Learning to survive means more than protecting yourself from physical harm. It often requires learning to cope with difficult experiences, some of which might deeply affect you and have lasting repercussions for your relationships and emotional state. Many of the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces experience these lasting effects in the form of PTSD, and struggle to overcome past trauma to find peace.

For Veterans Day 2017, SITKA Gear created the following short film about the experiences of Ret. Master Sergeant Bobby Farmer. After graduating high school, Farmer enlisted in the Army as a Combat Engineer. In 2002, he successfully completed the Special Forces Qualification training and was assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group.

Farmer served for 10 rotations in Afghanistan and Iraq, enduring multiple gunshot and shrapnel wounds, as well as a traumatic brain injury. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star for Valor, the Army Commendation medal for Valor, and a Purple Heart. He was medically retired from the Army after 22 years of service, and has struggled with the effects of PTSD.

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Fortunately, he found a path towards healing through a new hobby: bowhunting. Watch the video below to hear the powerful story firsthand.

Today, we'd encourage you to take a moment to be thankful for veterans and all those who have served. For more information about this film and ways you can help active-duty military, veterans, and first responders, go to SitkaGear.com/placeofpeace.

Written by Patrick McCarthy