Background
It is recognized that U.S. military veterans, particularly those who serve during times of war, generally require a readjustment period transitioning from military service. This is common regardless of whether the veteran has experienced physical or psychological injuries during their time in service. This readjustment period also does not have a defined time period. Part of this readjustment period involves reconnecting with family and friends; pursuing further education; beginning civilian careers; and developing new relationships.
SCUBA diving is a social sport which can be a lifelong activity. SCUBA divers traditionally dive with at least one buddy and take dive trips with groups of people. This social interaction provides veterans with the beginnings of a social network as they transition from military service. The physical act of diving with a buddy ensures redundancy of equipment and provides the diver with an emotional and physical support mechanism if needed. This practice can be adapted from SCUBA diving to everyday life, to ensure an adequate support mechanism for veterans.
SCUBA diving also provides physical and psychological benefits that can help veterans. The physiological benefits of SCUBA diving are possible because water is a near weightless environment.
Astronauts in the U.S. space program spend hours training underwater in the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Lab, because it simulates the weightlessness of space. Water is believed to benefit the human body because the near weightless environment helps to relieve pressure on joints and relaxes muscles. Immersion in water has been shown in several studies to have pain-reducing effects for several chronic pain conditions (arthritis, headaches, migraines, etc) and other chronic pain conditions resulting from long-term stress and tension.
SCUBA diving is a social sport which can be a lifelong activity. SCUBA divers traditionally dive with at least one buddy and take dive trips with groups of people. This social interaction provides veterans with the beginnings of a social network as they transition from military service. The physical act of diving with a buddy ensures redundancy of equipment and provides the diver with an emotional and physical support mechanism if needed. This practice can be adapted from SCUBA diving to everyday life, to ensure an adequate support mechanism for veterans.
SCUBA diving also provides physical and psychological benefits that can help veterans. The physiological benefits of SCUBA diving are possible because water is a near weightless environment.
Astronauts in the U.S. space program spend hours training underwater in the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Lab, because it simulates the weightlessness of space. Water is believed to benefit the human body because the near weightless environment helps to relieve pressure on joints and relaxes muscles. Immersion in water has been shown in several studies to have pain-reducing effects for several chronic pain conditions (arthritis, headaches, migraines, etc) and other chronic pain conditions resulting from long-term stress and tension.
GOAL
Mission Support SCUBA (MSS) uses SCUBA diving and the requisite training to holistically address the physical and mental well-being of U.S. military veterans. The physical and mental benefits of SCUBA diving are only the start. By acting as a central point of contact, veterans have access to an entire network of divers with different ties to the local community – and a worldwide sport. MSS provides community engagement and service through our network of dive professionals, researchers, benefactors, hobbyists, and local businesses.
After the SCUBA diver certification, select veterans are trained as members of the AquaCorps. The AquaCorps assists the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment in the management and habitat conservation of Spring Lake, one of the longest continually inhabited locations in North America (over 14,000 years!). Spring Lake is also home to 8 threatened or endangered species, an archaeological dig site, the sacred land of Native American tribes from Central Texas area, and the primary location for countless research projects. Veterans are also given the opportunity to join the South Hays Fire Department Dive Team, a volunteer underwater search and recovery team in South Hays County, Texas. Additional environmental stewardship, public service, and research opportunities are continually sought in which the veteran can participate, engage, and make a difference.
After the SCUBA diver certification, select veterans are trained as members of the AquaCorps. The AquaCorps assists the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment in the management and habitat conservation of Spring Lake, one of the longest continually inhabited locations in North America (over 14,000 years!). Spring Lake is also home to 8 threatened or endangered species, an archaeological dig site, the sacred land of Native American tribes from Central Texas area, and the primary location for countless research projects. Veterans are also given the opportunity to join the South Hays Fire Department Dive Team, a volunteer underwater search and recovery team in South Hays County, Texas. Additional environmental stewardship, public service, and research opportunities are continually sought in which the veteran can participate, engage, and make a difference.
Formation
Mission Support SCUBA (MSS) was formed in 2019. However, the genesis for MSS was Operation SCUBA, which was a Texas State University program to teach student veterans how to SCUBA dive, and then give them the opportunity to continue diving as members of the AquaCorps. Bob supported Operation SCUBA as an instructor from 2015 until 2019 when the program was terminated. With the formation of MSS, the idea of Operation SCUBA was expanded to offer this diving opportunity to ALL veterans in Central Texas and to use SCUBA diving as a community involvement tool and a way to gain/maintain the mental and physical wellbeing of ALL veterans.
Leadership
Co-Founder and Chair
Bob Vesseliza is a U.S. Army veteran who served for 30 years (1981-2011), first in the Military Police Corps and later in Special Forces (Green Berets). Bob also worked in federal law enforcement for 22 years (1989-2011), first with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and later retiring from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Bob began diving in 1983 as a member of the Military Police Special Reaction Team at Ft. Meade, Maryland. He later attended what is now the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course in Key West, FL, followed by the Special Forces Combat Diving Supervisor Course. Bob has been a National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Instructor since 1989 and currently teaches SCUBA diving at Texas State University. |
Vice Chair
David W. Johnson, MBA, MS, U.S. Army, MAJ(R), President, Founder of Pathfinder Solutions Group, LLC. David enlisted in the U.S Army in 1988, later earned his commission through Army ROTC at Pacific Lutheran University, and retired as a Major with 30 years of service. David is a U.S. Army Combat Veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and Operations Enduring, and Iraqi Freedom. David served as a health service support officer to various commands, units, schools, and to the 43rd, 44th, and 45th U.S. Army Surgeon Generals. In 2021, David joined Mission Support SCUBA as a participant and earned his NAUI Open Water certification. David continues to dive and support the veterans program. |
Co-Founder & Secretary/Treasurer
Matthew Oeltjen is a Marine Corps veteran who served from 2004 until he was medically discharged in 2008, and works as the Lead Diver at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. Having learned to SCUBA dive while enrolled in school at Texas State University, Mat has volunteered to help with each subsequent Mission Support SCUBA class. After the military, Matthew received a degree from the University of Texas at Austin in Corporate Communication and is currently working on another degree from Texas State University in Wildlife Biology. |
Message from the chair
The concept of Mission Support SCUBA (MSS) comes from my involvement as an instructor with Operation SCUBA. Operation SCUBA was a Texas State University program designed to train student veterans how to SCUBA dive and then get them involved in helping to maintain Spring Lake. Over time, I realized that this type of program needs to be available to all veterans.
To participate in Mission Support SCUBA there is no requirement to have a disability, because the program is designed to help all veterans find their place in society after military service. SCUBA diving does provide psychological and physiological benefits, but it also provides great social benefits. As a disabled veteran, I have come to realize that SCUBA diving is my therapy. There is no greater feeling of mindfulness than “bubble therapy” (breathing on SCUBA underwater and listening to the sound of your own breathing). SCUBA diving is also a great therapy for chronic pain. I feel no or minimal pain while diving, because of the near weightless environment of the water. Most importantly, SCUBA diving provides the social benefits of friendship, teamwork, and sense of purpose. While Mission Support SCUBA recognizes and emphasizes the psychological and physiological benefits of SCUBA diving, our program is designed to also serve the social needs of all veterans.
Our program is by design time intensive to allow veterans to develop new social and personal connections. We emphasize not only environmental stewardship at Spring Lake and other central Texas water resources, but involvement in the local volunteer search and recovery unit (South Hays Fire Department Dive Team), and underwater research conducted by local colleges and universities.
Our objective is not solely to train veterans how to SCUBA dive, but rather to use SCUBA diving to help veterans find their purpose and achieve their goals after military service and to give veterans another opportunity to serve their community and country.
To participate in Mission Support SCUBA there is no requirement to have a disability, because the program is designed to help all veterans find their place in society after military service. SCUBA diving does provide psychological and physiological benefits, but it also provides great social benefits. As a disabled veteran, I have come to realize that SCUBA diving is my therapy. There is no greater feeling of mindfulness than “bubble therapy” (breathing on SCUBA underwater and listening to the sound of your own breathing). SCUBA diving is also a great therapy for chronic pain. I feel no or minimal pain while diving, because of the near weightless environment of the water. Most importantly, SCUBA diving provides the social benefits of friendship, teamwork, and sense of purpose. While Mission Support SCUBA recognizes and emphasizes the psychological and physiological benefits of SCUBA diving, our program is designed to also serve the social needs of all veterans.
Our program is by design time intensive to allow veterans to develop new social and personal connections. We emphasize not only environmental stewardship at Spring Lake and other central Texas water resources, but involvement in the local volunteer search and recovery unit (South Hays Fire Department Dive Team), and underwater research conducted by local colleges and universities.
Our objective is not solely to train veterans how to SCUBA dive, but rather to use SCUBA diving to help veterans find their purpose and achieve their goals after military service and to give veterans another opportunity to serve their community and country.