A free, yearlong program built to help veterans rebuild purpose through wilderness expeditions, adaptive sports, and leadership training is now taking applications for 2027. The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that Unbroken Spirit, a nonprofit founded by veterans for veterans, has opened enrollment for three new teams heading into next year.
For anyone who has finished a race or a training block only to feel the letdown of "what now," programs like this fill a real gap. Structured challenge and a team that keeps showing up matter as much after the finish line as before it.
What the program actually involves
Unbroken Spirit organizes its year around three phases. According to the organization, Phase I starts at home with 12 weeks of virtual leadership and personal development training, where veterans work with their team to build habits around body, mind, and spirit before ever meeting in person.
Phase II is where the program earns its name. Veterans on the wilderness backpacking teams spend six days hiking and camping together in the mountains of western North Carolina, working through the kind of shared discomfort that builds trust fast. Veterans who cannot safely take on that terrain can instead join the adaptive sports track at the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah, with eligibility open to veterans who provide documentation of a qualifying physical condition. Phase III carries the momentum forward through mentorship, continued training, and community service.
Three teams, three timelines
The 2027 slate gives veterans a choice of entry points depending on their schedule. The Adaptive Sports Team runs January 6 through September 29, 2027, with its in-person phase in Park City the week of March 19-25. The Summer Wilderness Backpacking Team runs April 2027 through March 2028, with its North Carolina expedition in mid-June. The Fall Wilderness Backpacking Team begins August 4, 2027 and runs through June 2028, with its expedition set for mid-October.
There's no cost to participate, and the program is open to any veteran or active-duty service member, no disability rating or diagnosis required for the standard track. That low barrier matters. A lot of veterans who could benefit from a program like this never apply because they assume it's reserved for someone whose need looks more visible than theirs.
Why this fits the bigger picture
Programs like Unbroken Spirit and Operation WarriorFit are solving pieces of the same problem from different angles. We remove the cost barrier that keeps veterans out of races and endurance events; Unbroken Spirit builds the year-round structure and team that keeps someone moving toward a goal long after registration day. Veterans training for one of our partner races while also working toward a longer personal reset might find real value in pairing the two.
If a free race entry could be the next step in your own comeback, check your eligibility and see what's available near you.