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Army and law enforcement veteran Jon Bornemann knows the 12-week Reboot Recovery course works – because it worked on him.
The national program had no footprint in Northeast Wisconsin before Bornemann brought it to Pulaski in January 2021. He lead the first course in the area while simultaneously taking it to heal from his own service-related trauma that brought out personal and relationship issues during and after serving.
His only regret is not bringing it here sooner.
"As I was planning and conducting that course, four members current members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard completed suicide while I was doing that course," Bornemann said. "And it hurts me that I had an opportunity or knew of something that may have been able to help them."
According to the latest VA data, there were 399 fewer veterans that died by suicide in 2019 than in 2018; however, an average of 17.2 veterans still took their own lives every day in 2019.
Bornemann says that he previously saw a mental health professional who recognized "typical" signs of service-related trauma in him but had no solution beyond diagnosis. That's when Bornemann became motivated to find a solution that worked, and gives back to veterans around him so they didn't have to suffer as he did. Bornemann says this 12-week course is designed differently than a support group and allows the service community to trust each other as they do in combat.
"Both courses [he's led in 2021], I had veterans that had multiple suicide attempts, and inpatient treatments with the VA," Bornemann said. "Both times those individuals have come to me during the course and said, 'this is stuff we've never covered in any of the therapies I've ever been in.'"
"I've talked to formations of soldiers about how every single person in that formation is willing to help out the soldier standing next to them, but none of them is willing to ask for help," Bornemann said. "But sometimes that's the most important thing to do ... and that's really what I need with this program is I need veterans to give me the opportunity to help them."
During his interview for this story, Bornemann had a longtime colleague reach out about joining his latest course, intentionally timed during the holiday season instead of after the madness, to try and stay on top of potential seasonal and gathering-induced depression.
"There might be talking behind our back or people saying, wonder what's going on with that guy, or that girl, or that veteran," Bornemann said. "The veteran tends to withdraw and feel alone. And I want them to know they're not alone. There's a whole community of veterans that are out there that are going through a lot of the same stuff they do."
Bornemann's third course in the Northeast Wisconsin area begins Thursday, December 2, and will meet weekly from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the New Life Church in Pulaski. They are accepting veterans to this round through the first three weeks. The course is free and provides free food as well.
While the 12-week camp meets at New Life Church, it is faith-based, not faith-restrictive, according to Bornemann. He encourages veterans of all faiths including atheists to come. Bornemann says the course references the Bible but does not push a religious context.
