Navigating The Journey Home Through TrAC
For members of the Special Operations Forces community (SOF), coming home is not a single moment. The pace, purpose, and intensity that define life in uniform do not simply disappear when service ends. At The Station Foundation, the Transition Azimuth Check (TrAC) program exists to meet warriors in that in-between space, helping them navigate what comes next. This week’s TrAC program was shaped by intention, where time was treated as something to work with, not against.
Building Trust By Showing Up
Long hikes, silent open mat sessions, and exploratory creativity in the art shop allowed for focus without distraction. Over 10 days, participants began to notice what usually stays buried. With the support of our Mental Health Director, each person could process and reflect on memories and emotions at their own pace. As the week unfolded, connections between the members deepened. Shared meals, discussion circles, and time spent working side by side created space for trust to develop naturally.
The Art Of Transformation
Time in the art shop became another anchor. As combat uniforms were broken down and reformed into paper, participants engaged in something profound. This process of deconstructing their uniforms mirrored an internal transformation. It allowed them to examine their warrior identity, reconnect with who they were before service, and intentionally choose what comes next. Fibers once associated with rank, routine, and responsibility were reshaped and rebuilt with their own hands. This act symbolized shedding old roles to embrace new facets of self and inspiring personal growth.
Their uniform paper was later used to write letters to their families, words written on a medium that physically held their past while taking on a new form to carry forward.
Holistic Healing For Warriors
TrAC is an opportunity to reset and check one’s azimuth while translating the discipline forged in service into a life that feels aligned at home. Being surrounded by peers who understand the demands of Special Operations, and by staff who have walked similar paths, creates an environment where participants don’t have to explain themselves to be understood.
Service in SOF demands everything. Returning home from war asks for something different requiring one to slow down and get back to basics. TrAC touches every part of the warrior and is rooted in a holistic approach that supports the mind, body, and spirit. Participants leave the program better equipped to lead within their families, workplaces, and communities as they navigate the hardest mission of all: coming home with purpose.
Join our Monthly Giving community and make a lasting impact all year long. Your ongoing support ensures our programs remain accessible to Special Operations service members and their families when they need it most. Thank you for your continued support in making our mission possible.
To learn more about supporting The Station, email Shannon Stacy at: sstacy@thestationfoundation.org
