Founded and Operated by US Army OIF-1 Combat-Veteran Spc. Jacob Ratliff, this association was developed to assist Veterans that have PTSD and to assist them in organized outdoor types of activities with other Veterans that suffer from PTSD. Jacob also suffers from PTSD, but throughout  the years out of the military, he found therapy through outdoor recreational activities that has  helped him cope with life after combat. His favorite activities are Mountain Biking, Surfing, Bodyboarding and Hiking. Being that he loved the outdoor lifestyle and was always around fellow Veterans, he thought he would start something that could not only benefit him, but also other Veterans that suffer from PTSD. 
 
Three to Four time a month, if not more, EVA has planned and will plan more activities that will be posted on social-media sites, in hopes to help these Veterans adjust back into society to include making new friendships as they once did while serving in the military. We hope this organization can provide a better way of life for them. Additionally, if you know anyone that would like to participate in our events, please refer them to us and we will gladly assist in any way possible.  
 
EVA is not a 501c charity just yet; all funding will solely be based on the donations received by  organizations that will support our cause. This is where Grant Proposal’s and Proposal for  Sponsorships come into play. By such types of request for assistance we hope to purchase the required equipment needed to further our operations. 
 
Recreational Therapy: Helping Soldiers Cope with PTSD More than 1 million U.S. citizens serve as active-duty military personnel. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, almost 22 million Americans are veterans of U.S. Armed Forces service. These men and women — whether serving in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps or Navy — are supported by millions more family members whose letters, phone calls and care packages are essential to buoy spirits and boost morale throughout a service-members career. 
 
Often, that need for support extends long after the battlefield quiets. Many men and women have experienced direct combat exposure or other highly stressful situations during their service.  With such a large number of people serving in active combat zones, the prevalence of Post-Traumatic  Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious concern. 
 
PTSD is defined as “an anxiety disorder that may develop after exposure to a terrifying event or  ordeal in which severe physical harm occurred or was threatened.” While PTSD more commonly affects  those who have direct experience with high-stress situations, it can also impact people who have witnessed or observed traumatic events — both directly and indirectly. It is estimated that almost  8 percent of Americans will be affected by PTSD at some point in their lives. Within the U.S. Armed  Forces, that percentage is even higher. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the number of veterans with PTSD varies by service era. For those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF), about  11-20 out of every 100 veterans has PTSD in a given year. From the Gulf War (Desert Storm), about 12 out of every 100 veterans is affected each year. And, it is estimated that 30 out of every 100 veterans who served in the Vietnam War have experienced PTSD in their lifetime. 
 
Prescribing Recreation: With so many armed forces servicemen and women experiencing PTSD in combat and upon returning home, the military and other Veteran organizations have developed effective treatment tools and methods to help individuals struggling with the disorder. Increasingly, recreational activities are being  folded into treatment plans, as they can be an effective prescription to enhance physical, mental,  social and emotional health through structured activities. Recreational therapy provides additional coping mechanisms related to stress and intense emotions by lowering levels of anxiety, providing social opportunities and creating a sense of community,  cohesion and engagement among veterans. 
 
EVA will often serve as the additional step in a Veterans treatment plan, providing outpatient  counseling in group therapy and events. EVA’s program facilitates recreation programs that  strengthen resilience and contribute to military effectiveness. Other active recreation programs that are available through EVA can be tailored specifically for units, such as alternative physical training (PT), high-intensity tactical training (HITT), aquatics maximum power intense training (AMP-IT) and functional fitness. 
 
Our program also utilizes art therapy as a mechanism for managing PTSD symptoms. Recreational therapy can provide emotional relief by encouraging free expression, and has been shown to relieve depression and anxiety. We believe the initiative is an effective tool for supporting service members with PTSD. “Recreational therapy offers activities that provide a calming, stress-free environment in which soldiers often strengthen relationships with their family as well as discovering new strengths and building life skills.” 
 
Preventative Measures: EVA focuses on a high-adventure outdoor recreation activity in which Service-Members returning from deployment participate as a unit to garner cohesion, resiliency and maintain combat readiness. We believe that this is a tool to assist Service-Members in finding a new level of normal and bringing that level down from the peak response to a stressful situation. Our association provides  recreational activities that can recreate an adrenaline rush by means of Mountain Biking, Road  Biking and Hiking, all of which are to encourage physical activity and improve mental health. 
 
Current Funding: None at this time as Founder/CEO uses personal funding to purchase small items for recreation. This includes his personal vehicle which is not at all capable of hauling big equipment and Veterans to events. Current yearly spending is under $2k. Current funding is not enough to successfully maintain EVA’s support mission. At this time only 1-2 Veterans are able to come out for recreational therapy, 
knowing if we did have the means of funding we could easily attend to 6-10 Veterans at a time if not more. 
 
In summary, anything that can be donated or discounted to help assist in the treatment of our  Veteran clientele would be greatly appreciated. The more assistance we can obtain the faster we will grow, in turn helping more Veterans out that suffer from PTSD and other symptoms related to their prior combat tours. We would like to thank you for your time and hope you can somehow help in any way possible. 
 
Necessity Equipment Cost Analysis 
 
•    $5,000-EVA Vehicle Maintenance for transportation

•    $1,000-Bicycle Gear/Equipment

•    $10,000-$12,000-Mountain bikes (3-5 bikes)

•    $500-Maintenance of bike and equipment

•    $400 to $500-Bicycle Hitch Racks (Holds 4-6 bikes)

•    $1,000-Marketing and Organization Maintenance Fees 
 
Estimated Projected Equipment Annual Cost Analysis:  $18,000-$20,000 
 
In summary, anything that can be donated or discounted to help assist in the treatment of our Veteran clientele would be greatly appreciated. The more assistance we can obtain the faster we will grow, in turn helping more Veterans out that suffer from PTSD and other symptoms related to their prior combat tours. We would like to thank you for your time and hope you can somehow help in any way possible. 
  
V/r, Jacob Cruz-Ratliff

Founder/Owner

Expeditionary Veterans Association

US Army Airborne, OIF-1 Combat Veteran  

C: 619-548-5678