Uniform Strength: Supporting Mental Wellness for Active-Duty Service Members and Veterans

At a remote military base in Alaska, where long, cold, and dark winters are the norm, a new focus on mental health is taking hold. At Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), located in Anchorage, efforts are underway to provide more mental health support to the 30,000 people who call the base home.

Although located alongside picturesque snow-capped mountains, frozen lakes, glaciers, and incredible wildlife, the harsh and isolated environment can take its toll.

Veteran suicide is an ongoing challenge and affects active-duty service members and veterans. In 2023, the Department of Defense reported that 12% of service members who died by suicide were active duty.

In 2021, a spike in suicides among active-duty Army soldiers in Alaska prompted a renewed focus on mental health for active-duty personnel.

“Historically, a lot of support programs started after someone left the military,” says Army Chaplain Maj. John McDougall, Deputy Installation Chaplain at JBER. “But there was a realization around what a difference it could make if we could help them before they ever take off the uniform?”

“What used to be a ‘figure it out yourself’ approach has turned into: ‘How can we help you feel more prepared and supported?’” said McDougall.

A Change in Perspective

Amid the growing concerns about mental health, JBER leaders from the Chaplain Corps connected with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) to gain additional support.

WWP™ acknowledged the success of its programs in the veteran community, particularly Project Odyssey®, an adventure-based mental health retreat created to support wounded veterans who want to improve their mental resiliency. 

WWP introduced its Project Odyssey program to active-duty service members at JBER in January 2022 and expanded to Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks, Alaska. In 2024, Project Odyssey began serving soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and in 2025, it welcomed soldiers from Fort Carson (Colorado), Fort Stewart (Georgia), and Fort Bragg (North Carolina).

Carrin’s Story: Overcoming Doubt and Finding Confidence Again

Carrin Rodriguez admits it took her longer to figure out what she wanted to do in life. After college, she began a retail career but always felt called to do something more.

“I was 28 and realized I couldn’t go after what I wanted. I prayed for a way to grow and leave my comfort zone,” she recalled.  “And then an Army recruiter walked into my job.”

After basic training, Carrin found herself stationed at JBER in Alaska. Although she was already independent and familiar with living away from home, the extreme weather and isolation made military life more difficult.

“Because of the age difference between myself and my peers, there were not many people I could connect with on the same level or with the same experiences,” she said.

Carrin experienced a heartbreaking miscarriage in 2022, which deeply affected her mental state.

Seeking support from her unit chaplain, Carrin learned about the Project Odyssey program from WWP. The weeklong retreat with fellow soldiers sounded like the perfect opportunity to rebuild. What she didn't anticipate, though, was that the retreat would fall on the one-year anniversary of losing her baby. 

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“Looking back, it was the perfect time to go on that Project Odyssey. I’d been holding on to so much, and I didn’t know how to let it go,” said Carrin.

Through the retreat, she began to heal.

“One lesson really stuck with me: You are not your thoughts. We often tell ourselves things that aren’t true, like ‘I’m not good enough’ or ‘I’ll never feel better.’ But the retreat helped me see that what happened to me didn’t define who I was.”

Carrin credits the experience with helping her gain confidence and setting her on a healthier path, both mentally and emotionally.

She tells others, “Don’t be afraid of your potential. The biggest mistakes I’ve made came from doubting myself. The Project Odyssey retreat helped me believe in myself again.”

Carrin has come full circle now, welcoming a healthy baby girl in May 2025.

Alex’s Story: Finding Clarity and Control

Alex Becker, 23, joined the Army straight out of high school. He’s spent most of his service as a combat engineer at JBER, noting that the distance from family and limited sunlight was difficult when he first arrived in Alaska.

“When I first got here, I didn’t really know how to deal with everything I was feeling,” said Alex, adding that he has attention deficit disorder. “I’d been in therapy since I was 14, so I wasn’t  new to mental health support, but I still had anxiety, and it got hard some days,” he said, sharing an example: “I would get super worried that something would happen, and I would just shake violently every time I got on an aircraft.”

After losing a close friend to suicide, Alex found solace in alcohol. “I didn’t have anything to regulate my emotions.”

Asking for help seemed impossible. “There had been a stigma that seeking help was bad.”

Thankfully, the chaplain assigned to Alex’s unit noticed he seemed more stressed and anxious than usual. The chaplain recommended participating in a Project Odyssey retreat at a nearby ski resort. As an avid snowboarder, Alex agreed. He returned feeling stronger and more balanced.

“Going through Project Odyssey, I learned more about how to deal with stress without feeling overwhelmed or getting angry all the time,” he explained. “But it wasn’t just about emotions. Project Odyssey helped me see my value. It helped me understand myself better and see the bigger picture.”

Alex attributes Project Odyssey to his decision to extend his military service by two years and to helping him clarify his future career plans. Still wanting to serve others, Alex plans to transition to the National Guard and join a local fire department when he returns home to Indiana. He is now training to become a paramedic and feels confident in his ability to handle future challenges.

“The tools I got through the program will help me not just in the Army, but for the rest of my life,” he said.

A Chaplain’s View: Support That Feels Real

Chaplain McDougall has been in uniform for more than 25 years, starting as an infantry officer before becoming a pastor and chaplain. He’s seen a transformation in how the Army talks about mental health.

“There used to be this idea that if you needed help, you were weak,” he said. “But that’s changing. Leaders are now sharing their own experiences with getting support. It’s making a huge difference in reducing stigma.”

Chaplains are commissioned officers stationed wherever military members are. They are responsible for providing spiritual support regardless of religious background. They often serve as the first person a soldier might talk to for guidance.

“We wear the same uniform and work in the same buildings. We’re part of their daily life. And because our conversations are private, soldiers often feel more comfortable opening up.”

However, Chaplain McDougall had doubts when he first heard about WWP and Project Odyssey. “To be honest, I was skeptical. But after that first group of about 20 soldiers came back, they were full of positive feedback.”

The most significant change he saw was in the soldiers’ confidence. “They come back with stronger self-esteem and new connections,” he said.

“They also gained tools to deal with everyday stress, from relationships to finances, and even how to cope with losing their phone or keys. That kind of resilience makes a real difference.”

Word began to spread about this new program.

“Soldiers who go on the retreat come back with their WWP hats, bags, and stories — and they’re telling others to sign up,” shared Chaplain McDougall, adding he hopes more service members embrace mental well-being.

“We have thousands of service members in Alaska alone, and we’re only reaching a small group so far,” he says. “The challenge is how to scale this — to make it available to everyone who needs it. But in the meantime, the more we can normalize this, the stronger our people will be — not just in the military, but for the rest of their lives.”

Find out how Wounded Warrior Projects honors and empowers those who serve.

Views expressed by parties in this article are their own. Comments do not denote endorsement of any Wounded Warrior Project entity or project by the 11th Airborne Division, its leaders, or the U.S. Army or Department of Defense (DoD). The appearance of DoD visual information also does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

Contact: Cynthia Weiss – Public Relations, cweiss@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.738.2589

About Wounded Warrior Project

Wounded Warrior Project is our nation’s leading veterans service organization, focused on the total well-being of post-9/11 wounded, ill, or injured veterans. Our programs, advocacy, and awareness efforts help warriors thrive, provide essential lifelines to families and caregivers, and prevent veteran suicides. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.