[ SECTOR: CORE MISSION ]
Who We Are
The Cedar Forest Program is a veteran‑led moral injury recovery and reintegration program for U.S. service members and first responders. We focus on treatment, education, and research that honor the real cost of service and the weight many warriors still carry. Healing here doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens through brotherhood, guided reflection, and purpose‑driven reintegration, so warriors can move forward while still honoring what they’ve lived through.
We created the Cedar Forest Program because we saw a painful gap in real help for moral injury. As veterans, we tried almost every treatment option available, therapy, groups, medications, and more. Many helped a little, but none reached the deep moral and spiritual wounds we carried. Out of that lived experience, we built this program to address what was missing and to offer a clearer, more honest path toward healing, meaning, and belonging.
[ NARRATIVE CLASSIFICATION: ORIGIN ]
Why Cedar Forest?
The Wound of Moral Injury
Moral injury is a profound inner wound to a person’s sense of trust, meaning, and identity. It occurs when a person experiences or witnesses events that deeply violate their core values and moral beliefs. This concept is as old as warfare itself; in the ancient epic, Gilgamesh’s choices led to the loss of Enkidu, leaving him to carry a heavy burden of grief and existential questioning. Today, many U.S. service members and first responders return home with similar invisible burdens. Unlike physical scars, this injury affects the soul, emerging from the complex realities of service. It is a human response to the unthinkable, signaling a need to restore the connection between one's actions, their identity, and their place in the world.
Ancient Roots in Gilgamesh
The Cedar Forest comes from the world’s oldest warrior epic. In the myth, Gilgamesh’s decision to conquer the forest and slay its guardian leads directly to the tragic death of his brother-in-arms, Enkidu. This ancient story mirrors the reality of modern war: choices made in conflict often carry heavy, unexpected consequences that result in a deep inner wound. For many veterans, this ‘moral injury’ is the internal landscape they must navigate long after the mission ends.
Healing in Community
We help warriors navigate the Cedar Forest together, never alone. Just as Gilgamesh could not face the forest without Enkidu, modern warriors are not meant to carry moral injury in isolation. Through peer-led groups, guided reflection, and shared storytelling, we provide a trusted community where experiences are named and witnessed. Here, burdens are transformed into communal strength, allowing your story to be slowly integrated into a renewed sense of purpose and identity.
Our Board
We are a veteran‑led team with more than 30 years of combined military and nonprofit experience, backed by formal training in psychology, philosophy, business management, and law, we are all focused on building better paths to moral injury recovery and long‑term healing.
Brandon
Brandon is a Marine Corps veteran who served as an infantryman with three deployments to Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, completing his service at Quantico, Virginia prior to separating in 2016. After transitioning out of the military, he served as Director of Training and Education for a civilian and law enforcement training company, continuing his commitment to developing others. He is the cofounder of the Cedar Forest Program, where his work centers on resilience, recovery, and restoring identity through peer support, experiential healing, and community.
He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology and is currently pursuing a doctorate in performance psychology, with the goal of strengthening his work with veterans and developing frontline programs that prevent moral injury and PTSD from evolving into chronic, long-term conditions. Brandon’s approach integrates research, lived experience, and a deep commitment to guiding others through challenge toward growth, strength, and renewal.
Drake
Drake is a Marine Corps veteran and nonprofit leader focused on moral injury, veteran reintegration, and mission-driven organizational effectiveness. Since his military service, he has led mental health and wellness initiatives for veterans, including peer support programs, retreats, and humanitarian efforts aimed at restoring identity and strengthening community.
He is the cofounder of the Cedar Forest Program, where he guides recovery through peer engagement, experiential interventions, and holistic practices rooted in existential philosophy.
Drake holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a concentration in legal theory from American Military University and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Nonprofit Management at Johns Hopkins University. He is committed to advancing this mission through both practice and leadership, dedicated to helping others rebuild identity, find meaning, and move forward with strength after service.
Jaye
Jaye brings over 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, dedicated to serving individuals and communities facing complex challenges. Her work has included leadership and support for organizations addressing underage substance abuse, domestic and sexual violence, housing for families of terminally and chronically ill children, and care for severely disabled veterans of the post-9/11 wars.
Her commitment to the veteran community is both professional and personal. Jaye is the mother of a post-9/11 veteran and the sister of a Navy veteran, with both of her parents having served the military in their own capacities. This lifelong connection to service has shaped her understanding the unique challenges faced by military families.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Management with a concentration in Nonprofit Leadership, along with undergraduate degrees in Behavioral Science. Jaye’s work reflects a steady, compassionate approach to fostering resilience, healing, and meaningful growth in the individuals and communities she serves.
Andrew is an Army veteran and Gold Star family member whose life and work are grounded in service, sacrifice, and a deep sense of responsibility to others. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy and is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor at the University of Missouri School of Law, continuing his commitment to serve through both leadership and advocacy.
Andrew’s connection to the military community is both deeply personal and professionally rooted, shaping a steadfast dedication to supporting veterans and their families. Proud to stand alongside the Cedar Forest mission, he brings a practical, mission-focused mindset from his time in the Army and a genuine passion for helping others navigate the complexities of transition, loss, and moral injury, contributing his perspective, leadership, and commitment to strengthening the veteran community and those it serves.
Andrew
Seth
Seth is a Marine Corps veteran who served as a Marine Mobile Team Member during the 2021 withdrawal from Kabul, Afghanistan. His commitment to service did not end with his military career. After transitioning out of the Corps, Seth continued to answer the call, deploying to Ukraine in the early stages of the conflict, supporting disaster relief efforts across the United States, and stepping into leadership roles to help build and guide veteran-focused mental health initiatives.
Driven by both personal experience and the transformation he has witnessed in others, Seth is a dedicated advocate for this mission. He remains deeply committed to the cause because of the profound impact it has had on his own life and the meaningful change he continues to see in the lives of those it serves.