"VoD works to prevent and treat the invisible wounds that affect members of our Armed Forces, during and after  their service, through a sailing program which provides holistic support and resilience training."

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Sailing Address: 33 Lockwood Drive, Charleston SC 29401   

 

Mailing Address: 4363 Hope Plantation Drive, Johns Island SC 29455   

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What makes Veterans on Deck unique?       

Veterans on Deck is a nonprofit sailing program serving the military community in and around Charleston, SC. Mission: Veterans on Deck works to prevent and treat the invisible wounds that affect members of our armed forces during and after their service, through a sailing program which provides holistic support and resilience training .                                        

Who can sign up to participate?   

Our program is free and open to any active duty or veteran service members, offering several opportunities on a weekly basis to go sailing with fellow members of the Armed Forces. 

What type of activity? 

We recognize that the unique and difficult demands of service to our country can make it tough to rejoin civilian life, and that trauma exposure can make that process even more difficult. Sailing with Veterans on Deck, for those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma (MST), or any other service-related invisible wound, is a chance to focus on social stress and avoidance while creating coping skills to successfully work through these challenges.

For service members who have not yet seen combat or been deployed, sailing can also provide a few tools to help prevent the long-term effects of potential trauma exposure. Veterans on Deck does not provide traditional therapy or openly identify the diagnoses of our participants; being outdoors, among peers, and engaging in the process of making the boat move are where the therapeutic benefits are found. 


How long does the activity last?   

Each sail is 2-3 hrs long and we sail on the following days and times, all year round- unless cancelled for unsafe sailing weather. 

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What if I need help getting there? Travel and lodging?   We do not provide assistance for travel or lodging. Arrive within 30 minutes prior to the sail. Because parking is extremely limited at The Ashley Marina, we suggest parking at the City Marina (17 Lockwood Dr.) which is right next door. It’s about a 5-10 minute walk and we will validate your parking.There is a large, round wooden table located at the beginning of the dock at the Ashley Marina, which is where we all gather before heading to the boat. We leave the table at the specified sail time and walk to our boats.

Where do I sign up to participate, what info is needed?   

We do have a liability form we would need you to complete before the sail but after that, you are free to come to any of our scheduled sails. We do not require that you sign up to come sailing. All you have to do is show up to the Ashley Marina on a day that we have a regularly scheduled sail. 

Do you have a calendar of future events? 

https://www.veteransondeck.org/calendar