Army Veteran benefits from Veteran Justice program

This is the story of an Army Veteran and the Veterans Justice Outreach program which helped him find success, stability and sobriety.

Dustin Atwell grew up in Kokomo, Indiana. At 19 he joined the Army as a Patriot Launching Station Enhanced Operator. “From an early age, I had an interest in the military. After September 11, the choice was easy,” he said.

Atwell quickly developed into a standout soldier. He graduated in the top 10 percent of his bootcamp class and was selected as an honor graduate. He rapidly promoted through the ranks and was awarded two Army Achievement medals and the Army Good Conduct medal.

In 2011, Atwell was honorably discharged from the Army and moved back to Indiana with his wife to start their new life. He attended Indiana Wesleyan University for a degree in Business Management.

“My post-Army life looked promising, but my life was turned upside down when tragedy struck,” he remembered.

Lost his brother in Afghanistan

On September 15, 2012, his older brother, Marine Sergent Bradley Atwell, was killed at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, when the enemy breached the base using small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire.

The death of his brother caused Atwell to spiral into a deep depression. He developed substance abuse issues that led to his divorce and reckless behavior. In 2016, he found himself in trouble with the law and spent three years incarcerated. In 2021, he entered the Howard County Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) program.

VJO programs focus on building and sustaining partnerships between VA and key elements of the criminal justice system. Unlike traditional criminal courts, Veterans Treatment Court ensures Veterans receive treatment to address unmet clinical needs like mental health and substance abuse.

“I hated the person I became, and I needed to make a change, but I didn’t find the support I needed until I entered the VJO program,” Atwell said.

“My peer support specialist takes his job very seriously.”

Atwell was assigned a VA social worker and started receiving the support he desperately needed. He was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and started utilizing Northern Indiana VA mental health services for help with his PTSD and substance abuse. He also found housing with the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.

“I meet with my peer support specialist on a weekly basis. He takes his job and sobriety very serious. I always enjoy our conversations,” he said.

Peer support specialist are VA employees who have a mental health or a co-occurring disorder. They are trained to help Veterans with these disorders identify and achieve life and recovery goals.

“I could talk for hours about Dustin’s transformation, and I couldn’t be happier or prouder of him. Dustin has not only changed his life, but he also gives hope to Veterans in the VJO program. He is an example of what is possible if they follow his path,” said Peer Support Specialist Kevin McClafferty.

With the help of the VJO program and VA services, Atwell has found success, stability and sobriety. He has remained sober since 2021, and is engaged to fiancée, with whom the couple welcomed a healthy baby boy in 2022. He’s one year away from receiving his degree in Automotive Technology and is getting ready to graduate from the VJO program.

“The employees at VA have gone above and beyond. They do more than what their job requires, and I wouldn’t be where I am without VA,” said Atwell.