“Veterans Recovery Resources is on a mission that I want to be a part of,” Jeremy Fletcher explains. “Sometimes it is difficult, especially for our younger Soldiers, to ask for help. I want them to know they have choices and they have support.”

Jeremy Fletcher is a Physical Therapist by trade. As such he has earned numerous degrees and certifications, including a Graduate Certificate in Health Focused Patient/Client Management from the University of Alabama—Birmingham in 2015, Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of South Alabama in 2010, and B.S. from University of Louisiana, Monroe.  He is passionate about Soldiers and how using a mind-body approach can help to reduce chronic pain and improve quality of life.

“I’ve helped to establish a chronic pain self-management program using yoga, aquatics and graded exercise therapy that Veterans and Soldiers can use as an alternative to self-medicating.  It will be very gratifying to provide help to the thousands of Vets in the Mobile area that can benefit from our services,” said Fletcher.

A small but promising pilot study published in Military Behavioral Health showed that veterans who practiced meditation reported a 20 percent reduction in pain intensity and pain interference, providing a way that veterans can be empowered to help themselves.  “This study absolutely bears out what I see in the Soldiers with whom I’ve worked,” said Fletcher.  “And with the roughly 2.6 million service members coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan, guided meditation may be a very valuable tool.” An estimated 44 percent of U.S. combat veterans suffer from chronic pain, lasting for over 12 weeks and sometimes a lifetime.

Jeremy brings extensive experience working directly with veterans through both his active duty in the U.S. Army which included one deployment to Afghanistan, and in the U.S. Army Reserves where he is currently a Major. Jeremy was Assistant Chief in the Department of Rehabilitative Services at the Winn Army Community Hospital in Fort Stewart, Georgia, providing PT, OT and chiropractic services for over 15,000 soldiers.  He moved to Mobile just over a year ago, and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of South Alabama.

“Jeremy brings a lot to the table to help advance Veterans Recovery Resources,” said Founder and Executive Director John Kilpatrick.  “Jeremy’s own experience as a veteran, his deep skills in chronic pain management and his knowledge and understanding of working directly with Service men and women is a powerful combination. Beyond the tremendous energy that Jeremy brings, we know he will make a meaningful contribution to our Peer Support Network and the associated therapies for healing both the visible and invisible wounds of war. We are very pleased to welcome him to the team.”

The feeling is mutual.