerging and enduring challenges of their lifestyle, while also encouraging families to restore key familial relationships.

SOF FAMILIES

The Station’s headquarters, Base Camp Jimmy, provides a safe and discreet environment where families can step out of their comfort zones and strive toward meaning and purpose. Set in a remote location just outside Bozeman, Montana, The Station is nestled in the woods of the Gallatin National Forest, with the iconic Gallatin River flowing along its western border.

Base Camp Jimmy is the ideal location for our Special Operations Forces (SOF) to step away from the stressors of their day-to-day routines and step into a sacred space to heal from the impact of combat. The tranquility and stillness of nature allow participants to be present, decrease stress, and reflect on their priorities. It invites SOF to disconnect in order to reconnect.

“The Station is an intentional space created for warriors and their families. The Station has helped me bring healing to myself, to reconnect with my family, to mourn my friends with honor and grace. Through activities and relationships I experienced at The Station, I was able to take a look inward and begin the process of healing mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The space at The Station is a sacred manifestation of the warrior spirit that lies within us all. A place where we can stop the stress of what we “should” be doing and just “be.” It is a true journey home.”

–Return

Participant

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MONTANA EXPERIENCES

The Station Approach And Programming

Over the past 12 years, The Station’s programs have impacted thousands of people in the SOF Community, helping them discover new meaning and purpose beyond the battlefield.

OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED A STRONGER CONNECTION WITH MEMBERS FROM THEIR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCING SIMILAR LIFE CHALLENGES

Our powerful and genuine approach to a meaningful homecoming equips participants with the necessary tools and resources to become more engaged partners, parents, and community members.

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“I grew up in this community and then married into it. My family growing up did not have the tools that The Station offers – the family I’ve created does. Seeing the difference in the childhood my children are receiving and what

I received is night and day. These practices work, and I will forever be grateful to The Station for helping me break the cycle and keep my family emotionally healthy as we continue to meet the demands of this life.”

–Spouse Performance Program Participant

The Many Flavors Of Mindfulness

All Montana-immersive programs include the overarching theme of mindfulness. Just like ice cream, mindfulness offers many flavors.

By presenting opportunities for participants to tap into a flow state in the art studio, focus on breath while shooting an arrow, practice yoga and meditation, be present while scaling a rock wall, and enjoy silence in nature, each program allows participants to experience the benefits of mindfulness in a manner that best suits their comfort level.

Participants’ Favorite Flavors

Flow State

Power Of Breath

Just Be

Stillness & Silence

MONTANA EXPERIENCES

94%

OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THEY REALIZED THE IMPACT OF STRESS ON THE BODY AND MIND

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“Some organizations make me feel comfortable in a suit. The Station made me comfortable in my own skin.”

–Transition Azimuth Check Participant

The Station’s approach to preserve the health and wellness of the SOF Community continues to grow and evolve. Since welcoming our first participants in 2012, The Station has expanded its offerings to address a variety of needs identified by the community.

Montana-Immersive Programming

Journey of Self Care

Integrative program for spouses to learn and implement self-care practices into their daily life.

Restore

Wilderness survival program reconnecting service members and their children.

Return

Healing program helping service members to reconnect with themselves beyond the battlefield.

Spouse Performance Program

Empowering program for spouses to identify strengths and prioritize themselves.

TrAC

Transition program for service members to identify strengths and prepare for life after the military.

The Crossing Leadership wilderness program that helps Gold Star Children navigate unfamiliar terrain while forging lasting connections within the SOF Community.

“You nourished our bodies with Georgie’s comforting meals, you healed our hearts with journaling, yoga, reiki, art, mindfulness & time in nature. You thoughtfully honored our experiences with the hike up the mountain & the mantra that if it is heavy we can let it go. The song Taylor wrote with us is something I continue to listen to & reflect on. The friendships, conversations & support of the other women are what I turn to when I search for strength in myself & I can picture us holding each other’s hands in the cold river, finding our breath & surrounding each other with calm positivity. Words really can’t describe the lifelong gift you have given us but please know you really did change our lives & it’s an experience we will always treasure.”

–Journey of Self Care Participant

INTERWOVEN

Interwoven blends our approach with the SOF local community.

Interwoven History And Overview

In late 2019, our team began developing Interwoven, an outreach initiative weaving The Station’s culture of care into SOF hometowns through local events. This initiative was originally designed to offset the waitlist for spouse programming in Montana.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we temporarily suspended in-person services and quickly shifted our approach to a virtual platform. The virtual courses presented in 2020, Power of Friendship and Emotion Coaching, became our cornerstone Interwoven experiences.

The response to virtual courses was overwhelming, highlighting the urgent need for local support. In 2021, we slowly reopened to in-person programming and established our first out Station, a satellite location offering in-person day events, in Virginia Beach.

SOF COMMUNITY EVENTS HELD TO DATE

Soon after the success of our first outStation event, four more out Stations launched. The out Stations, located in areas with high concentrations of Special Operations personnel, include: Camp Lejeune, NC; Fort Liberty, NC; Fort Carson, CO; Virginia Beach, VA; and San Diego, CA.

We continue to offer virtual courses throughout the year; however, the implementation of out Stations revolutionized our approach and unlocked new opportunities to provide support.

By increasing accessibility, The Station now impacts more people than ever. As of 2023, the out Stations are fully established and well-positioned to reach more diverse demographics by including family, couple, and service member events.

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out Station Objectives

out Station events address the unique challenges of the SOF lifestyle. Participants walk away from events with an experience that gently integrates tools necessary to manage stress, prioritize well-being, enhance self-awareness, and strengthen relationships. Most importantly, out Stations create a genuinely supportive community and culture of care that has quickly become a trusted and dependable source of support.

INTERWOVEN MILESTONES

MORE THAN

1,000

SOF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS

“As an Ombudsman for two commands simultaneously (NSWAC and The CENTER) and someone who offers resources to SOF families for almost 8 years, I can say that there is a lot of talk about your foundation and events, and it is all positive! You host events that we actually want to attend and look forward to. Every event is intentional, fun, easy, straight to the point and outside the norm from other events in the SOF space.”

– NSW Volunteer, outStation: San Diego

THE NEED

The Special Operations Forces (SOF) Community endures unique stressors, collectively termed Operator Syndrome (OS), which differentiate them from other military personnel. Even during times of relative “peace,” these stressors continue for SOF and include increased operational tempo, dangerous missions, and lack of support, leading to feelings of insignificance, loneliness, and resentment.1

OS encompasses a range of interrelated health and functional impairments that impact the lives of SOF Warriors and their Families.

These symptoms include traumatic brain injury effects, endocrine dysfunction, sleep disturbances, substance abuse, depression, and suicide. Additionally, OS can contribute to marital, family, and community dysfunction, as well as problems with memory, concentration, and cognitive impairments.1

Seeking mental health support can be difficult for this community due to the stigma and apprehension about potential career repercussions. Furthermore, a lack of understanding surrounding the specific needs of SOF Families compounds these challenges, affecting their overall well-being and stability.2

Operator Syndrome (OS) symptoms include traumatic brain injury effects,

endocrine dysfunction, sleep disturbances, substance abuse, depression, and suicide.

Effectively addressing OS requires specialized immersion programs and comprehensive healing modalities. However, there is currently a scarcity of non-clinical interventions that provide these tailored approaches, highlighting the urgent need for more targeted support for the SOF Community.1

The Station’s immersive Montana programs address the feelings and stressors associated with this lifestyle through healing modalities such as yoga, mindfulness, self-care education, reflective journaling, and time in nature. Our experiences create space for SOF to build community through opportunities

to reconnect with loved ones and community members, cultivate self-compassion, share emotions with trusted peers, and improve self-awareness and self-esteem.

As an ally in breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and an advocate for those seeking support, The Station celebrates the courageous steps taken by individuals to prioritize personal wellness and move forward in their healing journey.

CITED SOURCES

1 Frueh, B. C., Madan, A., Fowler, J. C., Stomberg, S., Bradshaw, M., Kelly, K., Weinstein, B., Luttrell, M., Danner, S. G., & Beidel, D. C. (2020).

“Operator syndrome”: A unique constellation of medical and behavioral health-care needs of Military Special Operation Forces. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 55(4), 281–295.

2 Britt, T. W., Jennings, K. S., Cheung, J. H., Pury, C. L. S., & Zinzow, H. M. (2015). The role of different stigma perceptions in treatment seeking and dropout among active duty military personnel. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 38(2), 142–149.

THE WAY AHEAD

Together, We Can Achieve More

For more than 12 years, The Station has been a beacon of hope for Special Operations Warriors and their Families, providing transformative programs that empower them to navigate the relentless challenges of their unique lifestyle.

As demand for our services continues to soar, we are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of generous donors like you. In 2023, we strengthened our bonds with existing supporters and welcomed new supporters into The Station’s family, enabling us to expand our reach through innovative initiatives like the Interwoven outStations.

THE WAY AHEAD

98% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THE STATION IMPROVED THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE

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“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ”

− Aesop

As we look to the future, our aim is to secure total funding for an expanded program budget, allowing us to touch even more lives and create lasting change within the SOF Community. With your partnership, we can continue to be a source of strength, resilience, and hope for those who have sacrificed so much in service to our Nation.

THE WAY AHEAD CONTINUED

Strengthening Connections, Fostering Healing

Special Operations Care Fund

Boeing

In 2023, our long-standing partnership with the Special Operations Care Fund (SOC-F) continued flourishing as they generously supported The Station’s Montana-based programs.

SOC-F And Boeing Continue To Make Significant Investments In The Station’s Work. Thank You!

Simultaneously, our growing relationship with Boeing strengthened as they increased their support. With Boeing's generous donation, The Station continues to offer and enhance our Interwoven outStation initiative which brings this transformative programming directly to SOF hometowns.

Together, SOC-F and Boeing significantly contributed to the healing and well-being of our SOF Families. Their support has been instrumental in our ability to provide the services and programs that our families need.

THE WAY AHEAD

96% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THEY GAINED CLARITY SURROUNDING PURPOSE AND VALUES

THE WAY AHEAD CONTINUED

A Growing Force For Positive Change

We are deeply grateful for the generosity of all our donors who have chosen to support our mission of serving the SOF Community. In 2023, we were honored to welcome 123 donors into The Station’s Giving Society, contributing a minimum of $2,500. Twenty-eight of these donors are supporters who joined our cause for the first time this year.

As our programs continue to expand, particularly through our outStations, the need for dedicated supporters grows more critical. Generous supporters of our mission are vital to help us provide a meaningful homecoming for SOF Families to heal and thrive beyond the battlefield.

2023 NUMBERS

FISCAL YEAR 2023

PROGRAMS ( 74.5%) $ 2,001,346

DEVELOPMENT ( 20.0%) $ 540,403

GENERAL/ADMIN ( 5.5%) $ 148,153

TOTAL (100.0%) $ 2,689,902

MOST HELPFUL RESOURCES

THOUGHTFUL COMMUNICATION WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY 90 90%

RECOGNIZING AND PROCESSING EMOTIONAL SITUATIONS 79

The following numbers reflect the percentage of participants who will integrate specific program tools into their daily lives.

EXPLORING NATURE BREATHWORK, GRATITUDE

THE STATION PROVIDES A REMOTE MONTANA

SANCTUARY WHERE SPECIAL OPERATIONS

FORCES, FAMILIES AND GOLD STAR CHILDREN

RECHARGE, RECONNECT, AND REFOCUS ON A VIRTUOUS LIFE OF MEANING AND PURPOSE

THE STATION FOUNDATION BOZEMAN, MT ESTABLISHED 2011