J. French

Every event that I’m fortunate enough to participate in is an adventure. There are many facets that make these events so special. The first would most likely be thought of as getting away from an everyday stressful and hard lifestyle. For some the struggle/work might be making ends meet financially, being married and supporting a spouse and kids or finding a new profession (one that is rewarding and appreciated). One thing that it seems all of us warriors continuously fight to understand are things like: fitting into the mainstream of society, how best to make a difference like I used to, why are civilian’s morals and values so different than mine and those I served with, and the thought of not being at the pinnacle of life itself , defying death and protecting and being protected by your brothers and sisters fighting along side of you. You struggle with that loss of identity and strive to have that impact on those around you. Those struggles often lead to an inability to relax and breathe. These events like the 9th annual Wisconsin Cast & Blast allocate the time into a Warrior’s life providing a true moment to slow down, listen to the wilderness around us and breathe. It is natural, hunting and fishing are so primitive, in a way it forces us to relax and focus. The camaraderie is the second aspect that makes these events so special. Warrior cultures that we are accustomed to are based on simple morals and values like respect, honesty, brother/sisterhood, hard work and a lot of sacrifice. In today’s society, it’s sad to say that people with these like norms are scarce. Warriors feel comfortable and desire to be with these like people, typically other military and prior service members. When warriors like Blake, Dan, Guy, Thomas and Tony Kopchinski get together there is that immediate connection. The feeling of someone having your back and having proven to have sacrificed him/her self for you or those just like you. Although we may think “It’s only us” that can connect in this manner, the people who host the Wisconsin Cast & Blast, Todd and Dawn Bohm, Mike, Bill, Big Todd and all those that are involved with the event, share those similar values. It’s that likeness that helps us Warriors feel more connected with our society. They treat us like we treat each other, that is both rare and special. The group dynamics of this event were excellent and what many of us Warriors strive to achieve in our post military careers. Warriors share with other Warriors and people they feel comfortable with, like the Bohm’s, Tony and all the volunteers that helped make this event the success it was. We shared stories , feelings, good and bad experiences, tips to overcome obstacles in our individual lives, as well as tips to help better each other professionally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally and even helpful insights for programs designed to help us. This event was the catalyst for all these facets to come together. The intuition and realization of both the WWIA Founder and the individual event hosts, such as the ones on this event, are absolutely incredible. The friendships, relationships and memories will leave a beneficial impact for all of us involved. God Bless these extraordinary people who gave this to all of us Warriors, thank you!