More Than a Trip. A Mission.
Warriors Way Veterans Retreats are about creating once-in-a-lifetime experiences for Veterans while building the camaraderie, connection, and sense of purpose that are at the heart of everything we do.
Each retreat will bring together a small group of Veterans for an experience designed to get them away from the everyday grind, surround them with other Veterans, and give them an opportunity they may never have otherwise.
This page will serve as the permanent home for our Veterans Retreat Program. Here you can follow upcoming retreats, meet the Veterans and team members selected to participate, see the organizations and individuals making these experiences possible, and follow each journey from selection through the trip itself.
Featured Retreat: Africa 2027
In August 2027, Warriors Way plans to take Veterans beyond the walls of our forge and across the world.
Our first planned Veterans Retreat will take a team of six Veterans and two chaperones to Africa for a five-day experience centered around camaraderie, adventure, and the kind of connections that happen when Veterans get away from everyday life and experience something extraordinary together.
Two Veterans have already been selected as part of the inaugural team, with four additional Veterans still to be selected. The two preselected Veterans aren’t simply attending the retreat to hunt—they each have a specific role and responsibility in helping Warriors Way carry out the mission, support the Veterans selected for the trip, and help establish a strong foundation for future Warriors Way Veterans Retreats.
The team will also be accompanied by two chaperones, who have their own responsibilities in supporting the group and helping ensure the retreat runs smoothly from departure through return.
Thanks to the businesses, organizations, and individuals supporting this mission, our goal is to remove the financial barrier for the Veterans selected and give them an experience they may never have imagined possible.
How Veterans Will Be Selected
Four Veterans will be selected to join the 2027 Africa Veterans Retreat.
Warriors Way wants this opportunity to be available to Veterans from across the country. Veterans interested in being considered will first submit their information through Warriors Way.
Applicants will go through an initial eligibility review to make sure they are able to participate in the planned retreat and understand the requirements and commitments involved with international travel.
Veterans who complete the eligibility process will then be entered into a random selection, giving every eligible Veteran in the pool an equal opportunity to be chosen.
Once selected, each Veteran will have 10 days to come to Warriors Way and complete the required paperwork and will be expected to begin the passport process within 30 days.
The four selected Veterans will then be officially announced and added to this page so our supporters can follow their journey all the way to Africa.
Apply for the 2027 Africa Veterans Retreat
Want to be one of the four Veterans selected for Africa 2027?
Warriors Way is accepting applications from Veterans interested in being considered for this once-in-a-lifetime retreat.
Applying does not guarantee selection. Applications will first be reviewed to ensure each applicant meets the basic requirements of the retreat and understands the commitments involved with international travel. Veterans who successfully complete the eligibility process will be entered into the random selection for the four available positions.
There is no cost to apply. The retreat itself is funding dependent, and submitting an application does not guarantee that the retreat will take place as currently planned.
Veteran Retreat Application
Please complete the form below to be considered for the 2027 Warriors Way Africa Veterans Retreat. Information submitted through this form will be used by Warriors Way to determine initial eligibility and communicate with applicants about the selection process.
Help Make the Mission Possible
The Warriors Way Veterans Retreat Program is made possible through the generosity of businesses, Veterans organizations, community partners, and individuals who believe in giving Veterans opportunities they may never have otherwise.
For the 2027 Africa Veterans Retreat, our fundraising goal is $52,000. This goal is designed not only to cover the planned costs of taking the team to Africa, but also to maintain a dedicated emergency and contingency fund for unexpected expenses that may arise during international travel.
Our goal is simple: once our Veterans leave Columbus, Ohio, we want the resources in place to take care of our team from departure through their safe return home without placing an unexpected financial burden on the Veterans selected to participate.
This page will also recognize the businesses, organizations, and individuals standing behind this mission and allow our supporters to follow the journey their support is making possible.
2027 Retreat Fundraising Goal: $52,000
Every dollar brings the team one step closer to Africa.
As sponsorships and donations are received, we’ll update our progress here so our community can see exactly how close we are to fully funding the 2027 retreat.
Our 2027 Retreat Sponsors
This mission would not be possible without the businesses, organizations, and individuals willing to stand behind our Veterans. We are proud to recognize the sponsors who are helping make the 2027 Africa Veterans Retreat possible.
As new sponsors join the mission, they will be added here so our Veterans and community can see the people and organizations helping turn this retreat into a reality.
$5,000 Hunter Sponsor
SOS Project — Lima, Ohio
SOS Project has stepped forward with a $5,000 sponsorship to support the 2027 Warriors Way Africa Veterans Retreat.
Their commitment represents sponsorship of one of the Veterans participating in the retreat and helps cover the costs necessary to give that Veteran this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We are incredibly grateful to SOS Project for being one of the organizations willing to step forward early and help turn this mission from an idea into a reality.
Become a 2027 Retreat Sponsor
Sponsors aren’t simply helping fund a trip — they’re helping give Veterans an opportunity to experience something extraordinary alongside other Veterans.
Sponsorship support helps cover the costs associated with international travel, lodging, meals, transportation, the planned retreat activities, and the emergency resources necessary to safely support the team throughout the journey.
Our $5,000 Hunter Sponsors play a special role in this mission. Each Hunter Sponsor will be connected with one of the Veterans participating in the retreat and recognized throughout that Veteran’s journey — from their announcement and preparation through Africa and their return home.
Businesses, organizations, and individuals interested in becoming a retreat sponsor are encouraged to contact Warriors Way to learn more about available sponsorship opportunities.
Where Your Support Goes
The 2027 Africa Veterans Retreat is being planned so the Veterans selected can focus on the experience — not the financial burden of getting there.
Funds raised for the retreat will help cover expenses including airfare, lodging, meals, ground transportation, planned retreat and hunting activities, required travel expenses, and other costs associated with safely getting the team to Africa and back home.
A portion of the fundraising goal is also intentionally reserved as an emergency and contingency fund. International travel can bring unexpected expenses, delays, changes, or emergencies, and Warriors Way believes those resources should be in place before the team ever leaves the United States.
Our responsibility is to make sure the mission is properly funded, properly planned, and prepared for the unexpected.
Follow the Journey
The journey to Africa begins long before the team boards the plane.
Over the coming months, this page will be the official home for updates on the 2027 Warriors Way Africa Veterans Retreat. We’ll introduce the Veterans selected for the team, announce our chaperones and team members, recognize the sponsors making the mission possible, and share updates as the team prepares for Africa.
As each Veteran is announced, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about who they are, their military service, their story, and the sponsor helping make their journey possible.
We’ll continue updating this page throughout the preparation process, during the retreat when possible, and after the team returns home so our supporters can see the mission they helped make possible from beginning to end.
The destination may be Africa, but the journey starts right here.
Meet the 2027 Africa Retreat Team
The 2027 Africa Retreat team will consist of six Veterans and two chaperones, with every member of the team having a purpose in making this mission successful.
As each member of the team is officially announced, their profile will be added below. You’ll be able to learn about their military service, their connection to the mission, their role on the retreat, and the sponsor helping make their journey possible.
Check back as we introduce the 2027 team one member at a time.
David McConnell:
2027 Africa Veterans Retreat — Head Hunt Coordinator
David McConnell currently serves as CEO of Warriors Way and will join the 2027 Africa Veterans Retreat as the team’s Head Hunt Coordinator.
Although David is a civilian, he comes from a family with Veterans and has been closely involved in the Warriors Way mission. A lifelong hunter and trapper, David brings years of outdoor experience and knowledge to the team.
David’s role on this retreat goes far beyond simply participating in the hunt. As Head Hunt Coordinator, he will help coordinate the hunting side of the retreat, work with the outfitter and Warriors Way team, and help prepare and support the Veterans throughout their hunting experience.
His experience, leadership within Warriors Way, and lifelong background in hunting and trapping make him an important part of the support team being put in place for the Veterans participating in the inaugural retreat.
Michelle Bates
2027 Africa Veterans Retreat — Lodge Mother & Retreat Support Coordinator
Michelle Bates serves as Secretary of Warriors Way and will join the 2027 Africa Veterans Retreat as the team’s Lodge Mother and Retreat Support Coordinator.
Michelle’s role will focus on supporting the Veterans and team throughout the retreat and helping keep things organized behind the scenes. While the hunters are in the field, she will help coordinate activities at the lodge and serve as a central point of support for the group.
Michelle will also serve as the retreat’s Social Media Coordinator, helping document and share the team’s journey with the families, sponsors, and supporters following along back home.
An equally important part of her role will be sponsor accountability. Michelle will help ensure the recognition, photographs, updates, and other commitments Warriors Way has made to the organizations and individuals funding this mission are fulfilled throughout the retreat.
Her role is ultimately about taking care of the people behind the mission — the Veterans, their families back home, and the sponsors who made the experience possible.
Jeremiah Jones
2027 Africa Veterans Retreat — Veteran Hunter #1
Jeremiah Jones will join the 2027 Africa Veterans Retreat as Veteran Hunter #1 and one of the two Veterans preselected for the inaugural retreat.
A Purple Heart recipient, Jeremiah brings something to this team that can’t be measured by a title. He has a natural ability to connect with other Veterans, make people feel at ease, and bring a group together.
His role on this retreat goes far beyond hunting. Jeremiah will serve as a peer leader within the Veteran group — helping build camaraderie, making sure no one feels like an outsider, and helping six Veterans from different backgrounds come together as one team.
Warriors Way believes the success of this retreat won’t be measured only by what happens in Africa, but by the relationships built along the way. Jeremiah was preselected because we believe his personality, experience, and ability to connect with fellow Veterans will help provide the glue that holds that team together.
2027 Africa Retreat Details
Destination: South Africa
Target Dates: First week of August 2027
Retreat Length: 5 days in South Africa, not including travel time to and from Johannesburg
Team: 6 Veterans + 2 Chaperones
Host Lodge & Outfitter: Wild Wildebeest Lodge
The Hunting Experience
Hunting will be one part of the overall retreat experience. Each Veteran hunter will have the opportunity to participate in a professionally guided African hunt with two pre-selected animals: one zebra and one common impala.
The species have been selected in advance as part of the retreat’s planning and budget. The focus of this experience isn’t on who can harvest the biggest or most expensive animal — it’s about sharing an adventure that the team can experience together.
The Veterans will be supported throughout the hunting experience by the professional hunting staff at the lodge, along with the Warriors Way retreat team.
Getting the Team to Africa
The Warriors Way team will travel together, beginning and ending the journey in Columbus, Ohio.
Veterans selected for the retreat will be responsible for getting themselves to Columbus for departure. From that point forward, the goal of Warriors Way is to have the retreat fully funded so the Veterans can focus on the experience rather than the financial burden of international travel.
The team will travel together to Johannesburg, South Africa, remain together throughout the retreat, and return together to Columbus at the conclusion of the journey.
Detailed travel instructions, flight information, required documentation, and arrival times will be provided directly to each selected team member as the retreat approaches.
What Warriors Way Will Cover
Our goal is for the Veterans selected for this retreat to experience Africa without having to carry the financial burden of the trip.
Once the team departs from Columbus, Ohio, Warriors Way intends to cover the planned costs associated with the retreat, including round-trip airfare to South Africa, lodging, meals, ground transportation, the planned hunting experience, and other scheduled retreat expenses.
Warriors Way will also maintain a dedicated emergency and contingency fund to help address unexpected expenses that may arise while the team is traveling internationally.
Veterans will be responsible for getting themselves to Columbus for departure and returning home from Columbus after the team arrives back in the United States.
Requirements for Selected Veterans
Veterans selected for the 2027 Africa Veterans Retreat will be making a commitment to the entire team and will be expected to complete all required paperwork and preparations within the established deadlines.
Selected Veterans will have 10 days following notification of their selection to come to Warriors Way and complete the required retreat paperwork. Veterans who do not already have a valid passport will be required to begin the passport process within 30 days of selection.
Participants must be available for the scheduled retreat dates, be willing to travel with the team from Columbus, Ohio, and remain with the group throughout the international portion of the retreat.
Additional requirements, travel documentation, preparation meetings, and retreat expectations will be communicated directly to the Veterans selected.
Being selected is an opportunity, but it is also a commitment to the other Veterans, sponsors, and supporters making this mission possible.
How the Four Open Veteran Spots Are Selected
Four Veteran Hunter positions for the 2027 Africa Veterans Retreat will be filled through a random selection from eligible applicants.
Veterans interested in participating must first complete the retreat application. Warriors Way will review applications to ensure applicants meet the basic requirements and understand the commitments associated with the retreat.
Every Veteran who completes the eligibility process will then be entered into the random selection for the four open positions. The purpose of this process is simple: once a Veteran is determined to be eligible, everyone in the selection pool gets an equal chance.
Two Veteran positions were preselected for the inaugural retreat because those individuals will serve additional peer-leadership roles within the team. The remaining four positions are reserved for Veterans selected through the open process.
As each Veteran is officially selected and announced, their story will be added to this page.
2027 Retreat Timeline
Planning for an international Veterans retreat takes time, and we want every member of the team to have plenty of time to prepare.
Important dates for applications, Veteran selection, paperwork, passports, team meetings, travel preparation, and departure will be posted here as they are finalized.
Target Retreat Date: First week of August 2027
Veteran Applications: Open
Four Veteran Hunters Selected: To Be Announced
Team Preparation & Meetings: To Be Announced
Final Travel Information: To Be Announced
This timeline will be updated throughout the year as each major milestone is reached.
Important: This Retreat Is Funding Dependent
The 2027 Africa Veterans Retreat is contingent upon Warriors Way securing the funding necessary to safely and responsibly conduct the trip.
The dates, itinerary, travel arrangements, number of participants, and other details currently listed on this page are planned details, not guarantees. Our target is to fully fund the retreat before the team departs, including the dedicated emergency and contingency funds necessary for international travel.
If fundraising takes longer than anticipated, the retreat date may be postponed and the timeline adjusted. If circumstances require changes to the planned itinerary or other arrangements, Warriors Way will make those decisions with the safety and well-being of the entire team as the priority.
We will not send Veterans on this retreat until Warriors Way has the financial resources necessary to responsibly complete the mission.
As funding is secured, this page will be updated with confirmed dates, team announcements, travel information, and other finalized details.
Questions About the Veterans Retreat Program?
Whether you’re a Veteran interested in a future retreat, a business or organization considering sponsorship, or simply someone who wants to learn more about the program, we’d be happy to hear from you.
Questions regarding the 2027 Africa Veterans Retreat, sponsorship opportunities, applications, or the Warriors Way Veterans Retreat Program can be directed to Warriors Way.
Please understand that trip details may continue to change as funding, travel arrangements, and other logistics are finalized. The most current information will always be posted on this page.