Operation: Tohidu ® Retreat Overview

On March 8, Melwood hosted its first Operation: Tohidu® program of the year with an all-women veterans group. This five-day program is reserved specifically for veterans to share common experiences and discover new ways to cope with unresolved trauma. Tohidu means peace of mind, body, and spirit.

This women-only retreat focused on a variety of educational and experiential activities that encouraged cohesiveness and resiliency in their battle to overcome post-traumatic stress in a private and trusting environment.  One participant said, “[The program helped me to] re-center myself after having a difficult time.” Another participant told us that she attended a few other veteran-focused retreats in the past but that, “Operation: Tohidu was miles above them in its effectiveness.”

The most moving experience at the retreat for many participants was during the day trip to Washington, DC, that included a stop at the Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and the Women in Military Service Memorial and Museum. Kim Dozier, author of Breathing the Fire made a presentation during the trip, discussing her journey of resiliency, survival, and healing. Kim is a journalist and was severely injured in a car bomb attack in 2006 while working as a CBS News correspondent in Iraq.

Melwood remains committed to pursuing programs that help to empower veterans and their families. We recently developed Melwood Veteran Services (MVS), a newly formed non-profit organization under the Melwood umbrella, to create a diverse range of services to support veteran employment, career development, and community integration.