Retired Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent provides opening remarks

Retired Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent provides opening remarks during a military resiliency event held by the Mighty Oaks Foundation at Marine Forces Special Operations Command on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 12, 2019. The resiliency event was conducted by Might Oaks founder, Chad M. Robichaux, to provided information to Marines and Sailors about the Mighty Oaks Warrior Program. The program uses a grassroots approach, empowering veterans and active duty members to begin their healing and then be a positive impact on those in their surrounding communities. Through the methodologies used and the evaluation of those who have experienced combat, Robichaux and his team discovered that the same methods used to “heal” PTSD are equally effective if implemented prior to traumatic events such as those experienced in combat. Knouse, Kent, and Evans have all attended Robichaux’s program, bringing back with them a new understanding of post-traumatic stress and different tools to help combat the effects. Robichaux and his wife, Kathy, founded Mighty Oaks in 2011 with the goal to share their story through the trials of PTS and assist others along the path to recovery and success. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Bryann K. Whitley)