Operation Tohidu®
Click the video to learn about Operation Tohidu
Veterans have dedicated their lives to the protection of our liberties and rights. Operation Tohidu® serves them and challenges them – in some cases for the first time in a life dedicated to serving others – to pursue their own right to happiness and to move forwards from their service experiences with renewed positivity and pride.
The Global War on Terror has produced more than a half million American veterans with service-related injuries. This is in addition to the pre-9/11 era veteran population, many of whom are still struggling with service-related trauma. Thousands of these men and women are coping with invisible wounds, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and moral injury, or are processing the human impacts of their military service. These warriors struggle to recover not only their health, but also their civilian or military lives: maintaining employment or duty status, finding jobs, rebuilding or maintaining family relationships, and figuring out their place in our communities. Their path is far from easy and many need our support.
Operation Tohidu® focuses on confidence-building, outdoor activities, and group discussion in a relaxed, positive environment using proven techniques for the self-management of symptoms, stressors, and responses. Our highly trained staff of certified recreational support professionals facilitate activities that highlight individual ability and teamwork, promote positive engagement, drive transformative discussions and reframe traumatic experience.
Programming is designed to facilitate post-traumatic growth and drive or initiate progress on a participant’s post-trauma journey. Operation Tohidu® assists participants in changing their mindset, reconnecting with their spiritual selves, adapting their approach to trauma, and regaining a sense of wellbeing and purpose. Melwood’s adventure-based programming and positive psychology approach combine to encourage participants to overcome obstacles to their recovery and achieve the Operation Tohidu® mission of Peace with the Past, through Power in the Present.
The thing that the global pandemic has taught us, is that the virtual component of our Tohidu program is powerful and impactful for the cohorts that have participated. The integration of virtual with in-person connection has provided us with a way forward that is unlike anything else being offered. Once the cohort meets in person, the connection has already been established allowing for a dynamic retreat. In a peaceful and secluded atmosphere, participants connect with nature and their fellow warriors to become empowered with alternative techniques to manage anxieties, post-traumatic stress and service-related issues.
Operation Tohidu® retreats are held at Melwood’s 108-acre Retreat and Recreation Center in Nanjemoy, Maryland. Participants use ropes courses, zip lines, kayaks, equine therapy and other adventurous activities to augment educational sessions, periods of introspection and reflection, group discussions and spiritual reinforcement throughout the retreat.
Once your application is completed and submitted, Melwood will reach out to you. The purpose of this contact will be to learn more about your personal situation, determine which retreat might be the best fit for you, explore scheduling options and to set up follow up calls. Since participation in Operation Tohidu® is voluntary and handled with the utmost discretion, we wish to ensure that your time with us is as productive and useful as possible in helping you achieve your personal goals. To this end a separate, individual call is arranged with a member of our staff to determine your exact needs, situation and joint goals for our engagement.
Operation: Tohidu is a retreat designed with the goal of enabling participants to heal from service-related trauma through experience-based learning and other alternative therapies and interventions.
Click the button below to learn more about what to expect from Operation Tohidu® and for essential retreat information.
If you are interested in applying please use the link below and mention the Virtual Retreat. Once your application is completed and submitted, Melwood Veterans Services will reach out to you, typically within 48 hours of registration.
CONTACT
5606 Dower House Road Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone (301)599-8000
Fax (301)599-0180
