The idea of jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft thrills a niche population of the world, while most feel their stomachs flip at mere mention of it. The exhilaration makes them feel alive, and floods their nervous systems with a staggering amount of dopamine. Others simply find the free fall, and subsequent canopy ride, therapeutic.
In 2015, Robbie Hill founded Mission Volant to share a unique concept of Veteran Adventure Therapy within his community.
Hill understood the highest of highs that military life had to offer, having served as a United States Marine for ten years in the aviation world. Being a leader in that high speed culture also exposed him to peers experiencing the lowest of lows. After more than a decade invested in the war on terror as a nation, new statistics made the American people more aware of the epidemic of suicide among veterans. For Robbie, the reality was painstakingly tangible, as his comrades suffered depression and self-destructive behaviors to cope with life-altering injuries. The burden to intervene on behalf of his fellow service members grew from a concern to a mission.
“Mission Volant was forged in hard times. The Veteran community isn’t going anywhere, and neither are we,”Hill states matter-of-fact. The vision for the nonprofit is simple, “To change the lives of combat wounded veterans in a spectacular way, challenging them in unfamiliar territory. We address the reality that most veterans after their service to their country are left feeling unchallenged, with little self-worth and often without direction. Mission Volant is not a hand-holding party, but a resource of insight, community, and inspiration. We challenge combat wounded Veterans with learning an adventurous skill set for their own therapy.”
“Mission Volant was forged in hard times. The Veteran community isn’t going anywhere, and neither are we.”
Candidates participate in one of three adventures: skydiving, paragliding, or introductory flight training. In 2019, Mission Volant provided direct enablement solutions for fifty-four veterans.
After being medically retired from service, Pam Jeffcoat, an Army veteran, developed patterns of unhealthy behaviors that prevented her from being the best wife and mother she hoped to be. Discovering Mission Volant on Facebook challenged her to reach out to inquire about skydiving. Harboring a desire to jump, but never having the opportunity, she hoped the experience would help to shake her out of an apathy that had crept in over time. Since completing her first tandem jump with the team in the Outer Banks, which she described as “life changing,” Pam completed twelve more jumps. Pam said Mission Volant helped teach her to “get out of [my] comfort zone! Try things; look for places to find little pieces of yourself.”
Robbie is challenging America’s Veteran Skydive Team to ask themselves how they can help. The team has provided team-building jumps for corporate executives, professional sports teams, and individual athletes. Demonstration jumps for the Warhouse Gym, Washington Redskins, and William and Mary Tribe athletics programs exceed audience expectations and expand brand awareness for their sponsors. When asked how others can help, Robbie explains that sponsoring a veteran is simple to initiate on their website. Mission Volant may also be booked for a demonstration jump as an alternative means of supporting the mission.The future goals of the organization include assisting one hundred veterans annually and purchasing a jet for emergency air service for critically injured service members' families. To enable a veteran or book a demonstration jump for future events visit missionvolant.org send a message on Instagram @missionvolant, or Facebook: Mission Volant.