Heroes and Healthy Families Program

After over a decade of war, the United States will withdraw 73,000 troops from Iraq and Afghanistan by the end of 2012.  An estimated 500,000 will be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  The Heroes and Healthy Families program is a series of dynamic conferences that train Marine leaders and their families to identify the warning signs of combat stress disorder, substance abuse, family violence and suicide potential in themselves and in those under their command.

Experts come from all over the U.S. to share their insight on these topics as a result of their personal and professional experience with the devastation of war. Speakers include Medal of Honor recipients, Commanding Generals who have both lost their sons in Iraq, a former U.S. Surgeon General and a former NFL quarterback. These dynamic conferences focus on training Marine leaders how to identify the warning signs of combat stress disorder, substance abuse, family violence and suicide potential both in themselves and those under their command.

Heroes and Healthy Families has served over 11,000 active-duty Marines and Sailors from 8 different military installations around the U.S. The following is just one example of the overwhelmingly positive feedback Heroes and Healthy Families receives at every event:

"This was the most important conference I have ever attended in my 18 years of military service. It taught me how to identify when my Marines are at-risk of serious things such as suicide, family violence and alcoholism and what to do about it."