In 2009, Marnie Waldrop, loving wife and mother of two young children, recognized a need to extend support to U.S. Military service members and their families. She founded the Camaraderie Foundation, a Central Florida based non-profit organization that provides counseling, as well as emotional and spiritual support to deployed or re-deployed service members and their loved ones.

“I started the Camaraderie Foundation because I observed that many couples were not being proactive about their marriage. When someone is deployed, he or she is going to come back a different person. I became a very independent spouse and I just knew that my husband, Michael, and I were going to need some help to readjust, save our marriage, and be the best parents we could be for our kids,” said Marnie, of the realization she felt when Michael, a decorated war hero and former Army Captain in Operation Enduring Freedom, returned home after serving on the frontlines in Afghanistan.

Michael, along with most of his 25-member unit, suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). “Post-Traumatic Stress has always been around, but it’s just now coming to light and being studied. Even ten years ago, PTSD was not talked about or understood,” said Michael. “Anyone who witnesses a traumatic experience can suffer from PTSD. It can impact the family unit, if not treated properly, and become a long-term situation.” Michael was wounded within the first month of his Afghanistan deployment. According to Marnie, suffering injuries, serving on the frontlines, and losing friends in battle are likely contributors to the PTSD that Michael (and those he served with) experienced.

PTSD is defined as a condition that arises after an individual has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, and results in numbness, anger, and shock. Michael says, “You can take those emotions and experiences and channel them in a positive way, instead of a negative one. That’s exactly what we are trying to do through the Camaraderie Foundation.”

Marnie and Michael knew of several service members struggling to cope with integration into a family unit without the support of a church or community group. “We noticed many of Michael’s buddies were not talking about their experiences; but bottled up their emotions, instead. They weren’t seeking help for their relationships with spouses and children and, as a result, we witnessed marriages being broken and negative factors impacting families,” said Marnie.

The Camaraderie Foundation was born out of the Waldrops’ personal experiences and their desire to help others who encountered similar situations. “We want to give back to veterans and those still in active duty by re-assuring them, as a couple, that it is ok to go to counseling. It helped us, and it can help others,” said Marnie, who hopes the community will help change the stigma associated with counseling. “It took our children about a year to adjust from me being the sole disciplinarian, to two authorities now that their daddy is home. Most of the time, they were scared that he was going to have to leave again. There’s a lot of anxiety for the children, and I would encourage people to not wait until there’s an issue.”

The Camaraderie Foundation awards sixty scholarships annually to families in Central Florida, offering them the opportunity to attend from 12 to 24 counseling sessions. Tammy Knowles, Executive Director of the Camaraderie Foundation shares, “For some, depending on the severity of their PTSD, 24 sessions may not be sufficient, but the hope is that it’s enough to encourage them to continue the journey. This scholarship program is at the core of why we exist.” PTSD, if left untreated, can lead to other issues and challenges, including suicide. Currently, one active duty service member is lost daily due to suicide.

“The holidays can be a stressful time for any family, with gifts to buy within a budget, large family gatherings, and wanting to have the ‘perfect holiday,’ but holidays can be even more stressful for those who suffer from PTSD, those who have a loved one on deployment, or veterans who are unemployed. Children can begin to question why their family is so different from that of their peers. The Camaraderie Foundation can provide counseling support to address some of these challenges. Plus, our family events invite military families to engage with their peers while celebrating the season of joy,” Tammy adds.

For more information, visit camaraderiefoundation.com or call (407) 841-0071.

Marnie Waldrop’s Steps to Positive Readjustment:

• Contact the Camaraderie Foundation before service member returns from deployment.
• Find a counselor.
• Be proactive about seeking help to work on your marriage.
• Tell your loved one (who served) that talking about what they’ve been through is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness.