MILITARY SUPPORT RETREAT APPLICATION
Please submit only one application. Tell us your first-choice retreat, and our staff will place you there or in the retreat that best fits you. Duplicate applications slow down processing for everyone.
WHO CAN ATTEND
Military Support Retreats are free, 4-day experiences for veterans and their Growth Companions, grounded in the science of post-traumatic growth.
Retreats are open to any veteran from any branch of service, whether Active Component, Reserve or National Guard, from all eras of service and regardless of discharge status. You do not need a diagnosis or a VA referral.
Every veteran attends with a Growth Companion. That can be a spouse or partner, a parent, sibling or adult child, a close friend, or a fellow veteran. Your Growth Companion is a full participant. They attend every session, take part in every activity, and receive the same post-traumatic growth education you do. This is not a couples retreat. What matters is that you trust each other deeply.
If you're having trouble choosing a Growth Companion, contact us and we'll help you think through your options.
LOCATIONS AND COST
There is no cost to attend: no application fee, no program fee, and no cost for your Growth Companion. Retreats are funded entirely through private donations.
2026 retreats are held in Amelia Island, St. Augustine and Sarasota, Florida, and at Banning Mills, Georgia. Available dates are listed in the application. Because we cannot provide travel assistance, we ask that applicants live within reasonable driving distance of a retreat location.
NEED HELP?
If you have questions or need help completing the application, contact:
Ashley Semerenko
Veteran Engagement Director, GratitudeAmerica
904-960-3493
ashley@gratitudeamerica.org
BEFORE YOU APPLY
Some of the questions are personal. Your answers help us get to know you and your Growth Companion so we can prepare a retreat that serves you both. Please answer as openly as you're comfortable.
WHAT TO EXPECT
- The application takes about 15 minutes. Please answer every question as honestly as you can.
- Our first reply will come by email. Please check your spam or junk folder, because our emails often land there.
- Submitting an application does not guarantee a spot. The next step is a phone interview with a member of our team. You will generally hear about your placement 6 to 8 weeks before the retreat date.
- If we can't place you in the retreat you chose, you will automatically be considered for future retreats.
- Veterans and Growth Companions must arrive on time and stay for the entire retreat, from Thursday evening through Sunday morning.
Thank you for taking this step. We're grateful you're here.
YOUR PRIVACY
Everything you share is confidential. It is used only by GratitudeAmerica's Military Support Retreat staff to plan your retreat and will not be shared with any other organization.