Meet Robert 'Bobby' Somers, US Army — 2020 Veteran
From Purple Heart to Open Heart - Bobby Somers
Robert "Bobby" Somers is a Medically Retired, 13-year United States Army Veteran. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart as a combat wounded Soldier. Bobby lives with severe, chronic PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury as a result of multiple explosions during the initial invasion of Iraq.
He takes every step of every day with the painful reminder of those blasts. Shrapnel still riddles his leg and has caused permanent nerve pain and damage. He spends a huge amount of his time with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other clinics and doctors willing to help, trying to find ways to combat this trauma and pain.
Bobby's wife and best friend, Nicole Somers is also a disabled Combat Veteran. Their lives, along with their two children, are impacted daily by the lasting impact of war. Bobby's daily struggles and frequent suicidal thoughts have led him on a mission to shed light on the national crisis of Veteran suicide, depression and mental health. His success, while a continuous fight, is a testament to the fortitude all Veterans possess, they just need help realizing it.
Bobby has transformed himself into an inspirational speaker with the mission to spread awareness and acceptance of OUR reality as Veterans. Bobby speaks to crowds of hundreds about his own battles, mental struggles and monsters so his brothers and sisters know it is not weakness BUT strength to let go of their silence and open up.
Bobby, on top of changing the lives of thousands of people through the spoken word, became a part of the FitOps Foundation. The FitOps Foundation invited Bobby and his pain in with open arms. While Bobby didn't choose to be a personal trainer, Bobby became a highly skilled Chef and is now the Director of Nutrition for the FitOps Foundation. His work with FitOps gives Bobby the opportunity to directly reach out and touch the men and women suffering from what he has and does: the opportunity to affect change and the opportunity to heal himself and others.
"There's nothing tough about holding it all in, losing everyone you love, sucking it up and then taking your own life anyways!"
-- Robert "Bobby" Somers
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Jeff Anderson
CEO/Founder, Rebuilding Warriors
