The headline
Symptoms cut in half.
Among participants who completed validated surveys both before and after the program, the average results moved decisively in the right direction across every measure.
Every participant’s path
Twenty journeys, one direction.
Each faint line is one participant’s PTSD symptom score before and after the program. Before, more than half scored above the threshold that signals probable PTSD. After, the cohort average dropped well below it.
PCL-5 ranges from 0 to 80; a score of 33 or above is a common screening indicator of probable PTSD. Before the program 65% of these participants scored at or above 33; afterward, just 10% did. Individual scores are shown without names to protect participant privacy.
Happiness
Life satisfaction
In their words
The numbers describe what participants felt.
“I don’t feel depressed anymore. I don’t feel alone. I have a sense of community now, my motivation is back, and I feel like I have a spark, a pep in my step.”
Recon Graduate
“Now I understand these triggers. I can step back and observe it happening, rather than being consumed by it.”
Recon Graduate
“I can’t avoid these feelings, but I can navigate them.”
“Going from getting upset to calming down and apologizing is so much quicker — within an hour now, instead of a week.”
On recovering after conflict
“They [the kids] are so much happier now. They don’t have to walk on eggshells around dad.”
On reconnecting with family
Qualitative Findings · Independent Interviews
The story behind the numbers.
Beyond the surveys, graduates described in their own words what Recon changed. Speaking about home, at work, and other areas across life.
Interviews conducted by Dr. Kate Burrows, independent evaluator
Understanding the “why”
Before Recon, many assumed their distress was permanent. Learning to understand their reactions turned frightening, unexplained sensations into something they could observe and manage.
“Maybe that’s not just a normal way of living.”Recon graduate
From eggshells to presence
Families described participants as distant and quick to anger. Afterward, the word loved ones used most was simply “happier,” and recovery after conflict shrank from days to under an hour.
“Dad is different — more loving and caring.”Family member, to the evaluator
Change other people noticed
At work, participants hid their struggle so well that colleagues had no idea. Those same coworkers later noticing real change is telling. Veterans who once avoided civilians found common ground and compassion.
“[This] has helped make living with me easier for my family. It has helped me to become positive and compassionate again.”Recon graduate
Facing what they used to avoid
Triggers that once meant avoidance such as crowds, restaurants, and a seat facing the door, became things participants could move through, returning to places they had avoided for years.
“I was unemployed, depressed, and struggled with life. Now I’m excited to be alive and proud to be a flight attendant for Delta.”Recon graduate
Navigating trauma from the past, and preparing for the future.
Across every theme the shift was the same: learning how to navigate trauma they’ve had, and carrying the tools and knowledge to manage future traumas. The candor about what still remains is part of why the gains ring true.
Based on independent interviews with 20 Recon graduates (matched) conducted between December 2024 and August 2025. Quotes are de-identified to protect participant privacy.
How we know
Measurements behind the results.
The PCL-5 for PTSD symptoms, the Subjective Happiness Scale, and a Quality of Life index — each completed by participants themselves.
Every participant answered the same surveys before the program began and again after completing it.
This report includes only those who completed both the before and after surveys, so each result reflects one person’s real change over time.
Qualitative interviews were conducted by an independent evaluator, Dr. Kate Burrows, separate from program staff and an experienced Sociologist in Veteran Affairs.
These outcomes are descriptive: they show meaningful change reported by participants before and after the program, and should not be read as proof of cause and effect. We share them honestly because the consistency between the survey results and what participants describe gives us real confidence in the work.
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