Rebuilding Warriors

Aaron J. Remson was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey on July 23,1980 and grew up in Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey. In 2006 Aaron joined the US Army NJ National Guard and found himself towing the line in the barracks at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he excelled in Infantry basic training and finally found a home away from home.

Upon graduation, Aaron attended advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, US ARMY Medical as an Infantry Combat Medic and later was assigned to 2^nd Battalion 113^th Infantry, NJARNG.

Arriving at his new unit, Aaron quickly established his reputation while assigned to provide medical coverage with the various companies of the 2/113^th IN. A brief period later, orders came down that the Battalion was deploying to Iraq.

In June of 2008, Aaron arrived in Iraq as a Private First Class and was attached to an external medical unit tasked with overseeing care for prison detainees. Two months into his new assignment, with over 50 missions completed, the "Jester" Airforce unit rotated back stateside and Aaron again was re-assigned, but this time to his home unit 2/113^th IN Intelligence Surveillance and Recon unit. SPC Aaron Remson further completed another 100+ missions outside the wire to various areas of Iraq providing medical care to his soldiers and the local community.

The ensuing days became tougher and tougher. On top of daily convoys, Aaron was tasked with teaching combat medical classes to all branches of the military including Iraqi Army, Iraqi police, and other coalition forces. It was in this environment where Aaron thrived and also realized his technical knowledge and expertise needed to be passed along to other troops so they can better care for their own soldiers.

Promoted to Sergeant in 2010, Aaron climbed through the ranks surpassing his peers to become the unit emergency care sergeant. In this role, Aaron volunteered to be away from his family and activated during Hurricane Irene and Sandy. Aaron's function was to coordinate medical rescue operations and disseminate medical personnel to various parts of New Jersey which were severely affected by the storms. During these missions Aaron met his current mentor and was offered a position at 254^th REG (CA) Seagirt, New Jersey as a potential 68W medical instructor.

In 2011, Aaron was appointed as the 2/113^th medical platoon sergeant to 30+ junior soldiers and NCO's. During this time, Aaron was actively planning medical operation agendas for his unit, studying for his bachelors degree in the civilian sector, and devoting the remaining portion of his free time to attending the Army Basic Instructor Course and becoming AMEDD instructor certified to teach transitioning MOS service members. After successfully completing the required curriculum in 2011, Aaron accepted a promotion to Staff Sergeant with the 254^th REG, Seagirt, New Jersey as an official military medical instructor.

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During this time frame Aaron was offered a corrections officer job with the Federal Bureau of Prisons at Fort Dix, New Jersey, which he accepted. Aaron was wearing his military uniform and teaching military students during the day, then working as a corrections officer on the midnight shift. The federal corrections job was military structured and was exactly what Aaron needed to smoothly transition into civilian life. Aaron finally felt a sense of stability and that things were looking up.

After 10 years of honorable service in the US ARMY, Aaron was discharged from duty in May of 2016. Three years into his federal job, during a SORT team tryout invitation obstacle course, Aaron suffered a training accident which ended his career by completely rupturing his rotator cuff. Aaron was medically discharged from his positon with the Federal Bureau and is currently receiving treatment for his injuries and scheduled for shoulder replacement surgery in July of 2017.

The next few years Aaron struggled with not only his shoulder injury that ended with the loss of his federal career, but with military injuries both physical and mental. Seeking professional medical care became a priority as his mental health continued to decline. After years of failed psychiatric counseling, group therapy, multiple doctor assessments and medication trials, Aaron continues to struggle. Although feeling down and out most of the time, disconnected from reality, emotionally numb and useless, Aaron remained hopeful for change.

That change came when a Rebuilding Warriors pamphlet with Jeff Mullins' card was given to Aaron by an office secretary who just happened to be working that day, and who also happens to have a great rapport with Aaron. After meeting with Jeff and Nancy Mullins, Aaron was overcome with feelings of joy, hopefulness, and purpose again. This is the start of a new direction for Aaron's life, one which means he will not be walking alone any longer.

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Jeff Anderson
CEO/Founder, Rebuilding Warriors