Cleared Hot - Powered By BRCC How Veterans Rebuild Purpose After Service | Montana Vet Program | EP 428
Jan 23, 2026
Join Luke Urick, Executive Director of the Montana Veterans Project, and Bryon Gustafson, Deputy Director and veteran, as they discuss innovative ways veterans can rediscover purpose through therapeutic outdoor adventures. They explore how wilderness experiences foster connection and healing, contrasting traditional care methods with veteran-led initiatives. The conversation touches on overcoming victim mentality, the significance of shared struggles, and how backcountry trips can build community and combat isolation, ultimately aiming to reduce veteran suicide.
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Reclaiming Agency Beats Victim Identity
- Veterans sometimes adopt a victim identity after service because systems and narratives can reinforce it.
- Luke says MVP exists to remind veterans they can overcome obstacles and reclaim agency.
Support Tech Frozen During IDF
- Andy recounted an indirect-fire event where a support tech froze in a bunker from fear.
- That moment revealed uneven tolerance and the need for mechanisms to regain control under stress.
Locus Of Control Shapes Trauma
- Locus of control affects post-combat outcomes; choosing to act buffers trauma impact.
- Andy notes those with choice in combat often cope better afterward than those only on the receiving end.
