Bows, arrows, outdoors, provide therapy at archery match

About 20 Abilene area Veterans met up on a recent Friday morning to clear their minds with some fresh air and enjoy the great outdoors. But the real draw? A bit of friendly competition and a lot of camaraderie, via an archery match organized by the Abilene Vet Center.

The 2nd Annual “Foam is our Friend” Archery Match was a scored archery event designed for shooters of all levels. Participants walked the Abilene Bow Hunter’s Association Range to shoot 3-D animal foam targets scattered throughout 200 acres of woods.

Looking for a different way to connect with area Veterans about two years ago, the Abilene Vet Center researched various options and resources in the area.

“We decided on an archery group because we wanted to do something that worked well with the Veterans’ experiences and skills. And it fit the culture they come from,” said Nick Tapie, Abilene Vet Center director. “The therapeutic part was really important, something that allowed Veterans to relax and still practice something like shooting. And it’s quiet and calming.”

Counselor told Veteran about the archery group

Army Veteran Daniel Winegeart competed in the first foam archery event. While he says he didn’t do great, he set a goal for himself for this year.

Abilene area Veterans with Vet Center archery match awards

“I have real good connection with my counselor,” he said. “I’m able to talk to him. He told me about the archery group. Sometimes, it takes a little bit to find a counselor you connect with but it’s worth trying to find that person. If you find somebody you can talk to and trust and be comfortable around, it makes it easier to keep going back.

“Honestly, I don’t like telling people my problems. I’ll keep them to myself, but the people at the Abilene Vet Center have been great. I can open up and just talk to them.”

In archery, the act of shooting a bow takes total mental focus to accomplish the one task. Minus the loud noise of a gun range, the marksmanship, skill and competition aspects are all still in play.

Really helps to just clear your mind

“Archery has been really helpful. You really have to concentrate at the moment and forget everything else that’s going on. It really helps to clear your mind and just get into your own little place,” said Winegeart. “Just being outdoors with Veterans from different branches, hear different stories and different types of lifestyles they’ve lived and see the similarities that we’ve all kind of had.”

The archery group is open to Veterans and active-duty clients of the Abilene Vet Center.

“For me, archery is a stress reliever,” said Army Veteran Patrick Whitney. “I come out here and enjoy the beautiful outdoors and hang out with other Veterans who understand each other and know where we are coming from. We just kind of relax. It makes for a good day.”

The Abilene Vet Center uses various groups like archery to teach Veterans self-care and coping skills, improve mental, emotional and physical health, build relationships, reduce stress and enjoy activities and nature.

Vet Centers offer broad range of services

“It’s outdoors, it’s social, and it brings people together as an outside activity,” said Tapie. “It’s a therapeutic thing and it requires a lot of bodily focus and bodily awareness. Your whole body is very attuned to what you’re doing when you’re doing archery. That means you can’t be other places, thinking about other things. It’s really an escape.”

Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers providing a broad range of counseling, outreach, and referral services, free-of-charge in a safe and confidential environment to eligible Veterans, active-duty service members, and National Guard and Reserve and their families.

Veterans in crisis, or friends and family concerned about one, can always connect with caring, qualified responders at VA’s Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, text 838255, or www.Veteranscrisisline.net.