In 2022, the US Census Bureau reported approximately 16.2 million veterans in the United States. Though exact figures are impossible to calculate, current estimates suggest around 30% of them have a disability related to their time in the service. More specifically, there are 4.9 million veterans living with visible and invisible injuries nationwide. It’s Patriots for Disabled Diver’s stated mission to bring the therapeutic benefits of scuba diving to as many of these injured veterans as possible, but who qualifies for our programs? Read on to learn all about what it takes to participate in a PFDD-sponsored scuba diving program.
Who Does PFDD Train?
Our programs focus on injured veterans, and we support a wide array of injuries. While many of our participants have visible injuries, the vast majority of PFDD participants have invisible injuries such as PTSD, TBI, major depression, or anxiety disorders. In fact, if you ever watched a course at one of our affiliate dive centers, you might’ve seen one of our participants and never even known it. For many of our veterans, that anonymity is a significant part of scuba diving’s therapeutic benefits. Water is the great equalizer, and diving proves to injured vets that they can once again be part of a community where their injuries aren’t in the spotlight.
Which Injured Vets Qualify for PFDD?
We accept applications from veterans with a VA-approved disability rating of 30% or greater. There is no upper limit on disability ratings for our programs, and many participants have 100% ratings. After all, our job is to create a safe and comfortable environment in which to learn scuba diving, not to assume someone’s ability level.
That said, we still require potential participants to apply. Unfortunately, our funding is not unlimited. Thus, we must reserve resources for those applicants with the greatest need. However, at the time of this article’s publication, we are pleased to report that current funding allows us to accept the vast majority of applicants into our programs.
How Can Veterans Apply?
Starting the application process is as simple as contacting us via email or our website. You’ll be directed to our Executive Director, who will request documentation of your VA disability rating. Upon receipt, they will guide you through the rest of the application process based on current program demands. All applicants must be approved by our board of directors prior to engaging in any PFDD-sponsored program.
While that may sound like a lengthy process, the whole application period, from first contact to approval, usually takes only a few weeks. Many of our board members are injured veterans themselves, and they take great pains to ensure the process puts as little strain on the applicant as possible.
What Happens After Approval?
After approval, you will be paired with our closest affiliate dive center within the continental US. If there is no current affiliate within a reasonable travel distance of your home address, we will make every reasonable effort to find a dive center that meets our rigorous standards closer to you. Once you’ve been paired with a suitable dive center, their staff will become your main point of contact. They will handle your scheduling and training, walking you through every step of the program. Upon course completion, you’ll receive an exit survey from our Executive Director to better understand your experience. This feedback helps us improve our programs for future participants.
Where To Get Started
Our mission is to bring the therapeutic benefits of scuba diving to as many injured veterans as possible. So, if you or someone you love suffered service-related injuries, please reach out either online or via email at jeff@patriotsfordisableddivers.org. Together, we can ensure injured veterans receive the support they deserve.