Nick Benas - The Resilient Warrior: Battle-Tested Life Hacks for Military Men & Women

Contents

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THE RESILIENT WARRIOR

Text Copyright 2022 Nick Benas & Richard Bryan

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN: 978-1-57826-932-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

Printed in the United States

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THE
RESILIENT
WARRIOR

Battle-Tested Life Hacks for Military Men & Women

Nick Benas & Buzz Bryan

About the Authors

Nick Benas grew up in Guilford, Connecticut. The author of Mental Health Emergencies, Warrior Wisdom, Tactical Mobility, and co-author of The Warriors Book of Virtues, Benas is a former United States Marine Sergeant and Iraqi Combat Veteran with a background in Martial Arts (2nd Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon-Do and Green Belt Instructor in Marine Corps Martial Arts Program). Nick attended Southern Connecticut State University for his undergraduate degree in Sociology and his M.S. in Public Policy. He has been featured for his business success and entrepreneurship by more than 50 major media outlets, including Entrepreneur Magazine, Mens Health, ABC, FOX, ESPN, and CNBC.

Richard Buzz Bryan is currently the Outreach Coordinator for the West Palm Beach VA medical center. The co-author of The Warriors Book of Virtues, Buzz previously served as the OEF/OIF Transition Patient Advocate (TPA) for the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN4) based in Pittsburgh, PA for ten years, working specifically with Iraq & Afghanistan veterans. Buzz was a member of the Navy/Marine Corps team and retired from the United States Navy in July 2011 after 22 years of honorable service as a Fleet Marine Force Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman.

Praise for Resilient Warrior

Benas and Buzz continue to understand and execute on their why, and they have enlisted the help of their friends to provide a lead-by-example guide on resiliency.

Daniel Rodriguez, U.S. Army veteran & actor

I am a huge believer of being creative and adaptive in any situation. In addition, I feel how you do one thing is how you do everything. What separates greatness from normality are people who can withstand what others cant.

Steve Hess, longtime Denver Nuggets Strength & Conditioning Coach

The Resilient Warrior is the ultimate guide to creating a life of peace, happiness and contentment, not just for veterans trying to readjust to civilian life, but for anyone who wants to live life on their terms.

Lee-Anne Gilchrist, performance coach & motivational speaker

Incredibly important focus, the subject is universally relatable.

Chris Canestrari, Sales Leader/Coach

This book is the red dawn for ones soul.

Paul Guarino, founder of PG Sports

The knowledge compiled by the authors in this book is invaluable!

Joe Wadanoli, master barber & Auxiliary Coast Guard Service Member

The Resilient Warrior is a book that provides an easy reference to find the help you need, when you need it most. Nick Benas has provided the literary and self-help world with access to best practice strategies for individuals experiencing difficult life moments.

Michele Hart, LCSW, author of Mental Health Emergencies

As an Army Nurse who served in Iraq 20032004, reintegration after combat is a continuous process that last through the service-members life. The Resilient Warrior brings much needed insight for all who have served to be able to overcome, adapt and cope with the rigors of serving. Well-written, touches home, highly recommend this to anyone who has served or is serving!

Jessica M. Diaz, US Army Nurse Corps

Buzz Bryan and Nick Benas masterfully do it againdoling out compelling self-help tactics that are not just for the 1% of us who served in Americas wars, but for all of us who want to better ourselves and our families.

Patrick J. Murphy, 32nd Under Secretary of the Army & Americas First Iraq Veteran in Congress

Authors Note

O n the outskirts of Pittsburgh, tucked away in rural suburbia, two government sedans rolled down a long and winding gravel driveway. Road pebbles hitting the wheel wells, the cars pulled up to a modest raised ranch home. Buzz and his colleague Bill, Transition Patient Advocates with the VA, parked in front of the wrap-around porch and confirmed the address. Both men exited their vehicles, well-presenting in their neatly pressed slacks, crisp shirts, and ties.

They stepped onto the porch and knocked on the front door.

Nothing.

They knocked again. No answer.

Buzz glanced around the porch and pointed out to Bill what appeared to be a deliberate arrangement of garlic cloves, squirrel tails and raccoon tails, along with a silver bucket filled with corn and dried corn cobs. The pungent smell of garlic in the air was apparent.

Buzz and Bill walked around the premises. They noted a downstairs bedroom window open, and sensed someone was home. They headed back to the porch, knocked again and the vet slowly made his appearance at the door. The former combat veteran, an Army MP who had served in Iraq, had gone from being engaged in PTSD treatment through the VA to isolating himself and off meds. Buzz and Bill, himself a retired Army colonel, were sent to check on him.

Buzz asked to come in, the vet agreed, and the three men sat down at a long wooden tableBuzz and Bill at one end, the combat vet at the other. Buzz opened the conversation.

Were here just to get eyeballs on you. The clinical staff are concerned because you havent been showing up for your appointments; they have not been able to contact you and we wanted to know how youre doing, he began. We also want to know if there are any barriers you are experiencing with the VA and to let you know you can contact us at any time so that we can help you. Were not here to take you anywhere or say you have to do this or that; we just want to make sure youre OK and all is good.

For 10 to 15 minutes, each man recounted stories of his own service. Tensions eased, and the vet rose from the table and said he had something he needed to put away. Buzz and Bill observed at this point the vet was holding a .38 revolver in his hand, and it dawned on them he had had it under the tableaimed directly at them from the time they sat down.