PROFILE #2: Whitney Meyers
I’m Whitney Meyers from Austin, Texas. At 19 I joined the Army as an 88 Mike (Motor Transport Operator) to make my dear old dad proud. I wanted to be able to go and protect my country. In 2003 I was deployed to Iraq with 123rd Main Support Battalion out of Dexheim Germany with First Armored Division. It was just before the surge and my first deployment. I deployed again in 2006, this time with the 96th Trans Unit out of Ft. Hood, Texas.
In 2007, my active military duty ended (ETS date) and I joined the Reserves. In 2011, I completed my military service all together. In total, I spent 8 years of my life in the U.S. Army. When I got out, I felt so happy; finally, I could do whatever I wanted.
Time went by and in 2010 I moved to San Diego, California with my husband. At this time we were both going through a lot of different things due to our time on the military. I realized that I was having problems with PTSD and was in denial (like a lot of other veterans). A buddy told my husband and I about P.O.W.
We meet Todd Vance, P.O.W.’s founder and head coach, through a friend and went and checked P.O.W out when they were still at the gym in North Park Gym. Instantly I was hooked. One of the things that really helped me was that Todd’s coaching reminded me so much of my squad leader and I just wanted to make him happy (and of course, myself). Meeting all of the people within the group made me feel as if I were back in a Platoon again. For me, this was very significant because I was having trouble not having the people whom I loved the most there for me anymore, i.e. military people. It’s very, very hard getting out and not having a ‘military family’ there anymore.
I started P.O.W while I was going through treatment for PTSD and going to school full-time. P.O.W. came along and I began feeling like I was back again, but with a lot more good times. Now, I am getting my head straight, getting all of my anger out and learning to make myself better. P.O.W. helped me get a sense of what I needed to do, and why, to stay on track. Doing that was amazing. I wish that I was still an active participant of P.O.W.
NOTE: Whitney Meyers is not related to Jordan Myers, subject of P.O.W. profile #2
