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Air Force Wounded Warrior 2 Director Col. Tre’ Irick lights a main torch symbolizing a union with Warriors Heart.
Photos by Vicki L. George
March 10, 2025
Warriors Heart announces new collaboration
By Vicki L. George
The Bandera Prophet
Our own Warriors Heart is collaborating with the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program to join the mission, vision, values and support of the two organizations for “warriors healing warriors.”
Warriors Heart helps heal warriors from the military, veterans and first responders, who are struggling with addiction, PTSD and associated issues.
The AFW2 is “dedicated to providing comprehensive, non-medical support for seriously wounded, ill, and injured Total Force service members.”
To that end, representatives of the two organizations came together on the morning of March 6, to light the torch in the symbolic cauldron, signifying their united efforts.
The guest speaker was Col. Tre’ Irick, AFW2 Director. He lit the main torch with a smaller one.
“This is a true honor, to have a product to represent our work, to heal and to help those in need,” he said.
Warriors Heart Operations Director Zach Poteat expressed his gratitude for the symbol and for the program. Warriors Heart Shop Manager Joel Courtney attested to the positive impact of the Wood and Metal Shop electives.
The symbolic cauldron and the torches were made by the Warriors Heart teams in Texas and Virginia and were handcrafted for the USAF and the USMC. Together these teams built them in their Wood and Metal Shop. They were made especially for the upcoming 2025 Air Force & Marine Corps Trials, to be held at Joint Base San Antonio Randolph, March 14-20.
The cauldron and torches took about three months to make and will be a symbolic sign of hope and “strength through healing” at the games.
The trials are hosted by the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program/AFW2 and will feature 11 sports adapted to the individual capabilities of the wounded warriors in the Paralympic-style competitive event.
The winners will go on to compete at the 2025 Department of Defense Warrior Games that will take place later in the year in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, AFW2, is mandated by Congress and is federally funded. Since its inception, it has supported over 20,000 veterans, reinforcing the Air Force’s commitment to its people. For more information, visit www.wondedwarrior.af.mil or call 800-581-9437.
Warriors Heart has two locations: Bandera, and Milford, Virginia. It is the first and only private and accredited treatment program in the U.S. exclusively for “warriors;” that is active duty military, veterans, first responders and EMTs/paramedics dealing with addiction, PTSD, mild Traumatic Brain Injury and other associated issues.
Warriors Heart of Bandera, 756 Purple Sage Road, has a private 100-bed facility on 543 acres. In Virginia, they have a 60-bed facility. Their program has a minimum 42-day stay and offers full care with detox, treatment, outpatient, sober living, and brain treatment, as well as aftercare.
For more information, visit https://warriorsheart.com/connect or call the 24-hour hotline at 866-955-4035.
Warriors Heart helps heal warriors from the military, veterans and first responders, who are struggling with addiction, PTSD and associated issues.
The AFW2 is “dedicated to providing comprehensive, non-medical support for seriously wounded, ill, and injured Total Force service members.”
To that end, representatives of the two organizations came together on the morning of March 6, to light the torch in the symbolic cauldron, signifying their united efforts.
The guest speaker was Col. Tre’ Irick, AFW2 Director. He lit the main torch with a smaller one.
“This is a true honor, to have a product to represent our work, to heal and to help those in need,” he said.
Warriors Heart Operations Director Zach Poteat expressed his gratitude for the symbol and for the program. Warriors Heart Shop Manager Joel Courtney attested to the positive impact of the Wood and Metal Shop electives.
The symbolic cauldron and the torches were made by the Warriors Heart teams in Texas and Virginia and were handcrafted for the USAF and the USMC. Together these teams built them in their Wood and Metal Shop. They were made especially for the upcoming 2025 Air Force & Marine Corps Trials, to be held at Joint Base San Antonio Randolph, March 14-20.
The cauldron and torches took about three months to make and will be a symbolic sign of hope and “strength through healing” at the games.
The trials are hosted by the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program/AFW2 and will feature 11 sports adapted to the individual capabilities of the wounded warriors in the Paralympic-style competitive event.
The winners will go on to compete at the 2025 Department of Defense Warrior Games that will take place later in the year in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, AFW2, is mandated by Congress and is federally funded. Since its inception, it has supported over 20,000 veterans, reinforcing the Air Force’s commitment to its people. For more information, visit www.wondedwarrior.af.mil or call 800-581-9437.
Warriors Heart has two locations: Bandera, and Milford, Virginia. It is the first and only private and accredited treatment program in the U.S. exclusively for “warriors;” that is active duty military, veterans, first responders and EMTs/paramedics dealing with addiction, PTSD, mild Traumatic Brain Injury and other associated issues.
Warriors Heart of Bandera, 756 Purple Sage Road, has a private 100-bed facility on 543 acres. In Virginia, they have a 60-bed facility. Their program has a minimum 42-day stay and offers full care with detox, treatment, outpatient, sober living, and brain treatment, as well as aftercare.
For more information, visit https://warriorsheart.com/connect or call the 24-hour hotline at 866-955-4035.