A group of veterans gathered last month on the North Fork of the Flathead for a fly-fishing expedition listened to a story about how the river changes over time. 

“We can focus on being sad and wishing things were different, or we can look around the bend for the next good spot,” said Katie Megahee, Army veteran and group facilitator. 

The concept of changing like the river resonates with veterans, she said.  

“It is our choice to look forward or backward,” Megahee said. “Our program is forward-focused, emphasizing post-traumatic growth, which requires looking toward what comes next.” 

For the seven veterans, who hailed from across the nation, the river trip was the start of a nine-month long personal growth program called Built for More.  

The program is offered by Warriors for Quiet Waters, a Montana-based nonprofit. The organization was founded in 2007 in Bozeman when Marine Corps veteran Eric Hastings and his wife Jean had the idea to help post-9/11 combat veterans heal by offering free fly-fishing experiences.  

Most programming happens in the Gallatin Valley area. August’s North Fork expedition was the first held in the northwest part of the state. 

“One of my favorite parts of the week was watching warriors stop fishing for periods of time to just sit and enjoy the views,” Megahee added. 

Ryan, a Warrior from Fargo, North Dakota, said during the trip, “I’m looking forward to linking these experiences to the future, and to becoming a more open person to pursuing what’s out there ... To not being afraid of change; facing yourself in the mirror and realizing what you don’t have going right, and then taking the skills you have learned and applying them.”  

Another participant on the trip, Steven, a veteran from Louisiana, said, “I foresee this program helping me in my personal life to establish healthy relationships, increase my spirituality and my mental and physical fitness, and giving me a community to help facilitate that.”  

Emily Heiber, chief marketing officer for Warriors and Quiet Waters, said expanding in Montana, both in location and number of participants, has been a focus for the organization.  

“The North Fork is a great opportunity for the warriors to have a key experience in nature,” she said. “We also want to have a presence, and have people get to know Warriors and Quiet Waters.” 

She said they have about five times as many warriors apply as they have the capacity to serve.  

“That’s always at the forefront of our minds when trying to get donor support. We are always striving to get the resources to grow the team and serve more warriors.” 

While fly-fishing is at the heart of the program, there is a sense of urgency that goes beyond the water, she said.  

“We feel urgency to serve this cohort of veterans. They leave the military, and they can lose community, identity and sense of mission – and that makes transition difficult. That’s when we see challenges with addiction and mental health. Our program is built to overcome those challenges – to help rediscover purpose and rebuild community.”  

There is a waitlist that veterans can join that will notify them when applications open, which happens a few times a year.  

“When applications open, we want to set them up for success. We have webinars and try to provide the guidance needed so they can put their best foot forward,” Heiber said. 

For more information visit www.warriorsandquietwaters.org.

    Warriors and Quiet Waters on the North Fork. (Michael MacLeod photo)
 Michael J MacLeod