the trip that changes things
what is a vltat?
vltat - veteran led therapeutic adventure trip
THIS IS NOT A RETREAT. IT IS NOT THERAPY. IT IS NOT A HANDOUT.
FOUR DAYS IN MONTANA'S BACKCOUNTRY — FLOATING A RIVER OR HIKING STEEP TERRAIN — WITH A SMALL GROUP OF VETERANS LED BY VETERANS.
YOU CARRY WEIGHT. YOU COVER GROUND. YOU SLEEP OUTSIDE. AND SOMEWHERE IN THAT DISCOMFORT, SOMETHING SHIFTS.
EVERY TRIP CARRIES THE PIG EGG — 75 POUNDS OF DOG TAGS REPRESENTING EVERY SERVICE MEMBER LOST IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. IT GOES WHERE YOU GO.
2027 MISSION schedule
*these are general dates. specific dates will be released in january 2027*
AAR · After Action Review
The debrief, in their own words.
Some of our trips are open to spouses. That means exactly one thing: the veteran's legal spouse, not another family member, not a plus one. Your spouse does not need to be a veteran to join you, but they do need to fill out their own interest form. After that, we automatically send a longer follow up form asking for military and medical history, so we can care for them correctly and place them on the right trip.
A spouse can also join us without their veteran if the veteran has passed away, is physically unable to attend, or the couple is divorced, with proof of marriage required. We treat the spouses who stood behind our veterans with the same respect we give the veterans themselves.
SPOUSE TRIP
How to join a VLTAT: from our interest form to the trailhead or boat launch
Montana Vet Program runs Veteran Led Therapeutic Adventure Trips (VLTATs), multi day hikes and river floats led by veteran team leaders out of Great Falls, Montana. Here is every step from filling out our interest form to arriving in the field with your team.
- Fill out our interest form. Start on our I Am Interested page. It only asks for the basics.
- Check your email. We automatically email you a link to our longer follow up form. Open it and click through. Don't see it within 15 minutes? Check your spam folder.
- Complete the follow up form. It asks for your military and medical history, so we can care for you correctly and put you on the right trip.
- Get your trip assignment. Our team emails you when you're assigned to a trip. Book your flight only after you're confirmed. Trip full? We'll email you that you're on standby for it.
- Take the call. Our wellness coordinator calls you to talk through your health, your fitness, and how to get ready for your trip.
- Pack your bag. We supply the core gear. You bring your clothes, broken in boots, and personal items. The full list is in our Trip FAQ.
- We stay with you the whole way. Our team stays in touch through every step. Have a question at any point? Reach out and we'll answer it.
- Fly into Great Falls. Land at Great Falls International Airport.
- Ride to your hotel. We send an Uber to pick you up at the airport and bring you to your hotel. Your hotel is covered before and after the trip.
- Team leader pickup. A team leader picks you up at your hotel and brings you to the MVP facility.
- Gear issue and full brief. The day before your trip, at the MVP facility. You get the full brief and you get issued your gear.
- Group dinner. Sit down and eat with the team you're heading out with.
- Rest up. We roll out in the morning. Back to your hotel for the night. In the morning we drive you to the trailhead or boat launch. Your belongings, and your vehicle if you drove, stay in secure storage.
- You're in the field. Hikes step off from the trailhead. Floats push off from the boat launch. Either way, you go with your team.
Fill out the I Am Interested form to start.
