One of the Only Programs That Includes the Whole Picture
Most veteran programs focus solely on the individual veteran — or limit participation to spouses only. GratitudeAmerica does something fundamentally different.
Every veteran attends alongside their chosen Growth Companion: a spouse, family member, fellow service member, or close friend who participates fully in every activity, workshop, and discussion. Not as a bystander. Not as a caregiver. As an equal partner in growth.
Your Growth Companion receives the same post-traumatic growth education you do — the same tools, the same framework, the same language for the journey ahead. Because real transformation doesn't end when you go home. It continues every day, with the person standing beside you.
Thursday Evening
Connection and Foundation: Your retreat begins with an evening focused on building the foundation that makes everything else possible. Through carefully designed introductions, you'll connect with fellow veteran-companion pairs and establish the safe, trusted environment where real growth happens. This is where the community begins.
Friday
Learning and Growing Together: The first full day blends intensive PTG education with purposeful outdoor experience. Interactive workshops explore the five domains of post traumatic growth — appreciation for life, new possibilities, personal strength, deeper relationships, and spiritual and existential change. Nature-based activities such as equine interactions, kayaking, boating, and ropes courses challenge participants in ways that spark real growth.
Saturday
Going Deeper: The second full day continues the learning with deeper exploration of moral injury, post-traumatic stress, and communication between veterans and their Growth Companions. Dynamic group sessions bring all participants together, then break into focused small groups — veterans only, companions only, and intimate pairs — so every voice is heard and every relationship is strengthened.
Sunday Morning
Integration and the Road Ahead: Your final morning focuses on one critical question: how do you take everything you've learned and build it into the life you're returning to? We create a concrete plan for continuing your growth journey at home — and close with an introduction to yoga as an ongoing tool for connection and wellness.
London Beck, USMC Veteran
2025 Program Outcomes
Measured across 11 retreats serving 300+ veterans and Growth Companions in 2025:
100% Rated the Experience Beneficial to their lives
97% Would Recommend to Another Veteran
82% Reported a Completely New Outlook on Life
23% Increase in Willingness to Share Past Struggles
That last number matters most. When warriors open up
to the people they love, families begin to heal together.
3,000+ veterans and Growth Companions served since 2013.
What You and Your Growth Companion Will Gain
A Shared Language for Growth
You and your Growth Companion will leave with the same framework, the same tools, and the same understanding of post-traumatic growth — creating a foundation for conversations and accountability that continue long after the retreat ends.
Deeper Connection
Communication between veterans and the people they love is often the first casualty of service. The retreat is specifically designed to rebuild and strengthen that connection — not just during the four days, but for life.where Veterans connect with peers, gain critical coping skills, and interact with trained staff who facilitate healing for both Veterans and their support persons.
Community With People Who Understand
You will connect with other veteran-companion pairs who are on the same road. The relationships built during the retreat consistently become some of the most meaningful of participants' lives.
Measurable Post-Traumatic Growth
Our 2025 outcomes from 214 post-retreat respondents speak for themselves: 100% rated the experience as beneficial or better. 97.2% said they would recommend it to another veteran. 81.8% reported a completely new outlook on life.
What Is a Growth Companion?
A Growth Companion is the person you choose to walk this
road with you — and choosing them is one of the most
important decisions you will make before the retreat.
This is not a support role. Your Growth Companion is a
full participant. They will attend every session, take
part in every activity, and receive the same education
in post-traumatic growth that you do. They are your
co-navigator — not a caregiver watching from the sidelines.
Your Growth Companion can be:
- Your spouse or partner
- A parent, sibling, or adult child
- A close friend who has been there for you
- A fellow veteran who could use this journey themselves
The right person is someone you trust deeply and want in your corner for the long haul. Asking someone to be your Growth Companion is not a burden — it is a gift. You are inviting them into your transformation and offering them tools that will benefit their own life as well.
Note: This is not a couples retreat. Many veterans attend with a close friend, parent, or fellow service member. What matters is the depth of trust between you.
Who Can Attend
Military Support Retreats are open to any veteran from any branch of service — Active Component, Reserve, or National Guard — representing all eras of service, regardless of discharge status.
You do not need a clinical diagnosis. You do not need a VA referral. You do not need to have struggled in any particular way. If you served and you are ready to grow, this retreat was built for you.
First responders are welcome to apply.
Every veteran must attend with a Growth Companion. If you are having difficulty identifying someone to bring, contact us — our team will help you think through your options.
Where We Meet
Retreats are held at carefully selected venues across Florida and Georgia — chosen for their natural beauty and their ability to support the nature-based experiences at the heart of our program.
2026 retreat locations include:
- Amelia Island, Florida
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Sarasota, Florida
- Banning Mills, Georgia (west of Atlanta)
Available dates are listed on the application. Programs fill quickly — apply early to secure your spot.
