Written by the Operation Healing Forces Team

The adage “If you are doing something right, do more of it” perfectly reflects the growth of Operation Healing Forces’ Therapeutic Retreats.  Since 2011, OHF has delivered 376 Therapeutic Retreats, with 57 additional sessions slated for 2026. While not a conventional counseling model, our program is evidence-informed, designed to enhance resilience and navigate the lasting impacts of military service. 

By pairing immersive experiences with peer support from SOF Retreat Leads—themselves dedicated to a “second service”—OHF creates an intentional space for couples and caregivers to address operational stress and the invisible wounds of service by strengthening communication and rebuilding trust.  Here, among those who understand the unique weight of the “Tip of the Spear,” quiet and profound healing begins.

Skill Building 

Each retreat provides four SOF couples with a private room and bathroom, usually in a donated home or space, surrounded by nature and the freedom to recharge and relax.  Depending on the time of year, each retreat provides activities designed to foster connection and develop or build skills to handle the challenge at hand and those to come. 

“Individually and as couples, OHF retreats build emotional regulation, self-awareness, and relational skills. People often leave with clearer boundaries, renewed purpose, and practical tools for communication and conflict resolution. Couples commonly report increased empathy and better patterns for handling stress together, changes that persist when paired with follow-up practices.” Billy DeLong, OHF Retreat Lead

“Doing challenging and meaningful events together builds dependence, trust, and confidence in one another.” Glen Mason, OHF Retreat Lead

“To me, OHF retreats build strength, resilience, and confidence for a couple that they can overcome anything that might come their way.” Jeff Tannery, OHF Retreat Lead

“We also provide them with a community of their peers to do it with. When couples learn and accomplish something together — whether it’s finishing a surf session, skiing a challenging run, or pushing through discomfort — it builds trust and teamwork in a very real way, as couples but also as a group.” Jason Forouhar, OHF Retreat Lead

Common Ground 

The private nature of the Special Operations Forces community often leads to a profound sense of isolation.  OHF’s Therapeutic Retreats intentionally counter this reality by fostering a community of “old new friends” built on shared experience and mutual support.  Within this environment, there is a natural ease where the complexities of specialized military life do not need to be explained, only acknowledged.  This common foundation builds the trust necessary for authentic connection, allowing participants to be supported in ways that are both unique and deeply meaningful.

“It’s when couples realize that whatever their struggle may be; drinking, memory issues, anger, isolation, retirement fears, that they are not alone. They’re not a bad spouse or a bad operator. What they’re experiencing is more common than they think, and because we’ve seen it before, we have resources and support to help them navigate it.” Glen Mason, OHF Retreat Lead

 “Many service members and spouses carry silent burdens. Through the environment of authenticity and safety of shared experience people can share those burdens with each other in a supportive environment, they see that they are not alone and healing is possible.” Jason Forouhar, OHF Retreat Lead

“These retreats show our SOF caregivers that they don’t have to walk this path alone. We want them to know that everyone here at OHF is behind them, offering the resources and restoration they deserve.” Tiers Arnts, OHF Retreat Lead

Time and Space

These retreats offer a rare gift of time—a space intentionally removed from the weight of daily responsibilities. By stepping away from the relentless SOF operational tempo, participants find the room for mindfulness and personal insight that daily life often obscures. We recognize that for the SOF community, “making the time for the space” is a significant challenge, which is precisely what makes this intentional pause so powerful and necessary.

“Based on participant feedback and common themes from successful retreats, one favorite aspect is the intentional space they create, uninterrupted time away from daily pressures where people can slow down, reflect, and connect.”  Billy DeLong, OHF Retreat Lead

“Providing the space and time for couples to spend intentional time with one another.  I love seeing small moments where the couple just sit and be with each other.” Chris Stowe, OHF Retreat Lead

“But just as important is the emotional safety. We don’t force vulnerability. We model it. We create space for it.” Jason Forouhar, OHF Retreat Lead

“I think retreats are effective because we provide space for healing, away from life’s stresses, where the connection that brought a couple together can thrive and once again come to the forefront.” Jeff Tannery, OHF Retreat Lead

Reconnection

Reconnection at an OHF retreat is multi-dimensional. It means deepening relationships with a spouse or significant other while building bonds with peers who share the same lived experience. Perhaps most importantly, it is a time for attendees to reconnect with their own sense of self. By stepping away from the uniform, they gain the space to remember who they are on many levels—reflecting on personal goals and rediscovering aspirations that often get lost in the mission. This intentional pause allows for a thoughtful consideration of the path forward, both during and beyond military service.

 “The combination of guided activities, quiet reflection, and informal conversation often surfaces insights that are hard to reach in ordinary life. Many attendees say the simple gift of time and attention is transformative.” Billy DeLong,  OHF Retreat Lead

“For couples, retreats rebuild trust and time to connect. They remember why they chose each other in the first place.” Jason Forouhar, OHF Retreat Lead

“The highlight of every retreat for me is the bond formed among the group. Our shared experiences create an immediate foundation of trust. There is a unique comfort in being surrounded by people who truly ‘get it’ without you having to explain a thing.  Finding a tribe that truly understands you is life-changing” Tiers Arnts, OHF Retreat Lead

 “They’re (OHF retreats) effective because couples are experiencing things together, often for the first time and often outside of their comfort zones. That means they’re growing together and creating unforgettable memories.” Glen Mason, OHF Retreat Lead

Community

Membership in the SOF network does not always guarantee consistent connection outside of the mission. Frequent relocations and evolving ranks mean that teams—and support systems—are constantly in flux. OHF retreats intentionally counter these dynamics, offering a rare opportunity to build a community that often endures for years. These weeklong experiences serve as a powerful reminder: while the nature of community may shift between active duty and life after service, it remains constant, accessible, and essential. 

“The camaraderie formed on these retreats is often immediate, following them home to create a lifelong support system they can truly lean on.” Tiers Arnts, OHF Caregiver Retreat Lead

“My favorite part of our retreats is watching couples go from being perfect strangers with the other couples to acting like best friends and sharing life experiences by the end of the week. Often, these couples keep communicating with each other long after the retreats because of the bond they develop on the retreat.” Jeff Tannery, OHF Retreat Lead

“Allowing for a small cohort of couples to be given the opportunity to learn from one another and afford the opportunities to discuss issues and challenges with one another in a protected and respectful way allows isolation to be stripped away.  It helps create friendships for life.” Chris Stowe, OHF Retreat Lead

Quiet Moments

The continual deployments and travel of the SOF community does not leave much time for reflection and healing but are they are essential for mental and physical well-being.  Think of all that can be uncovered and accomplished when both mind and body are at rest.

“Sitting in a quiet evening reflection circle after a long day in the mountains, when someone shares vulnerably for the first time and the entire group leans in with respect and understanding. Seeing spouses connect with one another and realize they aren’t alone in everything they have been through.” Jason Forouhar, OHF Retreat Lead

“Simple things like a being on a walking trail and seeing a spouse reach out to hold hands and watching the other spouse smile in surprise.  Those small moments where the retreat has provided the opportunity for them to touch hearts again with “regular life” stripped away can and is marriage saving.” Chris Stowe,  OHF Retreat Lead

 “The combination of guided activities, quiet reflection, and informal conversation often surfaces insights that are hard to reach in ordinary life. Many attendees say the simple gift of time and attention is transformative.” Billy DeLong, OHF Retreat Lead

Ultimately, the “secret sauce” of OHF is the winning alchemy of these combined elements. It is more than just the activities or the time away from a relentless tempo; it is the thoughtful integration of every component, guided by experienced Retreat Leads who deeply understand the journey. While they manage the logistics of the week, their true power lies in the subtle guidance they provide toward connection, resources, and reflection.

Operation Healing Forces has created more than a retreat; it is a space for restoration and growth at the individual, couple, and community levels. For our supporters, you are the catalyst for this resilience. For those who may one day attend, know that this is a place where you will be met with understanding, surrounded by those who share your path and given the space to reconnect with what matters most.