Although the code of conduct of past warriors that integrate honor, courage, loyalty, respect, and compassion is still very much the same, now the battlefield is different. Many still believe that joining the military is the only way to show warrior qualities, but this is not the case. Though there will always be active conflicts around the world and warriors will be needed to fight and protect, we can be warriors in our own lives by a continuous drive to train and be prepared.

We want to build muscle memory because under stress, that’s all we have. But muscle memory is so powerful that we need to be incredibly responsible with what regiments we adopt. Think through every aspect of your training routine, from physical fitness to mental toughness, and all of the skillsets in between. What are the unintended consequences from my routines?

Maybe by recognizing how we can utilize healthy patterns of being, we would be able to lower the increasing rate of depression, suicide, and calls to crisis lines. We may not be able to change the situation, but we can change the way we react to it.

It is by returning to some of the basic principles engrained during active duty service that Veterans can learn to both survive and ultimately thrive in the civilian world. Just like shooting, by changing habits, they can change the course and trajectory of their lives. While great strides have been made to translate occupations like combat medics to civilian medical training, it is often the harder to define character traits of discipline, initiative, leadership, and service that are the most important components of success in veterans transition.

Sleep became an issue and I started drinking so much Nyquil that it was cheaper to buy the big packs at Costco. During the day I was drinking coffee and 5-hour Energy shots, left and right. I wasn’t addressing any of my emotional issues and the depression was really kicking in. Scarier questions and thoughts popped into my head and I figured if I worked out even harder, I would be too tired to even think about them.

The veterans of the Global War fit perfectly onto the chessboard known as Jiu-Jitsu. An art with its roots in warfare is the perfect setting for many veterans. The Jiu-Jitsu schools, often known as “Academies” or “Dojos” are breeding grounds for friendships and camaraderie built around moments of shared misery, glimpses of triumph and the undeniable truths about ourselves.