VJL Behind-the-Wall Training

OPSUM

Who: Fort Carson Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) in collaboration with Veterans Justice League and the Colorado Department of Corrections.

What: A 45-minute video teleconference/speaking engagement that connects Soldiers attending the two-day ADAPT Class with prior Soldiers who have made choices that included drugs / alcohol and have been incarcerated in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Summary:  The intent of this training is to facilitate discussion between active duty servicemembers and these justice involved veterans who are currently serving a prison sentence.  These justice involved veterans with lived experience, discuss the events and behaviors that led to their conviction and how their choices impacted the things they value.  We are seeing great responses on both ends, with soldiers being very engaged and connecting the dots so hopefully they never have to go down some of these dark roads. On the other end behind the wall, we are seeing these justice involved veterans find so much purpose and meaning in sharing there stories.  Giving them a solid purpose moving forward in helping them create the culture change that is greatly needed in our ranks.  While also helping them be connected to a community they deeply care about, getting them reacquainted with the military way so they can be successful law abiding citizens and tap into there true potential.

Way Ahead: Our vision is to expand this program by encouraging Command Teams to incorporate this training in their block leave and holiday / weekend safety briefs.  After completing the Unit Risk Inventory, conduct unit briefs depending on the high-risk behaviors that were identified during the consultation and work towards changing the culture that encourages drug and alcohol use.

Soldier Testimonials

• Thank you for everything you did.  For myself, I never really thought about the aftermath of things I do but looking back now I think I got lucky.  But everything has a time on it and that luck will run out.  But I definitely am grateful to be able to hear your story and to really start looking back in my life.
  
  

• Ya’ll did great on getting the message to us and making a difference.
  
  

• The program that ya’ll have started is exactly what the military as a whole needs.  This class, but more importantly ya’ll segment, touched me and reminded me not to be complacent.  Just being a month back from the middle east, I’ve been having a hard time adjusting.  Preach said exactly how I felt.  I’d rather be across that water than to ever be locked up again.  If I could ever help or join to be a part or to just share my story.  I appreciate ya’ll so much!

• The stories had an amazing impact on me and it will make me look back and make better decisions in the future.